Dominating Historic Win for Xfinity Series in Homestead

The 2018 racing season comes to an end for the Xfinity Series with the Ford EcoBoost 300.

Cole Custer, Christopher Bell, Tyler Reddick, and Daniel Hemric will all battle for the championship. Whichever driver takes the title, it will be a first for all of them.

There were 45 teams who brought cars to Homestead-Miami hoping for a starting spot in the race but there are only 40 starting spots. Josh Williams, Stephen Leicht, Josh Bilicki, Bayley Currey, and Tim Viens all failed to qualify for the race.

After three rounds of qualifying championship contender Cole Custer wins the pole and will bring the field to the green flag.

The starting lineup for the Ford EcoBoost 300:
Cole Custer
Christopher Bell
John Hunter Nemechek
Tyler Reddick
Austin Cindric
Justin Allgaier
Elliott Sadler
Brandon Jones
Daniel Hemric
Ryan Reed
Ryan Preece
Chase Briscoe
Michael Annett
Ryan Truex
Jeremy Clements
Spencer Gallagher
Kaz Grala
Ryan Sieg
Alex Labbe
Shane Lee
Max Tullman
Ross Chastain
Landon Cassill
Chad Finchum
Joey Hase
Brandon Brown
J.J. Yeley
Garrett Smithley
Tommy Joe Martins
Timmy Hill
BJ McLeod
Caesar Bacarella
David Starr
Quin Houff
Spencer Boyd
Jeff Green
Vinnie Miller
Carl Long
Angela Ruch

Stages one and two of the race are 45 laps each with stage three lasting 110 laps for a total of 200 laps around the mile and a half track.

Cole Custer dominated the race last year and is looking for a repeat to take the championship this year as he leads the field to the green flag. Christopher Bell spun his tires on the race start, Cole Custer jumps out in front for the lead.

The top five are Cole Custer, Tyler Reddick, Justin Allgaier, John Hunter Nemechek, and Christopher Bell.

Lap five, Cole Custer has pulled out to a lead of a second on Tyler Reddick.

Of the four championship contenders, Daniel Hemric is the only driver who has not won a race to get into the championship round.

All four of the championship drivers are in the top six.

Lap 10, Cole Custer has a lead of nearly two second on Tyler Reddick with John Hunter Nemechek in third.

Lap 12, Cole Custer leads the race by nearly two seconds; Tyler Reddick, John Hunter Nemechek, Daniel Hemric, and Christopher Bell round out the top five.

Lap 16, Cole Custer has led every lap and has a lead of over two seconds on Tyler Reddick. There are 32 cars on the lead lap with one car off the track – Vinnie Miller.

The top five are Cole Custer, Tyler Reddick, Daniel Hemric, John Hunter Nemechek, and Christopher Bell.

Last year, Cole Custer led 182 of the 200 laps in the race. Leading all 22 laps so far, Custer is looking to repeat his performance, except this time he is a part of the championship four.

Lap 24, there are 30 cars on the lead lap.

Lap 25, Cole Custer has a lead of over two seconds on Tyler Reddick; Daniel Hemric, John Hunter Nemechek, and Christopher Bel round out the top five.

Lap 32, Cole Custer continues to lead the race but Daniel Hemric is challenging Tyler Reddick for second place amid lapped traffic.

There are only 22 cars on the lead lap with four cars off of the track.

Lap 35, Cole Custer has a two second lead on Tyler Reddick and Daniel Hemric; John Hunter Nemechek and Justin Allgaier round out the top five.

Lap 40, Cole Custer continues to dominate the race with Tyler Reddick rim riding in second; Daniel Hemric, John Hunter Nemechek, and Justin Allgaier round out the top five.

Lap 41, Daniel Hemric has finally gotten around Tyler Reddick for second place. Driving the wheels off of it, Cole Custer has lapped half the field even before stage one is complete.

After 24 years f driving a race car, Elliott Sadler is making his final run. When the race ends, Elliott Sadler will retire from being a racer and in his words will retire to being a full time Dad.

Cole Custer wins stage one.

The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Cole Custer
Daniel Hemric
Tyler Reddick
Justin Allgaier
John Hunter Nemechek
Christopher Bell
Austin Cindric
Ryan Preece
Elliott Sadler
Ryan Reed

Caesar Bacarella gets sideways and spins out.

Cole Custer wins the race off of pit road, but second place driver Daniel Hemric lost five spots after the crew had trouble with one of his tires.

Cole Custer brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two on lap 52 and gets out in front to continue his lead.

The top five are Cole Custer, John Hunter Nemechek, Tyler Reddick, Christopher Bell, and Austin Cindric.

Lap 55, Cole Custer has a half second lead on John Hunter Nemechek with Christopher Bell over a second back.

