The 2020 YellaWood 500 was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on October 4, 2020 at Talladega Superspeedway in Lincoln, Alabama. Contested over 200 laps -- extended from 188 laps due to an overtime finish, on the 2.66 mile (4.2 km) superspeedway, it was the 31st race of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season, the fifth race of the Playoffs, and the second race of the Round of 12.

2020 YellaWood 500
Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Race 31 of 36 in the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series
2020 YellaWood 500 program cover
2020 YellaWood 500 program cover
Date October 4, 2020 (2020-10-04)
Location Talladega Superspeedway in Lincoln, Alabama
Course Permanent racing facility
2.66 mi (4.28 km)
Distance 200 laps, 532 mi (856 km)
Scheduled Distance 188 laps, 500.08 mi (804.64 km)
Average speed 129.774 miles per hour (208.851 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Joe Gibbs Racing
Grid positions set by competition-based formula
Most laps led
Driver Joey Logano Team Penske
Laps 45
Winner
No. 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing
Television in the United States
Network NBC
Announcers Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Charlotte) and Steve Letarte (Talladega)
Nielsen Ratings 1.9 (3.10 million)
Radio in the United States
Radio MRN
Booth Announcers Alex Hayden and Jeff Striegle
Turn Announcers Dave Moody (1 & 2), Mike Bagley (Backstretch) and Dan Hubbard (3 & 4)

Report

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Background

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Talladega Superspeedway, the track where the race was held.

Talladega Superspeedway, originally known as Alabama International Motor Superspeedway (AIMS), is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base in the small city of Lincoln. The track is a tri-oval and was constructed in the 1960s by the International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France family. Talladega is most known for its steep banking and the unique location of the start/finish line that's located just past the exit to pit road. The track currently hosts the NASCAR series such as the NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity Series and the Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series. Talladega is the longest NASCAR oval with a length of 2.66-mile-long (4.28 km) tri-oval like the Daytona International Speedway, which also is a 2.5-mile-long (4 km) tri-oval.

Entry list

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  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
  • (i) denotes driver who are ineligible for series driver points.
No. Driver Team Manufacturer
00 Quin Houff (R) StarCom Racing Chevrolet
1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford
3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford
8 Tyler Reddick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford
13 Ty Dillon Germain Racing Chevrolet
14 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
15 Brennan Poole (R) Premium Motorsports Chevrolet
17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford
18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
20 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford
22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford
24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
27 Cody Ware Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet
32 Corey LaJoie Go Fas Racing Ford
34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford
37 Ryan Preece JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
38 John Hunter Nemechek (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford
41 Cole Custer (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
42 Matt Kenseth Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
43 Bubba Wallace Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet
47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
51 Joey Gase (i) Petty Ware Racing Ford
53 James Davison Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet
62 Brendan Gaughan Beard Motorsports Chevrolet
66 Timmy Hill (i) MBM Motorsports Ford
77 Justin Haley (i) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
88 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
95 Christopher Bell (R) Leavine Family Racing Toyota
96 Daniel Suárez Gaunt Brothers Racing Toyota
Official entry list[permanent dead link]

Qualifying

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Denny Hamlin was awarded the pole for the race as determined by competition-based formula.[4]

Starting Lineup

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Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer
1 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
2 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
3 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
4 88 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
5 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
6 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
7 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford
8 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford
9 14 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
10 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
11 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
12 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
13 21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford
14 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford
15 17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford
16 20 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
17 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
18 41 Cole Custer (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
19 6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford
20 42 Matt Kenseth Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
21 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
22 95 Christopher Bell (R) Leavine Family Racing Toyota
23 38 John Hunter Nemechek (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford
24 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford
25 37 Ryan Preece JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
26 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
27 43 Bubba Wallace Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet
28 13 Ty Dillon Germain Racing Chevrolet
29 32 Corey LaJoie Go Fas Racing Ford
30 8 Tyler Reddick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
31 96 Daniel Suárez Gaunt Brothers Racing Toyota
32 15 Brennan Poole (R) Premium Motorsports Chevrolet
33 00 Quin Houff (R) StarCom Racing Chevrolet
34 27 Cody Ware Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet
35 77 Justin Haley (i) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
36 51 Joey Gase (i) Petty Ware Racing Ford
37 66 Timmy Hill (i) MBM Motorsports Ford
38 53 James Davison Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet
39 62 Brendan Gaughan Beard Motorsports Chevrolet
Official starting lineup

Race

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Denny Hamlin won the race.

Stage Results

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Stage One Laps: 60

Pos No Driver Team Manufacturer Points
1 17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford 10
2 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 9
3 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 8
4 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 7
5 20 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 6
6 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 5
7 8 Tyler Reddick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 4
8 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 3
9 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 2
10 41 Cole Custer (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 1
Official stage one results

Stage Two Laps: 60

Pos No Driver Team Manufacturer Points
1 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 10
2 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 9
3 17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford 8
4 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 7
5 38 John Hunter Nemechek (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford 6
6 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 5
7 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 4
8 37 Ryan Preece JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 3
9 13 Ty Dillon Germain Racing Chevrolet 2
10 43 Bubba Wallace Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet 1
Official stage two results

Final Stage Results

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Stage Three Laps: 80 (was originally 68, but got extended due to Overtime)

