Here we go again! With less than 80 days until the 2018 Daytona 500 I am starting the new thread with updated drivers numbers and a full race schede.
The title of MENCS is assuming that Monster Energy is returning as the series sponsor. Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.
Throughout the second half of last season we saw a plethora of changes in the roster. 40-something year old veterans like Matt Kenseth and Dale Earnhardt Jr retiring, Danica Patrick stepping away from full time competition.
Along with these departures comes fresh, young faces to inject even more youth into the sport.
21 year old Erik Jones moving into Kenseths ride, 24 year old Alex Bowman strapping into Dale Jrs #88. And the freshly turned 20 year old 2017 Xfinity champion William Byron stepping into the legendary #24.
Along with these names, there are a few old dogs hanging around who will be trying their best to keep in a job in the coming years. Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer and even Jimmie Johnson to name a few. Although Johnson signed an extension through 2020 with his team so he's safe for a little while.
So without further ado, your 2018 MENCS lineup:
1 Jamie McMurray
2 Brad Keselowski
3 Austin Dillon
4 Kevin Harvick
6 Trevor Bayne
9 Chase Elliott
10 Aric Almirola
11 Denny Hamlin
12 Ryan Blaney
13 Ty Dillon
14 Clint Bowyer
15 TBA
17 Ricky Stenhouse jr
18 Kyle Busch
19 Daniel Suarez
20 Erik Jones
21 Paul Menard
22 Joey Logano
23 TBA
24 William Byron
27 TBA
31 Ryan Newman
32 Matt DiBenedetto
33 Jeffery Earnhardt
34 Michael McDowell
37 Chris Beuscher
38 TBA
41 Kurt Busch (still not 100% confirmed as of this posting)
42 Kyle Larson
43 Darrell (Bubba) Wallace Jr
47 AJ Allmendinger
48 Jimmie Johnson
51 Ray Black jr
52 multiple drivers
66 multiple drivers
72 Cole Whitt
75 Brendan Gaughan
78 Martin Truex Jr ***2017 series champion***
88 Alex Bowman
95 Kasey Kahne
00 Derrick Cope
TBA front row racing 3rd car number and driver.
The average age of the full time drivers is 30. The thing that makes it so high is a few of guys that are in early 40s. The vast majority are under 30, with most of those being 25 and under.
There's going to be so many young guys going out trying to get that first win. Or guys like 25 year old Kyle Larson trying to prove why he's a top contender for the title. 20 year old William Byron will be trying to prove why he belongs in cup at such a young age after having 3 dominating seasons in lower series.
So many great reasons to check out the 60th running of the Daytona 500 on February 18th.
And to add to the excitement of it all: Stage Racing. My personal favourite aspect of NASCAR. Implemented last season, stage racing brings an exciting new dynamic to the races. Each race is broken down into 3 stages (4 stages for the coca cola 600). At the end of each stage drivers are awarded points on a sliding scale.
10 points for the driver who is in 1st.
9 for 2nd
8 for 3rd.
All the way down to 1 point for 10th.
These points are added onto the end of race points and cannot be taken away even if they don't finish the race.
Along with these points, the STAGE WINNER (person in 1st at end of stage) is awarded 1 bonus PLAYOFF POINT which is used in the playoffs. When the points are reset after the first 26 races, drivers are then given their bonus PLAYOFF points to add onto that value.
Example:
If a driver has accumulated 50 playoff points throughout the year, he starts the playoffs at 2050 points rather than 2000. And it's the same for all 16 drivers. Whatever playoff points they earn, they carry with them. They are even earned throughout the playoffs too. So everytime their points get reset at the start of the next round they have their playoff points to carry with them.
It's an interesting dynamic which I love.
Some people get confused by it, But it's really not too hard to understand if you want to.
The title of MENCS is assuming that Monster Energy is returning as the series sponsor. Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.
Throughout the second half of last season we saw a plethora of changes in the roster. 40-something year old veterans like Matt Kenseth and Dale Earnhardt Jr retiring, Danica Patrick stepping away from full time competition.
Along with these departures comes fresh, young faces to inject even more youth into the sport.
21 year old Erik Jones moving into Kenseths ride, 24 year old Alex Bowman strapping into Dale Jrs #88. And the freshly turned 20 year old 2017 Xfinity champion William Byron stepping into the legendary #24.
Along with these names, there are a few old dogs hanging around who will be trying their best to keep in a job in the coming years. Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer and even Jimmie Johnson to name a few. Although Johnson signed an extension through 2020 with his team so he's safe for a little while.
So without further ado, your 2018 MENCS lineup:
1 Jamie McMurray
2 Brad Keselowski
3 Austin Dillon
4 Kevin Harvick
6 Trevor Bayne
9 Chase Elliott
10 Aric Almirola
11 Denny Hamlin
12 Ryan Blaney
13 Ty Dillon
14 Clint Bowyer
15 TBA
17 Ricky Stenhouse jr
18 Kyle Busch
19 Daniel Suarez
20 Erik Jones
21 Paul Menard
22 Joey Logano
23 TBA
24 William Byron
27 TBA
31 Ryan Newman
32 Matt DiBenedetto
33 Jeffery Earnhardt
34 Michael McDowell
37 Chris Beuscher
38 TBA
41 Kurt Busch (still not 100% confirmed as of this posting)
42 Kyle Larson
43 Darrell (Bubba) Wallace Jr
47 AJ Allmendinger
48 Jimmie Johnson
51 Ray Black jr
52 multiple drivers
66 multiple drivers
72 Cole Whitt
75 Brendan Gaughan
78 Martin Truex Jr ***2017 series champion***
88 Alex Bowman
95 Kasey Kahne
00 Derrick Cope
TBA front row racing 3rd car number and driver.
The average age of the full time drivers is 30. The thing that makes it so high is a few of guys that are in early 40s. The vast majority are under 30, with most of those being 25 and under.
There's going to be so many young guys going out trying to get that first win. Or guys like 25 year old Kyle Larson trying to prove why he's a top contender for the title. 20 year old William Byron will be trying to prove why he belongs in cup at such a young age after having 3 dominating seasons in lower series.
So many great reasons to check out the 60th running of the Daytona 500 on February 18th.
And to add to the excitement of it all: Stage Racing. My personal favourite aspect of NASCAR. Implemented last season, stage racing brings an exciting new dynamic to the races. Each race is broken down into 3 stages (4 stages for the coca cola 600). At the end of each stage drivers are awarded points on a sliding scale.
10 points for the driver who is in 1st.
9 for 2nd
8 for 3rd.
All the way down to 1 point for 10th.
These points are added onto the end of race points and cannot be taken away even if they don't finish the race.
Along with these points, the STAGE WINNER (person in 1st at end of stage) is awarded 1 bonus PLAYOFF POINT which is used in the playoffs. When the points are reset after the first 26 races, drivers are then given their bonus PLAYOFF points to add onto that value.
Example:
If a driver has accumulated 50 playoff points throughout the year, he starts the playoffs at 2050 points rather than 2000. And it's the same for all 16 drivers. Whatever playoff points they earn, they carry with them. They are even earned throughout the playoffs too. So everytime their points get reset at the start of the next round they have their playoff points to carry with them.
It's an interesting dynamic which I love.
Some people get confused by it, But it's really not too hard to understand if you want to.
Last edited:
