Capping off a triple header weekend, the Monster Energy Cup Series takes on Miles the Monster at Dover International Speedway for the AAA 400 Drive for Autism.
In round one of qualifying Kasey Kahne and Ryan Newman ran two laps each and beating astronomical odds, they both ran identical times in both laps!
After three rounds of qualifying Kyle Larson wins the pole and will bring the field to the gree flag. This is Larson’s first Dover pole and his first of the 2018 racing season.
The starting lineup for the AAA 400 Drive for Autism:
Kyle Larson – moved to the back of the field after failing inspection three times, car chief also ejected
Kevin Harvick
Martin Truex Jr
Kyle Busch
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Chase Elliott
Daniel Suarez
Brad Keselowski
Kurt Busch
Denny Hamlin
Erik Jones
Clint Bowyer
Aric Almirola
Ryan Blaney
Alex Bowman – moved to the back of the field after failing inspection three times, car chief also ejected
Chris Buescher
William Byron
Joey Logano
Jimmie Johnson
Paul Menard
Ryan Newman
Trevor Bayne
Jamie McMurray
Matt DiBenedetto
Kasey Kahne
Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr
Austin Dillon – moved to the back of the field for a non compliant splitter
AJ Allmendinger
Michael McDowell
Ty Dillon
Ross chastain
David Ragan
Landon Cassill
Reed Sorenson
Gray Gaulding
Derrike Cope
Cody Ware
Corey LaJoie
Stages one and two of the race will last 120 laps each with stage three lasting 160 laps for a total of 400 laps around the concrete one mile track. With a fuel window of 85 to 90 laps, the drivers cannot run a full stage without making a pit stop.
After pole sitter Kyle Larson was moved to the back of the field for failing to pass inspection in a timely manner, Kevin Harvick brings the field down for the green flag start of the race.
Harvick edges out for the lead but not without getting some challenges from Martin True r first.
The first caution flag comes out on lap three when Michael Mcdowell spins out after apparently being bumped from behind by Bubba Wallace.
Taking the outside lane, Kevin Harvick brings the field down for the green restart on lap seven and holds on to his lead.
Lap 10 the top five are Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex Jr, Chase elliott, Kyle buschm, and Brad Keselowski.
Kyle Busch is reporting vibration concerns and says that the engine doesn’t sound right.
Lap 15 Kevin Harvick has a lead of over a second on Martin truex Jr with Chase Elliott in third, Kyle Busch in fourth, and Brad Keselowski in fifth. All 38 cars are still on the lead lap.
Lap 19 Kevin Harvick now has a second and a half lead on Martin Truex Jr with Kyle busch – despite complaints of possible engine trouble – Chase Elliott, and Brad Kes rounding out the top five.
The second caution flag of the race comes out when Corey LaJoie’s engine blows up and sprews copius amounts of smoke across the track. This is the third engine failure in four races for LaJoie.
Kyle Busch reports that the vibration issue is getting better.
Taking only no tires, Austin Dillon wins the race off of pit road, but Kyle Larson and Alex Bowman stayed out on the track and will bring the field to the green flag.
Alex Bowman brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 26 and gets out in front to lead the race with Kyle Larson in second; Brad Keselowski, Martin Truex Jr, and Kevin Harvick round out the top five.
During his pit stop, Clint Bowyer’s team had an issue with the air gun.
Lap 31 Alex Bowman has the number 88 car out in front with Kyle Larson nearly half a second behind; Brad Keselowski, Martin Truex Jr, and Kevin Harvick round out the top five.
Bubba wallace’s car is slowing on the track but the track stays green and he continues racing.
The drivers are running laps at under 24 seconds.
There is rain in the forecast for later and NASCAR hopes to get the race completed before the bad weather arrives.
Lap 37 Alex Bwoman continues to lead the race with Kyle Larson in second after having to start the race at the back of the field.
Lap 40 Alex Bowman has a lead of over a second on Kyle Larson.
With 36 cars on the lead lap, Alex Bowman’s lead is less than a second on Kyle Larson on lap 46.
Lap 52 old tires have given away to new with Brad Keselowski in the lead with Martin Truex Jr in second; Kevin Harvick, Alex Bowman, and Kyle Busch round out the top five.
Lap 57 Brad Keselowski has a lead of over half a second on Martin Truex Jr with Kevin Harvick in third, Kyle Busch in fourth, and Alex Bowman in fifth.
Lap 60, there are 30 cars on the lead lap; Brad Keselowski continues to lead the race.
Lap 64 Brad Keselowski has a half second lead on Martin Truex Jr.
