| Race details | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 9 of 33 of the2018 NASCAR Xfinity Series | |||
 | |||
| Date | April 28, 2018 | ||
| Official name | 27th Annual Sparks Energy 300 | ||
| Location | Lincoln, Alabama,Talladega Superspeedway | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||
| Course length | 2.66 miles (4.28 km) | ||
| Distance | 115 laps, 305.9 mi (492.298 km) | ||
| Scheduled distance | 113 laps, 300.58 mi (483.736 km) | ||
| Average speed | 133.258 miles per hour (214.458 km/h) | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Richard Childress Racing | ||
| Time | 50.559 | ||
| Most laps led | |||
| Driver | Daniel Hemric | Richard Childress Racing | |
| Laps | 39 | ||
| Winner | |||
| No. 23 | Spencer Gallagher | GMS Racing | |
| Television in the United States | |||
| Network | FOX | ||
| Announcers | Kevin Harvick,Clint Bowyer,Joey Logano | ||
| Radio in the United States | |||
| Radio | Motor Racing Network | ||
The2018 Sparks Energy 300 was the ninthstock car race of the2018 NASCAR Xfinity Series season, and the 27th iteration of theevent. The race was held on Saturday, April 28, 2018, inLincoln, Alabama atTalladega Superspeedway, a 2.66 miles (4.28 km) permanent triangle-shapedsuperspeedway. The race was extended from the scheduled 113 laps to 115 due to aNASCAR overtime finish. At race's end,Spencer Gallagher ofGMS Racing would make a last lap pass onTyler Reddick and fend off the field to win a shocker, winning his first and so far finalNASCAR Xfinity Series win of his career and his first and only win of the season.[1] To fill out the podium,Brandon Jones ofJoe Gibbs Racing andJustin Allgaier ofJR Motorsports would finish second and third, respectively.
Talladega Superspeedway, originally known asAlabama International Motor Superspeedway (AIMS), is amotorsports complex located north ofTalladega, Alabama. It is located on the formerAnniston Air Force Base in the small city ofLincoln. The track is atri-oval and was constructed in the 1960s by theInternational Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by theFrance family. Talladega is most known for its steep banking and the unique location of the start/finish line that's located just past the exit to pit road. The track currently hosts theNASCAR series such as theNASCAR Cup Series,Xfinity Series and theCamping World Truck Series. Talladega is the longestNASCAR oval with a length of 2.66-mile-long (4.28 km) tri-oval like theDaytona International Speedway, which also is a 2.5-mile-long (4 km) tri-oval.
The first practice session would occur on Friday, April 27, at 10:35 AMEST, and would last for 50 minutes.[2]Cole Custer ofStewart-Haas Racing withBiagi-DenBeste would set the fastest time in the session, with a time of 49.329 and an average speed of 194.125 miles per hour (312.414 km/h).[3]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing withBiagi-DenBeste | Ford | 49.329 | 194.125 |
| 2 | 23 | Spencer Gallagher | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 49.366 | 193.980 |
| 3 | 11 | Ryan Truex | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 49.373 | 193.952 |
| Full first practice results | ||||||
The second and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, would occur on Friday, April 27, at 12:35 PMEST, and would last for 50 minutes.[2]Shane Lee ofRichard Childress Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a time of 50.953 and an average speed of 187.938 miles per hour (302.457 km/h).[3]
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | Shane Lee | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 50.953 | 187.938 |
| 2 | 11 | Ryan Truex | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 51.389 | 186.343 |
| 3 | 16 | Ryan Reed | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 51.443 | 186.148 |
| Full Happy Hour practice results | ||||||
Qualifying would occur on Saturday, April 28, at 10:00 AMEST.[2] SinceTalladega Superspeedway at least 2 miles (3.2 km), the qualifying system was a single car, single lap, two round system where in the first round, everyone would set a time to determine positions 13-40. Then, the fastest 12 qualifiers would move on to the second round to determine positions 1-12.[4]
Daniel Hemric ofRichard Childress Racing would win the pole, setting a time of 50.559 and an average speed of 189.402 miles per hour (304.813 km/h) in the second round.[5]
One driver would fail to qualify:Morgan Shepherd.
Stage 1 Laps: 25
Stage 2 Laps: 25
Stage 3 Laps: 65
| Previous race: 2018 ToyotaCare 250 | NASCAR Xfinity Series 2018 season | Next race: 2018 OneMain Financial 200 |