2018 ARCA Racing Series
The 2018 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards was the 66th season of the ARCA Racing Series. The season began on February 10 with the Lucas Oil 200 Driven by General Tire at Daytona International Speedway and ended on October 19 with the Kansas ARCA 150. Races were broadcast on FS1, FS2 and MAVTV. Sheldon Creed won the championship, ahead of his MDM Motorsports teammate Zane Smith.
Teams and drivers
Complete schedule
Limited schedule
Changes
Teams
- Cunningham Motorsports, due to the failing health of owner Briggs Cunningham, was put up for sale after the conclusion of the 2017 season. On January 9, 2018, the sale of the team was announced to longtime crew chief Chad Bryant. Bryant formed Chad Bryant Racing but kept the same cars, numbers and personnel that had been with the team previously.
- Mullins Racing cut ties with Basham Racing, whose owner points they had used in past years. Mullins formed a new alliance with Hixson Motorsports, and Mullins used Hixson's No. 3 in some events.
- Patriot Motorsports Group formed an alliance with Basham Racing to use Basham's No. 34 in select races.
- DGR-Crosley debuted with Noah Gragson at Daytona.
- Kimmel Racing entered an alliance with Finney Racing for Finney to use Kimmel's No. 69.
- Mason Mitchell Motorsports ceased operations on July 30.
- Following the deaths of James Hylton and his son James Jr., the team's driver, Brad Smith, took over operations of the 48 team, which was rebranded as Brad Smith Motorsports.
Drivers
- Zane Smith drove full-time for MDM Motorsports in 2018. Smith had competed for MDM and Venturini Motorsports in 2017.
- Natalie Decker drove full-time for Venturini Motorsports in their No. 25 entry. She ran part-time in the No. 25 during the 2017 season.
- Travis Braden ran full-time in RFMS Racing's No. 27 entry. He ran part-time in the No. 27 last year.
- Sheldon Creed ran full-time in MDM Motorsports' No. 28 entry. He drove part-time for MDM in multiple cars last year.
- Chase Purdy full-time in MDM Motorsports' No. 8 entry. He ran part-time for Mason Mitchell Motorsports in 2017.
- Michael Self raced with Venturini Motorsports for half of the season. He drove part-time for MDM Motorsports and Mason Mitchell Motorsports in 2017.
- Brandon Grosso took over Ken Schrader Racing's No. 52 car. The entry was previously driven in 2017 by champion Austin Theriault. Grosso began his schedule at Nashville after Will Rodgers piloted the car at Daytona; Grosso was not old enough to compete. Grosso eventually left the team, and the No. 52 team shut down as well.
- Joe Graf Jr. made his first foray into ARCA, teaming with Chad Bryant Racing for all races except Daytona.
- Four drivers made their debuts at Salem in the spring: Colby Howard with Mason Mitchell Motorsports, Josh Berry with Chad Bryant Racing, Jack Dossey III with his family team, and Matt Dooley with Fast Track Racing.
Schedule
- *Tape delayed
Changes
Results and standings
Races
Drivers' championship
Bold – Pole position awarded by time. Italics – Pole position set by final practice results or rainout. * – Most laps led.| Pos | Driver | DAY | NSH | SLM | TAL | TOL | CLT | POC | MCH | MAD | GTW | CHI | IOW | ELK | POC | ISF | BLN | DSF | SLM | IRP | KAN | Points |
| 1 | Sheldon Creed | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 18 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 5140 |
| 2 | Zane Smith | 26 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 11 | 2 | 16 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 1 | 17 | 2 | 5 | 18 | 6 | 17 | 4680 |
| 3 | Riley Herbst | 10 | 13 | 6 | 17 | 19 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 13 | 5 | 6 | 17 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 4595 |
| 4 | Chase Purdy | 21 | 7 | 5 | 25 | 2 | 24 | 9 | 13 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 14 | 3 | 18 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4510 |
| 5 | Travis Braden | 22 | 15 | 14 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 4 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 15 | 5 | 12 | 20 | 4445 |
| 6 | Gus Dean | 25 | 17 | 7 | 12 | 20 | 14 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 16 | 20 | 1 | 27 | 7 | 5 | 18 | 2 | 10 | 18 | 4295 |