Matt DiBenedetto had an uncontrolled tire during his pit stop and had to serve a pass through penalty.
Tire issues may be a big problem for the teams today, pit road slants away from pit wall; meaing any unattended tire will roll toward the track.
With 45 laps remaining in stage one, Brad Keselowski continues to lead the race by a half second over Martin Truex Jr; Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, and Ryan Blaney round out the top five.
Lap 79 Landon Cassill makes a pit stop as drivers who did not pit at the last caution begin green flag pit stops.
Lap 86 Brad Keselowski’s lead is down to only two tenths of a second over Martin Truex Jr; Kevin Harvick, Kyle busch, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five.
Lap 90 Brad Keselowski holds on to a narrow lead on Martin Truex Jr while slower traffic battles to stay on the lead lap in front of him.
Lap 95 the top five are Brad Keselowski, Martin Truex Jr, Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, and Denny Hamlin.
Martin Truex Jr comes down pit road for an unscheduled pit stop with reports of a tire going down.
Lap 100, Brad Keselowski leads the race by a second with Kevin Harvick in second, Kyle busch in third, Denny Hamlin in fourth, and Ryan Blaney in fifth.
Kyle Larson was charged with an uncontrolled tire during his pit stop.
Leader Brad Keselowski has concerns of whether or not he has enough fuel to make it to the end of the stage.
Kyle Busch is in fuel conservation mode, working to make it to the end of the stage before making a pit stop.
Lap 106 Brad Keselowski’s lead is doen to under a quarter of a second over Kevin Harvick.
Lap 107 Kevin Harvick passes Brad Keselowski for the lead of the race.
Lap 110 Kevin Harvick leads the race with Brad Keselowski in second, Kyle Busch in third, Denny Hamlin in fourth, and Chase Elliott in fifth with 19 cars on the lead lap.
Six laps to go in stage one and Kevin Harvick is out in front.
Paul Menard is taking his car to the garage with a tire issue – they couldn’t get the tire off during the pit stop.
Chase Elliott’s team is reporting very close to running out of fuel.
Erik Jones brings his car down pit road on fumes, Ryan Newman is also coming down pit road out of fuel even though pit road is closed. Denny Hamlin is very close to running out of fuel but manages to stay on the track until the end of the stage.
Kevin Harvick wins stage one.
The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Kevin Harvick
Kyle Busch
Brad Keselowski
Daneil Suarez
Kurt Busch
Chase Elliott
Clint Bowyer
Jimmie Johnson
Joey Logano
Ryan Blaney
Kevin Hrvick wins the race off of pit road.
There is a loose wheel sitting on the track…
The tire belongs to Kurt Busch’s team and he will have to serve a pass through penalty.
Martin Truex Jr, Erik Jones, Alex Bowman, Cody Ware, Kyle Larson, and Matt DiBenedetto all took the wavearound and did not make a pit stop.
Ryan Newman and Denny Hamlin have to restart the race at the back of the field for pitting when pit road was closed.
Kevin Harvick brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two on lap 128 and holds on to the lead from the outside lane; Kyle Busch, Daneil Suarez, and ryan Blaney round out the top five.
William Byron also had an uncontrolled tire during his pit stop and is restarting from the back of the field.
Lap 132, Kevin Harvick has a one second lead on Brad Keselowski; Kyle Busch, Daniel Suarez, and Jimmie Johnson round out the top five.
Lap 140 Kevin Harvick’s lead is over a second and a half on Brad Keselowski.
Lap 146 Kevin Harvick has a lead of nearly two seconds on Brad Keselowski with Kyle Busch, Daniel Suarez, and Jimmie Johnson rounding out the top five.
Derrike Cope brings out the caution flag after spinning out and hitting the wall hard. Most of the field makes pit stops.
Brad Keselowski wins the race off of pit road.
Ryan Newman takes his car to the garage for unknown issues.
Brad Keselowski brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 159 and edges out Kevin Harvick for the lead.
Ryan Newman is in the garage with a broken wheel stud.
Lap 160 the top five are Brad Keselowski, Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, and Ryan Blaney.
Lap 166, Brad Keselowski has a lead of half a second on Kevin Harvick; Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Blaney, andKyle Busch round out the top five.
Early in the race Kyle Busch was complaining of a bad vibration, since then he has said nothing further on any vibrations.
Ryan Newman returns to the track 18 laps down.
Lap 177 leader Brad Keselowski has led 84 laps – the most he has ever led at Dover and the most of the 2018 season.
Lap 178 Brad Keselowski has a narrow lead on Kevin Harvick with Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, and Ryan Blaney rounding out the top five.
Lap 180 Kyle Busch passes Jimmie Johnson for third place.
