The 2020 Coke Zero Sugar 400 was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on August 29, 2020 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. Contested over 164 laps—extended from 160 laps due to an overtime finish, on the superspeedway, it was the 26th race of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season, and the final race of the regular season before the playoffs.
Report
Background
The race was held at Daytona International Speedway, a race track located in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, the track is the home of the Daytona 500, the most prestigious race in NASCAR. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, USCC, SCCA, and Motocross. It features multiple layouts including the primary high speed tri-oval, a sports car course, a motorcycle course, and a karting and motorcycle flat-track. The track's infield includes the Lake Lloyd, which has hosted powerboat racing. The speedway is owned and operated by International Speedway Corporation.
The track was built in 1959 by NASCAR founder William "Bill" France, Sr. to host racing held at the former Daytona Beach Road Course. His banked design permitted higher speeds and gave fans a better view of the cars. Lights were installed around the track in 1998 and today, it is the third-largest single lit outdoor sports facility. The speedway has been renovated three times, with the infield renovated in 2004 and the track repaved twice — in 1978 and in 2010.
On January 22, 2013, the track unveiled artist depictions of a renovated speedway. On July 5 of that year, ground was broken for a project that would remove the backstretch seating and completely redevelop the frontstretch seating. The renovation to the speedway is being worked on by Rossetti Architects. The project, named "Daytona Rising", was completed in January 2016, and it cost US $400 million, placing emphasis on improving fan experience with five expanded and redesigned fan entrances (called "injectors") as well as wider and more comfortable seating with more restrooms and concession stands. After the renovations, the track's grandstands include 101,000 permanent seats with the ability to increase permanent seating to 125,000. The project was completed before the start of Speedweeks.
Entry list (R) denotes rookie driver. (i) denotes driver who are ineligible for series driver points.
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 7 Josh Bilicki (i) Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet 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 J. J. Yeley (i) 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 James Davison Petty Ware Racing Ford 53 Joey Gase (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford 62 Brendan Gaughan Beard Motorsports Chevrolet 66 Timmy Hill (i) MBM Motorsports Toyota 77 Ross Chastain (i) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 88 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 95 Christopher Bell (R) Leavine Family Racing Toyota 96 Daniel Suárez Gaunt Brothers Racing ToyotaOfficial entry list
Qualifying Kevin Harvick was awarded the pole for the race as determined by competition-based formula.
Starting Lineup Pos Driver Team Manufacturer 1 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 2 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 3 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 4 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 5 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 6 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 7 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 8 88 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 9 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 10 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 11 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 12 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 13 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 14 14 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 15 21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford 16 41 Cole Custer (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 17 17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford 18 8 Tyler Reddick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 19 42 Matt Kenseth Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 20 20 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 21 43 Bubba Wallace Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet 22 6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford 23 95 Christopher Bell (R) Leavine Family Racing Toyota 24 38 John Hunter Nemechek (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford 25 32 Corey LaJoie Go Fas Racing Ford 26 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 27 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 28 37 Ryan Preece JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 29 13 Ty Dillon Germain Racing Chevrolet 30 96 Daniel Suárez Gaunt Brothers Racing Toyota 31 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 32 15 Brennan Poole (R) Premium Motorsports Chevrolet 33 27 J. J. Yeley (i) Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 34 00 Quin Houff (R) StarCom Racing Chevrolet 35 66 Timmy Hill (i) MBM Motorsports Toyota 36 77 Ross Chastain (i) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 37 53 Joey Gase (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford 38 51 James Davison Petty Ware Racing Ford 39 7 Josh Bilicki (i) Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet 40 62 Brendan Gaughan Beard Motorsports ChevroletOfficial starting lineup
Race
Stage Results
Stage One Laps: 50
Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Points1 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 102 20 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 93 8 Tyler Reddick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 84 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 75 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 66 95 Christopher Bell (R) Leavine Family Racing Toyota 57 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 48 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 39 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 210 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 1Official stage one results
Stage Two Laps: 50
Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Points1 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 102 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 93 14 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 84 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 75 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 66 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 57 21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford 48 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 39 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 210 95 Christopher Bell (R) Leavine Family Racing Toyota 1Official stage two results
Final Stage Results
Stage Three Laps: 60
Pos Grid Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points1 6 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 164 442 27 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 164 353 10 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 164 364 2 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 164 425 21 43 Bubba Wallace Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet 164 326 9 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 164 407 8 88 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 164 308 40 62 Brendan Gaughan Beard Motorsports Chevrolet 164 299 17 17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford 164 2810 4 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 164 3211 24 38 John Hunter Nemechek (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford 164 2612 15 21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford 164 2913 23 95 Christopher Bell (R) Leavine Family Racing Toyota 164 3014 26 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 164 2615 32 15 Brennan Poole (R) Premium Motorsports Chevrolet 164 2216 36 77 Ross Chastain (i) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 164 017 7 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 164 3218 5 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 164 1919 14 14 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 164 2620 1 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 164 1721 25 32 Corey LaJoie Go Fas Racing Ford 163 1622 29 13 Ty Dillon Germain Racing Chevrolet 163 1523 34 00 Quin Houff (R) StarCom Racing Chevrolet 162 1424 35 66 Timmy Hill (i) MBM Motorsports Toyota 161 025 12 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 161 1226 30 96 Daniel Suárez Gaunt Brothers Racing Toyota 159 1127 3 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 158 3028 19 42 Matt Kenseth Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 158 929 18 8 Tyler Reddick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 158 1630 16 41 Cole Custer (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 158 731 37 53 Joey Gase (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford 158 032 31 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 155 833 11 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 152 534 13 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 151 1035 20 20 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 151 1136 22 6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford 151 137 28 37 Ryan Preece JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 151 138 39 7 Josh Bilicki (i) Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet 151 039 38 51 James Davison Petty Ware Racing Ford 139 140 33 27 J. J. Yeley (i) Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 3 0Official race results
Race statistics Lead changes: 35 among 16 different drivers Cautions/Laps: 6 for 21 Red flags: 2 for 15 minutes and 47 seconds Time of race: 2 hours, 39 minutes and 59 seconds Average speed:
Media
Television NBC Sports covered the race on the television side. Rick Allen, 2000 Coke Zero 400 winner Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and two-time Coke Zero 400 winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. covered the race from the booth at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Dave Burns, Parker Kligerman and Marty Snider handled the pit road duties on site, and Rutledge Wood handled the features from his home during the race.
NBCBooth announcersPit reportersFeatures reporter Lap-by-lap: Rick AllenColor-commentator: Jeff BurtonColor-commentator: Steve LetarteColor-commentator: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dave BurnsParker KligermanMarty Snider Rutledge Wood
Radio MRN had the radio call for the race, which was also simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio.
MRN RadioBooth announcersTurn announcersPit reporters Lead announcer: Alex HaydenAnnouncer: Jeff Striegle Announcer: Rusty Wallace Turns 1 & 2: Dave MoodyBackstretch: Mike BagleyTurns 3 & 4: Jason Toy Winston KelleySteve Post
Standings after the race
Drivers' Championship standings after Playoffs reset Pos Driver Points 1 Kevin Harvick 2,057 2 Denny Hamlin 2,047 (–10) 3 Brad Keselowski 2,029 (–28) 1 4 Joey Logano 2,022 (–35) 2 5 Chase Elliott 2,020 (–37) 2 6 Martin Truex Jr. 2,014 (–43) 1 7 Ryan Blaney 2,013 (–44) 4 8 Alex Bowman 2,009 (–48) 5 9 William Byron 2,007 (–50) 8 10 Austin Dillon 2,005 (–52) 8 11 Cole Custer 2,005 (–52) 4 12 Aric Almirola 2,005 (–52) 2 13 Clint Bowyer 2,004 (–53) 5 14 Kyle Busch 2,003 (–54) 5 15 Kurt Busch 2,001 (–56) 3 16 Matt DiBenedetto 2,000 (–57)Official driver's standings
Manufacturers' Championship standings Pos Manufacturer Points 1 Ford 964 2 Toyota 914 (–50) 3 Chevrolet 871 (–93)
Note: Only the first 16 positions are included for the driver standings.
References