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Xfinity Series 2018 Championship 4 season review
By Jordan Bianchi | Thursday, December 20, 2018
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Tyler Reddick
Wins: 2
Top 5s: 7
Top 10s: 20
Laps led: 184
Ave. finish: 12.9
Poles: 0
Wins: 2
Top 5s: 7
Top 10s: 20
Laps led: 184
Ave. finish: 12.9
Poles: 0
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Reddick began his rookie season with a flourish by winning at Daytona in what was the closest finish in NASCAR national series history, beating JR Motorsports teammate Elliott Sadler by an official margin of victory listed as .000 seconds. During the regular season, Reddick then battled the expected issues a driver in his first full year typically encounters, but come the playoffs he considerably upped his performance. He finished outside the top 10 just once and produced a resounding win in the championship final to take the Xfinity title.
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Cole Custer
Wins: 1
Top 5s: 14
Top 10s: 26
Laps led: 389
Ave. finish: 9.0
Poles: 6
Wins: 1
Top 5s: 14
Top 10s: 26
Laps led: 389
Ave. finish: 9.0
Poles: 6
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One of the most consistent drivers during the season, Custer amassed more top-10 finishes than anyone and only Elliott Sadler had a better average finish. Although he came close several times, Custer wasn't able to get his first win until the playoff race at Texas in November but that victory was a biggie -- it clinched him a spot in the Championship 4. He led the most laps in the title-deciding event, but Reddick outran him at the end, with Custer finishing runner-up to Reddick both in the race and championship.
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Daniel Hemric
Wins: 0
Top 5s: 16
Top 10s: 23
Laps led: 440
Ave. finish: 9.0
Poles: 4
Wins: 0
Top 5s: 16
Top 10s: 23
Laps led: 440
Ave. finish: 9.0
Poles: 4
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Hemric may not have won race in 2018, though he certainly came close on numerous occasions. The Richard Childress Racing driver produced 12 finishes of third or better, led the third-most laps among series regulars and had such consistency he again clinched a Championship 4 berth based by virtue of accruing enough points. His performance earned him a promotion to the Cup Series with team owner Richard Childress tabbing Hemric to drive the No. 8 Chevy in 2019.
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Christopher Bell
Wins: 7
Top 5s: 18
Top 10s: 20
Laps led: 759
Ave. finish: 11.1
Poles: 5
Wins: 7
Top 5s: 18
Top 10s: 20
Laps led: 759
Ave. finish: 11.1
Poles: 5
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Bell faced heightened expectations in his first full Xfinity season, but whatever those expectations were he more than exceeded them. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver often dominated, leading the series in wins, top-five finishes and laps led. And one of his seven wins was an impressive triumph in the Round of 8 elimination race at ISM Raceway that saw Bell overcome starting 38th to score a victory he absolutely needed to advance to the Championship 4 finale. Bell enters 2019 as the title favorite.
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