There were a number of memorable moments in 2018 as Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races drew near the checkered flag.
Daytona 500
The season got off to a dramatic start with the last lap theatrics in “The Great American Race.” Austin Dillon made contact with Aric Almirola entering Turn 3 on the final lap to take the lead and win the Daytona 500.
Bristol (Spring Race)
Kyle Busch does a bump and run on Kyle Larson on lap 495 to get the lead and go on to the win. It’s a move that has been the trademark of Bristol racing for years and triggered a situation between the two drivers that would resurrect itself later in the season.
Kansas (Spring Race)
Kevin Harvick passes Martin Truex Jr. for the win just prior to the white flag and holds on to get the checkered flag. It ended a day that saw the Furniture Row Racing driver dominate, but Harvick was able to keep his early season momentum alive with the dramatic move.
Chicagoland
Remember Bristol? Kyle Larson and Kyle Busch again were in a battle for the lead in Chicagoland’s return to a summer date. Larson made contact with Busch as he attempted a slide job and went to the lead, but Busch bumped Larson off of Turn 4. Larson goes sideways and nearly spins, clips the grass but keeps going and still finishes second behind Busch in one of the all-time best final laps in the sport’s history.
Daytona (Summer)
Erik Jones scored his first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series win in a race that went to two overtimes and the Joe Gibbs Racing driver had to hold off Martin Truex Jr. at the checkered flag for the memorable victory.
Watkins Glen
One of the year’s most popular moments came in the annual summer trek to Watkins Glen when Chase Elliott scored his first Cup win after nearly losing the lead to Martin Truex Jr. on the last lap. The Furniture Row Racing driver finally ran out of fuel in Turn 6 and Elliott was uncontested to the checkered flag.
Charlotte Roval
Ryan Blaney was the beneficiary when Jimmie Johnson made contact with Truex Jr. on the last turn of the last lap. The wild ending capped off an incredible day of racing on the brand new road course-oval track hybrid built at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Talladega (Fall)
Kurt Busch ran out of fuel as the leader of the race on the last lap entering Turn 3 in overtime. Racing continued after an accident in Turn 1 did not bring out the caution flag and Aric Almirola inherited the lead and scored the win.
Martinsville (Fall)
Joey Logano knocked Martin Truex Jr. out of the way exiting Turn 4 to go back to the lead on the last lap to score the win as the Furniture Row Racing driver fell to third when Denny Hamlin passed him as the No. 78 crossed the start/finish line sideways. The finish erupted into a war of words and triggered one of the biggest controversies of the season.
Homestead-Miami
All of the Championship 4 drivers combined to lead 179 of the 267 laps and Joey Logano and Martin Truex Jr. found themselves battling for the lead in the end. Logano, who led a race-high 80 laps, got by Truex on Lap 256 and went on to win his first Cup Series championship.