| 7 | Natalie Decker | 5 | 11 | 17 | 28 | 7 | 15 | 8 | 15 | 6 | 15 | 12 | 16 | 5 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 8 | 16 | 6 | 4220 |
| 8 | Joe Graf Jr. | 16 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 18 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 8 | 13 | 5 | 3 | 26 | 16 | 1 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 21 | 4000 | |
| 9 | Brad Smith | 23 | 22 | Wth | 31 | 16 | DNS | 20 | 17 | 14 | 17 | 22 | 15 | 17 | 22 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 20 | 22 | 25 | 3250 |
| 10 | Bret Holmes | 24 | 10 | 13 | 27 | 5 | 7 | 13 | 20 | 7 | 10 | Wth | 8 | Wth | 10 | 6 | 12 | 2865 | ||||
| 11 | Con Nicolopoulos | 18 | 23 | 21 | 14 | 22 | 29 | 30 | 21 | 17 | 24 | 23 | 22 | Wth | 23 | Wth | 18 | 22 | 23 | 16 | 2690 | |
| 12 | Christian Eckes | 8 | 1 | 21 | 11 | 4 | 11 | 2 | 13 | 1 | 11 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 2650 | |||||||
| 13 | Mike Basham | 26 | 15 | 15 | 28 | Wth | 16 | 23 | 24 | 11 | 18 | 19 | 14 | 19 | 12 | 24 | 24 | 2120 | ||||
| 14 | Chandler Smith | 5 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 1995 | |||||||||||
| 15 | Michael Self | 1 | 4 | 3 | 21 | 3 | 1 | 18 | 16 | 11 | 3 | 1985 | ||||||||||
| 16 | Harrison Burton | 3 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 21 | 2 | 1840 | |||||||||||
| 17 | Max Tullman | 6 | 6 | 12 | 15 | 7 | 19 | 17 | 12 | 1380 | ||||||||||||
| 18 | Will Kimmel | 24 | 12 | 23 | 13 | 15 | Wth | 2 | 10 | 13 | 1310 | |||||||||||
| 19 | Codie Rohrbaugh | 38 | 24 | 9 | 17 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 12 | 1285 | ||||||||||||
| 20 | Leilani Munter | 8 | 22 | 20 | 22 | 9 | 20 | 20 | 14 | 1225 | ||||||||||||
| 21 | Brandon Grosso | Wth | 9 | 9 | 20 | 6 | 17 | 1120 | ||||||||||||||
| 22 | Will Rodgers | 30 | 8 | 18 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 985 | ||||||||||||||
| 23 | Bobby Gerhart | 12 | 8 | 16 | 14 | 24 | DNS | 17 | 975 | |||||||||||||
| 24 | Dick Doheny | 22 | 21 | 21 | 16 | 20 | 17 | 21 | 945 | |||||||||||||
| 25 | Todd Gilliland | 4 | 3 | 6 | 22 | 830 | ||||||||||||||||
| 26 | Thad Moffitt | 14 | 16 | 10 | 25 | Wth | 15 | 780 | ||||||||||||||
| 27 | Eric Caudell | 20 | 18 | 21 | 23 | Wth | 11 | 710 | ||||||||||||||
| 28 | Blaine Perkins | 13 | 12 | 11 | 8 | 705 | ||||||||||||||||
| 29 | Tyler Hill | 13 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 680 | ||||||||||||||||
| 30 | Bryan Dauzat | 33 | 11 | 27 | 16 | 12 | Wth | 650 | ||||||||||||||
| 31 | Carson Hocevar | 11 | 4 | 5 | 645 | |||||||||||||||||
| 32 | Rick Clifton | 19 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 645 | ||||||||||||||||
| 33 | Jesse Iwuji | 36 | 15 | 26 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 630 | ||||||||||||||
| 34 | Quin Houff | 32 | 6 | 8 | 21 | 585 | ||||||||||||||||
| 35 | Darrell Basham | 19 | 14 | 18 | 20 | Wth | 565 | |||||||||||||||
| 36 | Ed Pompa | 35 | 29 | 23 | 14 | 17 | 560 | |||||||||||||||
| 37 | Thomas Praytor | 14 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 560 | ||||||||||||||||
| 38 | Eddie Fatscher | 14 | 8 | 9 | 535 | |||||||||||||||||
| 39 | L. B. Skaggs | 14 | 11 | 23 | 510 | |||||||||||||||||
| 40 | Tommy Vigh Jr. | 15 | 13 | 13 | 495 | |||||||||||||||||
| 41 | Joe Cooksey | 21 | 11 | 9 | 490 | |||||||||||||||||
| 42 | Toni Breidinger | 10 | 12 | 18 | 490 | |||||||||||||||||
| 43 | Wayne Peterson | Wth | DNS | 25 | 27 | 23 | 19 | DNS | 465 | |||||||||||||
| 44 | Andy Seuss | 19 | 10 | 16 | 465 | |||||||||||||||||
| 45 | Zach Ralston | 23 | 14 | 9 | 460 | |||||||||||||||||
| 46 | Logan Seavey | 3 | 1 | 455 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 47 | Alex Clubb | 15 | 16 | 21 | 430 | |||||||||||||||||
| 48 | Sean Corr | 20 | 23 | 12 | 420 | |||||||||||||||||
| 49 | David Sear | 22 | 14 | 19 | 415 | |||||||||||||||||
| 50 | Anthony Alfredo | 7 | 15 | 410 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 51 | Ryan Unzicker | 5 | 6 | 410 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 52 | Sam Mayer | 10 | 7 | 400 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 53 | Tom Hessert | 4 | 9 | 395 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 54 | Kelly Kovski | 8 | 7 | 385 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 55 | Willie Mullins | 2 | 13 | 385 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 56 | Noah Gragson | 7 | 10 | 385 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 57 | Dave Mader III | 28 | 16 | 18 | 380 | |||||||||||||||||