Lap 58, Cole Custer has a lead of over half a second on John Hunter Nemechek; Christopher Bell, Tyler Reddick, and Austin Cindric round out the top five.

Lap 62, Cole Custer continues to dominate the race with John Hunter Nemechek in second and Christopher Bell in third.

Lap 66, Cole Custer has pulled out to a lead of over a second and a half on Christopher Bell with 21 cars on the lead lap.

Lap 70, Cole Custer holds on to his lead of over a second and a Half on Christopher Bell with John Hunter Nemechek, Austin Cindric, and Daniel Hemric rounding out the top five.

Lap 75, Cole Custer continues to lead the race with John Hunter Nemechek in second and Christopher Bell in third; Daniel Hemric and Austin Cindric round out the top five.

Lap 81, John Hunter Nemechek has closed the gap on leader Cole Custer to just over a second with Christopher Bell in third.

Justin Allgaier runs a little too high along the wall and scrapes it but the track stays green.

Lap 84, Cole Custer has dominated the race and led every lap; John Hunter Nemechek is less than a second back in second; Christopher Bell, Daniel Hemric, and Ryan Preece round out the top five.

Rim riding, Tyler Reddick also scrapes the wall but there is no caution flag.

Lap 87, John Hunter Nemechek has closed to within half a second on leader Cole Custer.

Cole Custer wins stage two for the stage sweep.

The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Cole Custer
John Hunter Nemechek
Christopher Bel
Daniel Hemric
Ryan Preece
Justin Allgaier
Austin Cindric
Tyler Reddick
Elliott Sadler
Brandon Jones

John Hunter Nemechek wins the race off of pit road with Christopher Bell out second. Cole Custer loses two spots to come out third. For the first time in the race, Cole Custer will not be the leader of the race when stage three begins.

From the outside lane, John Hunter Nemechek brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three on lap 97 and despite a challenge from Christopher Bell, Nemechek holds on to the lead.

The top five are John Hunter Nemechek, Cole Custer, Christopher Bell, Daniel Hemric, and Ryan Preece. There are 21 cars on the lead lap.

With a stage of 110 laps, the drivers cannot make it to the end of the race without making a pit stop.

Lap 105, John Hunter Nemechek has a lead of nearly a second on Cole Custer; Christopher Bell, Daniel Hemric, and Tyler Reddick round out the top five.

Lap 111, John Hunter Nemechek has a one second lead on Cole Custer with Christopher Bell in third; Daniel Hemric and Tyler Reddick round out the top five.

There are 21 cars on the lead lap with six cars out of the race.

Lap 115, John Hunter Nemechek leads the field by less than a second; Cole Custer, Christopher Bell, Daniel Hemric, and Tyler Reddick round out the top five.

Lap 119, John Hunter Nemechek has pulled out to a lead of over a second on Cole Custer; with Christopher Bell, Daniel Hemric, and Tyler Reddick rounding out the top five.

Tyler Reddick is running the high line and has scraped the wall a number of times.

Lap 122, the top five are John Hunter Nemechek, Cole Custer, Christopher Bell, Tyler Reddick, and Daniel Hemric.

Lap 124, Shane Lee has to bring his number three car down pit road.

Lap 125, Tyler Reddick has passed Christopher Bell to take third place rim riding along the wall.

The top five are John Hunter Nemechek, Cole Custer, Tyler Reddick, Christopher Bell, and Daniel Hemric.

There are 20 cars on the lead lap.

Lap 130, John Hunter Nemechek has a lead of half a second on Cole Custer with Tyler Reddick running some of the fastest laps on the track along the wall in third.

Tyler Reddick began the 2108 season by winning the closest race in Xfinity history at Daytona.

Lap 134, the top five are John Hunter Nemechek, Cole Custer, Tyler Reddick, Christopher Bell, and Daniel Hemric.

Lap 138, John Hunter Nemechek holds on to the lead of the race with Cole Custer, Tyler Reddick, Christopher Bell, and Daniel Hemric rounding out the top five.

Lap 139, John Hunter Nemechek continues to lead the race, but Cole Custer and Tyler Reddick are beginning to challenge for the lead.

The drivers are now in their fuel window.

Lap 142, Christopher Bell is the first driver to begin the cycle of green flag pit stops.

John Hunter Nemechek’s lead is less than a second on Cole Custer.

John Hunter Nemechek, Cole Custer, and Daniel Hemric have yet to make a pit stop.

Lap 146, John Hunter Nemechek leads the race by over half a second on Cole Custer with Daniel Hemric in third.

Leader John Hunter Nemechek makes his pit stop on lap 147; giving the lead over to Cole Custer.