Lap 182, there are 21 cars on the lead lap.
Lap 187 Brad Keselowski has a quarter of a second lead on Kevin Harvick with Kyle Busch in third, Jimmie Johnson in fourth, and Ryan Blaney in fifth.
Lap 191 Brad Keselowski holds on to his narrow lead over Kevin Harvick; Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson, and Ryan Blaney round out the top five.
Lap 199, Kevin Harvick passes brad Keselowski to retake the lead.
Once he takes the lead, Kevin Harvick pulls away from Brad Keselowski and in two laps is a second out in front.
With 35 laps remaining in stage two, the top five are Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski, Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson, and Ryan Blaney. There are 21 cars on the lead lap.
With 26 laps remaining in stage two, Kevin Harvick has a lead of nearly two seocnds on Brad Keselowski; Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson, and Ryan Blaney round out the top five.
Lap 223 Kevin Harvick has a lead of over three seconds on Brad Keselowski; Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson, and Ryan Blaney round out the top five.
Lap 225 Kevin Harvick is running away from the field with a lead of nearly four seconds on Brad Keselowski.
There are 17 cars on the lead lap.
Lap 230, Kevin Harvick holds on to a lead of nearly four seconds on Brad Keselowski with Kyle Busch in third.
Ryan Blaney is reporting possible tire issues.
Only six laps to go in stage two and Keving Harvick is mowing them down with only 15 cars on the lead lap.
Kevin Harvick wins stage two by nearly four seconds.
The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Kevin Harvick
Brad Keselowski
Kyle Busch
Jimmie Johnson
Clint Bowyer
Daniel Suarez
Martin Truex Jr
Ryan Blaney
Chase elliott
Joey Logano
Kevin Harvick wins the race off of pit road.
Kevin Harvick brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three on lap 249 and jumps out to the lead from the outside lane.
Lap 250 the top five are Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski, Clint Bowyer, Kyle Busch, and Martin truex Jr.
The drivers are getting three wide across the track.
Lap 253, Kevin Harvick has already pulled out to a lead of over a second on Brad Keselowski.
Cody Ware brings out the caution flag on lap 254 when he hit the wall.
Despite ust having come down pit road, drivers come down for fresh tires and service.
Kevin Harvick brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 259 and once again jumps out in front of the field for the lead of the race.
Lap 261 Kevin Harvick has a lead of nearly a second on Brad Keselowski; Kyle busch, Clint Bowyer, and Ryan Blaney round out the top five.
Lap 266 Kevin Harvick’s lead is over a second and half on Brad Keselowski; Kyle Busch, Clint Bowyer, and Ryan blaney round out the top five.
Kyle Busch is slowing on the track and reports something broke. The caution flag comes out for fluid dropped by Busch. Early in the race he reported a drive shaft issue and says that is what caused the problem.
FOX camera crew found a part of Kyle Busch’s drive shaft laying on the track.
Brad Keselowski wins ther off of pit road after taking only two tires.
After staying out on the track, Ricky Stenhouse Jr brngs the field down for the green flag restart on lap 281 and edges out for the lead after a brief battle with Jamie McMurray.
Lap 282 the top five are Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Joey Logano, Clint Bowyer, Martin Truex Jr, and Brad Keselowski.
Lap 285, Ricky Stenhoue Jr has pulled out to a lead of over a second on Clint Bowyer; Joey Logano, Martin Truex Jr, and Kevin Harvick round out the top five.
Lap 290, Ricky Stenhouse Jr has a second lead on clint Bowyer with Joey Logano, Martin truex Jr, and Kevin Harvick rounding out the top five.
Lap 293 Clint Bowyer is closing the gap on leader Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Bowyer is now only a tenth of a second behind.
Lap 296 Ricky Stenhouse Jr and Cinty Bowyer battle to the lead with Clint Bowyer taking the lead on lap 297.
Lap 300 clint Bowyer has pulled out to a lead of a second on Ricky Stenhouse Jr with Joey Logano, Martin Truex, Jr, and Kevin Harvick rounding out the top five.
Lap 305 Clint Bowyer leads the race with Ricky Stenhouse r, Joey Logano, Martin Truex Jr, and Kevin Harvick rounding out the top five.
Lap 313 Clint Bowyer has pulled out to a lead of over three seconds on now second place driver Kevin Harvick; Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Martin Truex Jr, and Brad Keselowski round out the top five.
NASCAR throws the caution flag on lap 315 as Mother Nature moves n and the raindrops begin.
Learder Clint Bowyer is hoping for a rain dance. The race is conisidered eligible for a complete race once stages one and two are complete.
