2018 NASCAR.com staff superlatives

Post-race Moment of the Year: A push among friends

Chase Elliott wins at Watkins Glen. The crowd goes wild. And ... the engine of the No. 9 Chevrolet sputters -- it's out of gas. The first-time winner needs to make his way to Victory Lane but can't coast; it's a road course. Insert teammate Jimmie Johnson, who used his No. 48 Chevy to push Elliott and his ride in a moment we'll look back at years from now as a proverbial passing of the torch. -- Pat DeCola
Honorable mention: Ryan Blaney gives flag to young fan, Kevin Harvick takes selfie with young fan after win

Heartwarming Moment of the Year: Cash Bowyer running to his dad

Clint Bowyer snapped a 190-race winless streak with a victory in March at Martinsville Speedway -- his first for Stewart-Haas Racing. What happened afterward made for a picture-perfect moment. Overjoyed to greet dad in Victory Lane, Cash came running toward Clint on the frontstretch, leaping into his arms and eager to celebrate -- all while an emotional Lorra Bowyer looked on proudly. -- Chase Wilhelm
Honorable mention: Joey Logano puts Hudson in Monster Energy NASCAR Cup

Team of the Year: Stewart-Haas Racing

The driver lineup of Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer, Kurt Busch and Aric Almirola combined for 12 points-paying wins in 2018 in the organization's 10th season. The quartet became the second four-car fleet in the playoff elimination era to all reach the Round of 8. Throw in Cole Custer's runner-up finish in the Xfinity Series standings, and this vote was unanimous. -- RJ Kraft

Crew Chief of the Year: Todd Gordon

After two years of finale heartbreak and missing the playoffs altogether in 2017, No. 22 crew chief Todd Gordon's 2018 plan was executed flawlessly at Miami, paving the way for Joey Logano to nab his first Monster Energy Series title. Gordon's ability to use the 2017 season as motivation and elevate his team in time for the finale carried him in this category. -- Jessica Ruffin
Honorable mention: Rodney Childers, Cole Pearn, Jason Ratcliff, Adam Stevens

Finish of the Year: Truck Series: Canadian Tire Motorsport Park

Todd Gilliland was closing in on his first Truck Series win in the 2018 playoff opener at Canadian Tire, but Noah Gragson caught him and the two collided in the final turn. As the Kyle Busch Motorsports teammates went sliding toward the side of the track, GMS Racing's Justin Haley sped by for the win. Gragson apologized afterward and seemed to wear the expression of, "Oh my gosh, what did I just do?" -- George Winkler
Honorable mention: Eldora, Iowa

Finish of the Year, Xfinity Series: Daytona-1

Considering this was the closest finish in in NASCAR national touring series history, it's a no-brainer why the season-opener at Daytona is the finish of the year in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. The official margin of victory was so close it is listed as .000 seconds, with NASCAR determining that Tyler Reddick beat Elliott Sadler by approximately 3 inches. Afterward, Sadler quipped that because the difference between the two was virtually indistinguishable NASCAR should just award both drivers the win. -- Jordan Bianchi

Finish of the Year, Monster Energy Series: Martinsville-2

In a season with several breathtaking conclusions to choose from, the heavyweight battle between Joey Logano and Martin Truex Jr. in Martinsville Speedway's First Data 500 stood out. Logano and Truex slugged it out side-by-side for much of the final 10 laps, culminating in a classic bump-and-run and a tire-smoking, out-of-control dash to the checkers. The high postseason stakes only heightened the drama. -- Zack Albert
Honorable mention: Chicagoland, Charlotte Roval

Race of the Year: Charlotte road course

It was perhaps the most anticipated race of the year outside of the Daytona 500, and it did not disappoint. From testing runs to turtles to an in-event adjustment to the wall on the backstretch, this race had everyone circling it on their calendars. Then came the finish where seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson had playoff advancement in the bag but wrecked with Martin Truex Jr. going for the win, leading to Ryan Blaney whisking past for the inaugural trophy. Truex bumped Johnson on the cool-down lap, and Johnson later found out his move cost him the chance to advance. -- George Winkler
Honorable mention: Daytona 500, Chicagoland, Martinsville-2, Miami

Clutch Performer of the Year: Joey Logano

The "Big 3" and he. That's what it was for most of the year. But Team Penske's Joey Logano, who had one win on the season entering the Round of 8 opener, delivered the goods when it mattered most and won a deserved 2018 title because of it. Bumping Martin Truex Jr. out of the way to win at Martinsville was clutch, and Logano explained his thoughts reasonably and clearly over the ensuing weeks. At Miami, it was a late-race restart where Logano surged into the lead and held on to win the race -- and his first Monster Energy Series title. -- Brad Norman
Honorable mention: Tyler Reddick

Driver of the Year: Kevin Harvick

"Champion" is missing from his 2018 resume, but there's absolutely no questioning his body of work. Kevin Harvick won eight races in 2018 (tied with Kyle Busch for the most of the season), including a three-race stretch in the first four races of the year. His 23 top-five finishes and 29 top 10s both were best in the Monster Energy Series. Throw in 1,960 laps led (500 more than anyone else, and 900 more than third place) and an average finish of 8.8, and no driver had a better performance from February to November. -- Brad Norman
Honorable mention: Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, Martin Truex Jr., Brett Moffitt