| Type: | CUST |
| First Team: | Chip Ganassi Racing |
| Date: | July 6 |
| Pole Driver: | Ryan Preece |
| Pole Team: | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| Announcers: | Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte, Dale Earnhardt Jr. |
| Network: | NBCSN |
| Radio: | Motor Racing Network |
| Most Driver: | Kyle Larson |
| First Driver: | Kyle Larson |
| Most Laps: | 40 |
| Car: | 42 |
| Most Team: | Chip Ganassi Racing |
| Pole Time: | Set by 2018 owner's points |
| Location: | Daytona Beach, Florida, Daytona International Speedway |
| Distance Km: | 422.452 |
| Description: | Race 16 of 33 of the 2018 NASCAR Xfinity Series |
| Race Name: | Coca-Cola Firecracker 250 |
| Official Name: | 17th Annual Coca-Cola Firecracker 250 |
| Distance Laps: | 105 |
| Scheduled Laps: | 100 |
| Scheduled Km: | 402.336 |
| Scheduled Mi: | 500 |
| Course Km: | 4.0 |
| Course Mi: | 2.5 |
| Year: | 2018 |
| Distance Mi: | 262.5 |
| Avg: | 129.541mph |
The 2018 Coca-Cola Firecracker 250 was the 16th stock car race of the 2018 NASCAR Xfinity Series season and the 17th iteration of the event. The race was held on Friday, July 6, 2018, in Daytona Beach, Florida at Daytona International Speedway, a 2.5 miles (4.0 km) permanent triangular-shaped superspeedway. The race was extended from its scheduled 100 laps to 105 due to a NASCAR overtime finish. At race's end, a close, but controversial finish would see Chip Ganassi Racing driver Kyle Larson win his 11th career NASCAR Xfinity Series win and his third of his part-time season.[1] To fill out the podium, Elliott Sadler of JR Motorsports and Christopher Bell of Joe Gibbs Racing would finish second and third, respectively.
In a controversial ruling, GMS Racing driver Justin Haley, who had initially won the race was instead disqualified from his win due to him passing Larson below the yellow line, moving him to the last position on the lead lap, which was 18th.[2]
Daytona International Speedway is one of three superspeedways to hold NASCAR races, the other two being Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway.[3] The standard track at Daytona International Speedway is a four-turn superspeedway that is 2.5 miles (4.0 km) long. The track's turns are banked at 31 degrees, while the front stretch, the location of the finish line, is banked at 18 degrees.[4]
The first practice session was held on Thursday, July 5, at 1:05 PM EST, and would last for 50 minutes.[6] Ryan Reed of Roush Fenway Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 45.885 and an average speed of 196.143mph.[7]
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16 | Ryan Reed | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 45.885 | 196.143 | |
| 2 | 24 | Justin Haley | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 45.949 | 195.869 | |
| 3 | 11 | Ryan Truex | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 45.958 | 195.831 | |
| Full first practice results | |||||||
The second and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Thursday, July 5, at 3:05 PM EST, and would last for 50 minutes.[8] Chad Finchum of MBM Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 48.500 and an average speed of 185.567mph.[9]
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 40 | Chad Finchum | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 48.500 | 185.567 | |
| 2 | 66 | Timmy Hill | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 48.507 | 185.540 | |
| 3 | 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet | 48.676 | 184.896 | |
| Full Happy Hour practice results | |||||||
Qualifying was originally going to be held on Friday, July 6, at 2:10 PM EST.[10] However, rain would cancel the qualifying session, forcing NASCAR to resort to the rulebook to set up the lineup, using the current 2018 owner's points. As a result, Ryan Preece of Joe Gibbs Racing won the pole.[11]
Stage 1 Laps: 30