At 4:50 NASCAR brings the cars down pit road so that the jet driers can begin drying the track.
NASCAR has brought out the red flag and released the drivers from their cars.
At 5:15 the rain is letting up and track drying contniues.
AT 5:25 NASCAR has called for car cover removal and the for the drivers to return to their cars.
At 5:28 the drivers are climbing into their cars.
After a 49 minute red flag, NASCAR put out the yellow flag and the drivers are back on the track.
Laps are counting as drivers wait for pit road to open. There are 17 cars on the lead lap.
Clint Bowyer wins the race off of pit road. Brad Keselowski’s team had issues with one of the tires.
Joey Logano is making a second trip down pit road for a possible loose wheel.
AJ Allmendinger was charged with an uncontrolled tire on pit road.
Ty Dillon was charged with taking equipment off of pit raod when the team did not get the adjustment wrench removed.
Clint Bowyer brings the field down for the green flag restart with only 75 laps remaining in the race.
Clint Bowyer quickly gets out in front of Kevin Harvick for the lead with Daniel suarez in third, martin Truex Jr in fourth, and Kurt Busch in fifth.
Lap 330 Clint bowyer holds on to his lead over Kevin Harvick.
The short rain storm brought some cooler temperatures; resulting in quicker lap times and better grip on the track.
Lap 334 Clin Bowyer has a lead just under half a second on team mate Kevin Harvick; Daniel Suarez, Martin Truex Jr, and Kurt busch round out the top five.
On lap 337 Kevin Harvick passes Clint Bowyer for the lead.
Lap 340 Kevin Harvick has pulled out to a lead of just under a second on Clint Bowyer; Daniel Suarez, Martin Truex Jr, and Kurt Busch round out the top five.
Lap 344, Kevin Harvick has pulled out to a two second lead on Clint Bowyer.
Fifty to go, Kevin Harvick’s lead is nearly two and a half seconds on Clint Bowyer.
Lap 356, Kevin Harvick has increased his lead to over three seconds over Clint Bowyer; with Daniel Suarez, Martin Truex Jr, and Kurt Busch rounding out the top five.
Lap 362 Kevin Harvick continues to hold a three second lead on Clint Bowyer.
Drivers who took the wave around on the restart are now beginnng to make pit stops.
FOX commentator Mike Joy questions what is the bright orb in the sky – they haven’t seen the sun in over two days.
Lap 370 Kevin Harvick’s lead is now over four seconds over Clint Bowyer.
As leader Kevin Harvick increases his lead over Clint Bowyer, the gap between Clint Bowyer and Daniel Suarez is slowly closing.
Lap 375, Clint Bowyer is closing the gap on Kevin Harvick after Harvick encountered several lapped cars.
Lap 379 Kevin Harvick’s lead is over five seconds on Clint bowyer with Daniel Suarez, martin Treix Jr, and Kurt busch rounding out the top five. There are 16 cars on the lead lap.
Lap 383, Kevin Harvick’s lead is now less than five seconds over Clint Bowyer.
Lap 387 Kevin Harvick’s lead is now nearly six seconds on Clint Bowyer.
Ten to go! Kevin Harvick’s lead is over six seconds on Clint Bowyer; Daniel Suarez, Martin tTuex Jr, and Kurt Busch round out the top five.
Lap 392 Kevin Harvick is “driving it like he stole it” with a lead of over seven seconds on Clint Bowyer with three drivers battling it out for the third spot.
Five to go and Kevin Harvick is dominating the race.
There are only 13 cars on the lead lap.
Kevin Harvick takes the white flag!
Kevin Harvick wins the AAA 400 in dominating fashion for his 41st career win and the fourth of this season. And for the first time Stewart-Haas Racing placed three drivers in the top five.
The unofficial results of the AAA 400 Drive for Autism:
Kevin Harvick
Clint Bowyer
Daniel Suarez
Martin Truex Jr
Kurt Busch
Brad Keselowski
Denny Hamlin
Ryan Blaney
Jimmie Johnson
Kyle Larson
Aric Almirola
Chase Elliott
Joey Logano
William Byron
Ricky Stenhoue Jr
Jamie McMurray
Kasey Kahne
Erik Jones
Trevor Bayne
Cris Buescher
AJ Allmendinger
Michael McDowell
Alex Bowman
Ty Dillon
Darrell Wallace Jr
Austin Dillon
David Ragan
Ross Chastain
Matt DiBenedetto
Gray Gaulding
Landon Cassill
Reed Sorenson
Ryan Newman
Paul Menard
Kyle Busch
Cody Ware
Derrike Cope
Corey LaJoie