| 58 | Tom Berte | 19 | 19 | 25 | 375 | |||||||||||||||||
| 59 | Tony Mrakovich | 29 | 13 | 21 | 375 | |||||||||||||||||
| 60 | Colby Howard | 8 | 9 | 375 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 61 | Brandon Jones | 1 | 22 | 370 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 62 | Brandon Lynn | 7 | 10 | 350 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 63 | Austin Hill | 13 | 10 | 345 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 64 | Mark Meunier | 24 | 25 | 22 | 26 | 310 | ||||||||||||||||
| 65 | Tyler Dippel | 6 | 25 | 310 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 66 | Kaden Honeycutt | 19 | 18 | 300 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 67 | Jack Dossey III | 18 | 15 | 295 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 68 | Kevin Hinckle | 30 | 19 | 275 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 69 | Don Thompson | 28 | 27 | 29 | 270 | |||||||||||||||||
| 70 | Steve Fox | 19 | 19 | 270 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 71 | D. L. Wilson | 25 | 19 | Wth | 265 | |||||||||||||||||
| 72 | Brian Kaltreider | 26 | 17 | 245 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 73 | Matt Dooley | 23 | 20 | 245 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 74 | Josh Berry | 4 | 215 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 75 | Drew Herring | 8 | 205 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 76 | Josh Williams | 5 | 205 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 77 | Mason Mitchell | 7 | 195 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 78 | Buck Stevens | Wth | 14 | 185 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 79 | Andrew Belmont | 9 | 185 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 80 | Cole Glasson | 10 | 180 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 81 | Scott Melton | 15 | 180 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 82 | Dale Matchett | 29 | 28 | 175 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 83 | Ken Schrader | 11 | 175 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 84 | Bo LeMastus | 31 | 26 | 175 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 85 | Jerry de Weerdt | 11 | 175 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 86 | Ryan Repko | 12 | 170 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 87 | Grant Enfinger | 12 | 170 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 88 | Baden Stewart | 13 | 165 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 89 | Kirk Horton | 13 | 165 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 90 | C. J. McLaughlin | 20 | 155 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 91 | Robert Bruce | 10 | 155 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 92 | Chuck Hiers | 16 | 155 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 93 | John Ferrier | 15 | 155 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 94 | Scott Reeves | 17 | 145 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 95 | Dick Karth | 18 | 140 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 96 | Rob Powers | 18 | 140 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 97 | Morgen Baird | 19 | 140 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 98 | Jonas Fors | 19 | 135 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 99 | Dale Shearer | 20 | Wth | 130 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 100 | Chad Finley | 23 | 115 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 101 | Mark Thompson | 27 | 95 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 102 | Daniel Sasnett | 34 | 60 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 103 | Grant Quinlan | 37 | 45 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 104 | Ronnie Osmer | 39 | 35 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 105 | Tovia Grynewicz | Wth | 25 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Salvatore Iovino | Wth | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| J. J. Pack | Wth | Wth | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Kevin Campbell | Wth | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Brennan Poole | QL | 0 |