Pos Grid No Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points
1 1 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 200 40
2 16 20 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 200 41
3 28 13 Ty Dillon Germain Racing Chevrolet 200 36
4 21 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 200 38
5 10 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 200 44
6 19 6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford 200 31
7 30 8 Tyler Reddick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 200 34
8 23 38 John Hunter Nemechek (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford 200 35
9 32 15 Brennan Poole (R) Premium Motorsports Chevrolet 200 28
10 25 37 Ryan Preece JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 200 30
11 35 77 Justin Haley (i) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 200 0
12 12 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 200 33
13 33 00 Quin Houff (R) StarCom Racing Chevrolet 200 24
14 4 88 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 200 23
15 37 66 Timmy Hill (i) MBM Motorsports Ford 200 0
16 20 42 Matt Kenseth Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 200 21
17 36 51 Joey Gase (i) Petty Ware Racing Ford 200 0
18 7 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 200 35
19 34 27 Cody Ware Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 200 18
20 5 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 200 17
21 13 21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford 200 16
22 15 17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford 200 33
23 3 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 198 27
24 27 43 Bubba Wallace Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet 192 15
25 14 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 192 16
26 8 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 188 20
27 6 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 188 10
28 29 32 Corey LaJoie Go Fas Racing Ford 188 9
29 17 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 133 8
30 38 53 James Davison Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 118 7
31 18 41 Cole Custer (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 108 7
32 2 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 108 7
33 9 14 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 108 4
34 31 96 Daniel Suárez Gaunt Brothers Racing Toyota 108 3
35 39 62 Brendan Gaughan Beard Motorsports Chevrolet 108 2
36 24 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 79 1
37 11 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 57 1
38 26 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 8 1
39 22 95 Christopher Bell (R) Leavine Family Racing Toyota 1 1
Official race results

Race statistics

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  • Lead changes: 58 among 18 different drivers
  • Cautions/Laps: 13 for 54 laps
  • Red flags: 2 for 21 minutes and 19 seconds
  • Time of race: 4 hours, 5 minutes and 58 seconds
  • Average speed: 129.774 miles per hour (208.851 km/h)

Track limits controversy

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Track limits are used at Daytona, Talladega, and the road courses. Officiating by NASCAR officials involving the finish of the race generated in regards to track limits drew considerable controversy afterwards. Initially, second-place finisher Matt DiBenedetto and sixth-place finisher Chase Elliott were penalized and moved to 21st and 22nd positions, respectively. NASCAR penalized DiBenedetto for forcing William Byron beyond track limits, marked with a double yellow line at the bottom of the track, and the sanctioning body penalized Elliott for voluntarily moving under the line.[7] NASCAR later redistributed its penalty originally given to Elliott, assessing it to Chris Buescher for forcing Elliott beyond track limits.[8] Race winner Denny Hamlin also maneuvered under the track limits boundaries on the final corner, but race officials ruled that he was avoiding a potential accident from DiBenedetto and Byron.[9] Despite myriad negative reactions to the decision at Talladega and online, a NASCAR official later said that the rulings were "clear-cut".[10][11] NBC commentators Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Dale Jarrett called for NASCAR to remove track limits, but the sanctioning body, citing safety concerns, said the rule would stay in place.[7][12]

Media

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Television

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NBC Sports covered the race on the television side. Rick Allen, Jeff Burton and six-time Talladega winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. called the action from the booth at Charlotte Motor Speedway, which was the last time this setup would be used, as starting with the next race booth commentators started calling races on site. Steve Letarte called the action on site. Dave Burns, Marty Snider and Kelli Stavast handled the pit road duties on site.

NBC
Booth announcers Pit reporters
Lap-by-lap: Rick Allen
Color-commentator: Jeff Burton
Color-commentator: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
On-Site analyst: Steve Letarte
Dave Burns
Marty Snider
Kelli Stavast

Radio

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MRN had the radio call for the race, which was also simulcasted on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Alex Hayden and Jeff Striegle called the race for MRN when the field races thru the tri-oval. Dave Moody called the action from turn 1, Mike Bagley called the action for MRN when the field races down the backstraightaway, and Dan Hubbard called the race from the Sunoco tower just outside of turn 4. Winston Kelley and Steve Post called the action for MRN from pit lane.

MRN
Booth announcers Turn announcers Pit reporters
Lead announcer: Alex Hayden
Announcer: Jeff Striegle
Turns 1 & 2: Dave Moody
Backstretch: Mike Bagley
Turns 3 & 4: Dan Hubbard
Winston Kelley
Steve Post

Standings after the race

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References

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  1. ^ "2020 schedule". Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. January 17, 2020. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  2. ^ "Talladega Superspeedway". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. January 3, 2013. Archived from the original on April 28, 2017. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  3. ^ "Entry List" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. September 26, 2020. Retrieved September 26, 2020.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ a b "Starting Lineup". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. September 30, 2020. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  5. ^ "YellaWood 500 Results". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. October 4, 2020. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  6. ^ "Points standings" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. October 4, 2020. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  7. ^ a b Long, Dustin (October 4, 2020). "Should NASCAR eliminate yellow line rule at Talladega?". NASCAR on NBC. NBC Sports. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  8. ^ Gastelu, Gary (October 5, 2020). "NASCAR: Penalty strips Matt DiBenedetto's Talladega second-place finish". FOX News. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  9. ^ Crandall, Kelly (October 4, 2020). "Hamlin calls yellow line move "a non-story"". Racer. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  10. ^ Taranto, Steven (October 4, 2020). "Yellow line controversy mars Denny Hamlin's win at Talladega". 247Sports. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  11. ^ DeGroot, Nick (October 5, 2020). "NASCAR explains Talladega penalties, defends yellow line rule". Yahoo! Sports. Autosport. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  12. ^ Albert, Zack (October 4, 2020). "NASCAR official: Out-of-bounds rulings 'clear-cut' in turbulent Talladega finish". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved October 5, 2020.


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2020 South Point 400
NASCAR Cup Series
2020 season
Next race:
2020 Bank of America Roval 400