2018 Gander Outdoors 400


The 2018 Gander Outdoors 400 is a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race held on July 29, 2018 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. Contested over 164 laps -- extended from 160 laps due to an overtime finish, on the superspeedway, it was the 21st race of the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season.

Report

Background

is a superspeedway located in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania at Long Pond. It is the site of two annual NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races held in early June and late July/early August, one NASCAR Xfinity Series event in early June, one NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event in late July/early August, and two ARCA Racing Series races in early June and late July/early August. From 1971 to 1989, and again since 2013, the track has also hosted an Indy Car race, currently sanctioned by the IndyCar Series and run in August.
Pocono is one of a very few NASCAR tracks not owned by either Speedway Motorsports, Inc. or International Speedway Corporation, the dominant track owners in NASCAR. It is run by the Igdalsky siblings Brandon and Nicholas, both of whom are third-generation members of the family-owned Mattco Inc, started by Joseph II and Rose Mattioli. Mattco also owns South Boston Speedway in South Boston, Virginia.
Outside of the NASCAR races, Pocono is used throughout the year by Sports Car Club of America and motorcycle clubs as well as racing schools. The triangular oval also has three separate infield sections of racetrack – North Course, East Course and South Course. Each of these infield sections use a separate portion of the tri-oval to complete the track. During regular non-race weekends, multiple clubs can use the track by running on different infield sections. Also some of the infield sections can be run in either direction, or multiple infield sections can be put together – such as running the North Course and the South Course and using the tri-oval to connect the two.

Entry list

Practice

First practice

was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 51.439 seconds and a speed of.

Final practice

was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 51.029 seconds and a speed of.

Qualifying

scored the pole for the race with a time of 50.851 and a speed of after Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch were both disqualified after failing post-qualifying inspection.

Qualifying results

Stage Results

Stage 1
Laps: 50
Stage 2
Laps: 50

Final Stage Results

Stage 3
Laps: 60

Race statistics

Television

covered the race on the television side. Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and two-time Pocono winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. had the call in the booth for the race. Dave Burns, Marty Snider and Kelli Stavast reported from pit lane during the race.

Radio

had the radio call for the race, which was simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio.

Standings after the race

;Drivers' Championship standings
;Manufacturers' Championship standings