See Also: Part 1
This is the second of a five-part series recapping the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season.
Having come home second to Clint Bowyer in Martinsville – his third runner-up finish of the season, Kyle Busch had proven he was one of the best drivers in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series early in 2018. Busch remained winless until he held off three-race winner Kevin Harvick at Texas Motor Speedway and was flawless over the final 23 laps to earn his first victory of the year.
Harvick finished second and led Busch in the playoff standings as the series headed to Bristol Motor Speedway.
Race Story and Results | Photos
While Kevin Harvick had to start the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway from the tail after going to a backup car, Kyle Busch kept the good times rolling. He won the top starting spot and earned his seventh Bristol victory and his second straight.
Busch chased down Kyle Larson, who led a race-high 200 laps, and made contact with his rear bumper six laps from the finish and drove into the top spot.
Race Story and Results | Photos
NASCAR’s short-track season continued the following Saturday night at Richmond Raceway. This time, Kyle Busch had to start deep in the field after a 32nd-place qualifying effort, but Busch’s Toyota was strong in the race – and early on, he cut through the pack. Busch took the lead for the first time on Lap 112 of 400.
A late pit stop proved to be the move to seal the deal for Busch. He came off pit road with the top spot after a fast stop and was able to maintain the lead in the overtime shootout to the checkered flag after getting the jump on Denny Hamlin when the green flag flew to restart the race to its finish.
Busch joined Kevin Harvick winning three straight races in the first nine races of the 2018 season.
Race Story and Results | Photos
Joey Logano’s road to the championship started when he snapped a 36-race winless drought by scoring the win in the GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.
Logano led four times for 70 laps, including the final 43. As the laps wound down to the checkered flag it was difficult for any drivers behind Logano to mount a significant charge and challenge the Team Penske Ford driver for the top spot and the win.
Race Story and Results | Photos
Kevin Harvick swept all stages to score the win in the AAA 400 Drive for Autism 400 at Dover International Speedway for his fourth victory of the season.
Harvick led 201 laps to cruise to his 41st career win. The last time a driver had four wins in the first 11 races of a season was Jimmie Johnson in 2007.
The race was delayed by rain with 83 laps remaining and Harvick’s Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Clint Bowyer was the leader at that point. He finished second in the race and along with Kurt Busch in fifth, SHR placed three drivers in the top five for the first time.
Race Story and Results | Photos
At the 1.5-mile Kansas Speedway, there was talk of the Cup Series’ “Big 3” drivers – Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch, who had won 8 of the 11 races to that point.
Truex Jr. swept Kansas in 2017 and led the KC Masterpiece 400 late, but Harvick kept fighting til the final lap. Harvick charged to the win after coming from sixth on the final restart to score his fifth victory of the season.
“Man, that was a wild last few laps,” Harvick said. “I think as you look at the end of the race, I was really tight on the bottom so I just started driving it up top. I figured I’d either drive into the wall or win this race.”
Race Story and Results | Photos
To end the month of May, the Cup series traveled to Charlotte Motor Speedway for a two-week double-header. First, it was the non-points Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race where Kevin Harvick’s momentum helped put him in position for a million dollar payday.
On the final dash to the finish, Harvick drove away from the field to take the win.
Race Story and Results | Photos
Kevin Harvick’s luck ran out during the Memorial Day weekend classic in Charlotte – the Coca-Cola 600. After his car had problems passing pre-qualifying inspection, Harvick had to start from the 39th spot, and climbed to fourth before crashing in the first stage. He finished last.
But the other two drivers in NASCAR’s “Big 3” had a big night. Martin Truex Jr. finished second, and Kyle Busch won all four stage to earn his fouth victory of the year.
It was Busch’s first points paying win at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the Cup Series.
There were only four leaders, tying the record for fewest in a Coca-Cola 600. Busch led 377 laps, second most in the race’s history behind Truex Jr.’s 393 in 2016.