Cole Custer finally makes his pt stop and Tyler Reddick is the new leader of the race with 53 laps remaining in the race.

The top five are Tyler Reddick, Christopher Bell, John Hunter, Nemechek, Cole Custer, Austin Cindric, and Daniel Hemric.

Lap 150, Tyler Reddick has a half second lead on Christopher Bell.

Garrett Smithley spins out getting on to pit road but the track stays green.

Lap 151, Christopher Bel is closing the gap on leader Tyler Reddick.

Christopher Bell gets around Tyler Reddick to take over the lead.

Lap 157, the top five are Christopher Bell, Tyler Reddick, John Hunter Nemechek, Cole Custer, and Austin Cindric.

Lap 158 Christopher Bell has a lead of over half a second on Tyler Reddick with 15 cars on the lead lap.

Running the top lane, Tyler Reddick is gaining on leader Christopher Bell.

With 39 laps remaining in the race, Tyler Reddick has caught leader Christopher Bell and is challenging for the lead.

Lap 163, Tyler Reddick has finally passed Christopher Bell to become the new leader.

Lap 165, Cole Custer has passed Christopher Bell to take third.

The top five are Tyler Reddick, Cole Custer, Christopher Bell, John Hunter Nemechek, and Daniel Hemric.

Lap 167, Tyler Reddick has pulled out to a lead of over a second and a half on Cole Custer with Christopher Bell nearly three seconds back.

Only 32 laps remain in the race, Cole Custer has moved up the track to run the high line against the wall.

Lap 169, Tyler Reddick has pulled out to a lead of two and a half seconds on Cole Custer.

Lap 172, the top five are Tyler Reddick, Cole Custer, Christopher Bell, John Hunter Nemechek, and Daniel Hemric.

Lap 175, John Hunter Nemechek gets around Christopher Bell to take third place.

Lap 176, Tyler Reddick has pulled out to a lead of over three seconds on Cole Custer with 13 cars on the lead lap.

Lap 177, Tyler Reddick continues to slowly increase his lead with Cole Custer in second; John Hunter Nemechek, Christopher Bell, and Daniel Hemric round out the top five.

Elliott Sadler makes an unscheduled stop on pit road with a bad vibration.

Running against the wall, Christopher Bell makes contact with the wall but the track stays green.

Only 17 laps renaming in the race, Tyler Reddick has pulled out to a lead of four and a half seconds on Cole Custer.

Lap 185, Tyler Reddick’s lead is now over five seconds on Cole Custer.

Running only inches off the wall, Tyler Reddick is driving it like he stole with a lead of six seconds on Cole Custer.

Lap 189, there are only nine cars on the lead lap.

Ten to go, Tyler Reddick holds on to a six second lead.

Christopher Bell has to make an unscheduled pit stop for a flat tire sustained when he hit the wall. Bell managed to get his car down pit road without bringing out the caution flag.

Lap 192, Tyler Reddick’s lead is now over six seconds. Rim riding all race long, Reddick finally comes down the track a few inches.

Lap 193, Tyler Reddick’s lead is nearly six and a half seconds on Cole Custer.

There are only seven cars on the lead lap.

Four laps remain in the race, Tyler Reddick has a lead of nearly six and a half seconds on Cole Custer.

Tyler Reddick takes the white flag six and a half seconds in front of Cole Custer.

Tyler Reddick wins the Ford EcoBoost 300…and the championship. Reddick ends the season the way he began, with a win. In Daytona he won the race by the closest time in Xfinity Series history; this time he won by over six seconds. The 22 year old rookie driver is the first person to ever win the first and the last race of the season.

Car owner Dale Earnhardt Jr won an Xfinity Series championship but never a Monster Cup title, he is a champion once again…as an owner.

Doing his burnout Tyler Reddick got the championship flag caught in the wheel and ripped it off of the pole.

The unofficial results of the Ford EcoBoost 300:
Tyler Reddick
Cole Custer
John Hunter Nemechek
Daniel Hemric
Austin Cindric
Ryan Preece
Justin Allgaier
Brandon Jones
Michael Annett
Matt Tifft
Christopher Bell
Ryan Reed
Chase Briscoe
Elliott Sadler
Ryan Truex
Ross Chastain
Spencer Gallagher
Kaz Grala
Jeremy Clements
Shane Lee
Alex Labbe
Ryan Sieg
Joey Gase
Brandon Brown
Max Tullman
Tommy Joe Martins
Garrett Smithley
David Starr
Quin Houff
Spencer Boyd
Chad Finchum
BJ McLeod
Carl Long
Caesar Bacarella
Timmy Hill
J.J. Yeley
Angela Ruch
Landon Cassill
Jeff Green
Vinnie Miller