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2020 Season Finale 500

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2020 Season Finale 500
Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Race 36 of 36 in the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series
2020 Season Finale 500 program cover
2020 Season Finale 500 program cover
Date November 8, 2020 (2020-11-08)
Location Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona
Course Permanent racing facility
1 mi (1.6 km)
Distance 312 laps, 312 mi (499.2 km)
Average speed 112.096 miles per hour (180.401 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Hendrick Motorsports
Grid positions set by competition-based formula
Most laps led
Driver Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports
Laps 154
Winner
No. 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports
Television in the United States
Network NBC
Announcers Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Radio in the United States
Radio MRN
Booth Announcers Alex Hayden, Jeff Striegle and Rusty Wallace
Turn Announcers Dave Moody (1 & 2) and Mike Bagley (3 & 4)

The 2020 Season Finale 500 was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on November 8, 2020 at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona. Contested over 312 laps on the one mile (1.6 km) oval, it was the 36th and final race of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season. Chase Elliott won the race, claiming his first Cup Series championship.

The Season Finale 500 was the final start for seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson, and for 2012 Cup runner-up Clint Bowyer, and 2003 Winston Cup champion Matt Kenseth as full-time Cup Series drivers.

Report

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Background

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Phoenix Raceway, the track where the race was held.

Phoenix Raceway – also known as PIR – is a one-mile, low-banked tri-oval race track located in Avondale, Arizona. It is named after the nearby metropolitan area of Phoenix. The motorsport track opened in 1964 and currently hosts two NASCAR race weekends annually. PIR has also hosted the IndyCar Series, CART, USAC and the Rolex Sports Car Series. The raceway is currently owned and operated by International Speedway Corporation.

The raceway was originally constructed with a 2.5 mi (4.0 km) road course that ran both inside and outside of the main tri-oval. In 1991 the track was reconfigured with the current 1.51 mi (2.43 km) interior layout. PIR has an estimated grandstand seating capacity of around 67,000. Lights were installed around the track in 2004 following the addition of a second annual NASCAR race weekend.

Phoenix Raceway is home to two annual NASCAR race weekends, one of 13 facilities on the NASCAR schedule to host more than one race weekend a year. The track is both the first and last stop in the western United States, as well as the fourth and the last track on the schedule.

This was the first time the championship race was held in Phoenix.

Championship drivers

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Joey Logano was the first of the four drivers to clinch a spot in the Championship 4, winning the first race of the Round of 8 at Kansas.

Chase Elliott clinched the second spot in the Championship 4, winning the final race of the Round of 8 at Martinsville.

Brad Keselowski clinched the third spot in the Championship 4 based on points.

Denny Hamlin clinched the final spot in the Championship 4 based on points.

Entry list

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  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
  • (i) denotes driver who are ineligible for series driver points.
  • (CC) denotes championship contender
No. Driver Team Manufacturer
00 Quin Houff (R) StarCom Racing Chevrolet
1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
2 Brad Keselowski (CC) 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 Garrett Smithley (i) Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet
8 Tyler Reddick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
9 Chase Elliott (CC) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
11 Denny Hamlin (CC) 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 (CC) 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 Joey Gase (i) Petty Ware Racing Ford
53 James Davison Rick Ware Racing Ford
66 Timmy Hill (i) MBM Motorsports Toyota
77 Josh Bilicki (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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Chase Elliott was awarded the pole for the race as determined by competition-based formula.[4] However he was sent to the rear of the field as a result of failing pre-race inspection multiple times.[7]

Starting Lineup

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

Race

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Chase Elliott won the race and his first Cup Series championship title.
  • Note: Chase Elliott, Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, and Denny Hamlin were not eligible for stage points because of their participation in the Championship 4.

Stage Results

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Stage One Laps: 75

Pos No Driver Team Manufacturer Points
1 22 Joey Logano (CC) Team Penske Ford 0
2 11 Denny Hamlin (CC) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 0
3 9 Chase Elliott (CC) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 0
4 2 Brad Keselowski (CC) Team Penske Ford 0
5 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 6
6 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 5
7 88 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 4
8 14 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 3
9 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 2
10 21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford 1
Official stage one results

Stage Two Laps: 115

Pos No Driver Team Manufacturer Points
1 2 Brad Keselowski (CC) Team Penske Ford 0
2 9 Chase Elliott (CC) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 0
3 22 Joey Logano (CC) Team Penske Ford 0
4 11 Denny Hamlin (CC) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 0
5 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 6
6 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 5
7 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 4
8 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 3
9 21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford 2
10 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1
Official stage two results

Final Stage Results

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Stage Three Laps: 122

Pos Grid No Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points
1 1 9 Chase Elliott (CC) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 312 40
2 3 2 Brad Keselowski (CC) Team Penske Ford 312 35
3 2 22 Joey Logano (CC) Team Penske Ford 312 34
4 4 11 Denny Hamlin (CC) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 312 33
5 26 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 312 37
6 5 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 312 43
7 11 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 312 30
8 12 21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford 312 32
9 25 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 312 29
10 13 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 312 27
11 8 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 312 34
12 7 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 312 30
13 10 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 311 24
14 9 14 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 311 26
15 23 43 Bubba Wallace Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet 311 22
16 6 88 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 311 25
17 17 95 Christopher Bell (R) Leavine Family Racing Toyota 311 20
18 18 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 311 19
19 21 8 Tyler Reddick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 311 18
20 31 17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford 311 17
21 22 13 Ty Dillon Germain Racing Chevrolet 311 16
22 14 20 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 311 15
23 29 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 311 14
24 19 6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford 311 13
25 16 42 Matt Kenseth Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 311 12
26 27 38 John Hunter Nemechek (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford 311 11
27 20 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 310 10
28 15 41 Cole Custer (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 310 9
29 35 15 Brennan Poole (R) Premium Motorsports Chevrolet 309 8
30 32 27 J. J. Yeley (i) Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 306 0
31 30 96 Daniel Suárez Gaunt Brothers Racing Toyota 306 6
32 37 51 Joey Gase (i) Petty Ware Racing Ford 302 0
33 36 53 James Davison Rick Ware Racing Ford 302 4
34 24 37 Ryan Preece JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 299 3
35 38 77 Josh Bilicki (i) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 296 0
36 33 66 Timmy Hill (i) MBM Motorsports Toyota 288 0
37 39 7 Garrett Smithley (i) Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet 261 0
38 28 32 Corey LaJoie Go Fas Racing Ford 215 1
39 34 00 Quin Houff (R) StarCom Racing Chevrolet 149 1
Official race results

Race statistics

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  • Lead changes: 19 among 9 different drivers
  • Cautions/Laps: 4 for 27
  • Red flags: 0
  • Time of race: 2 hours, 47 minutes and 0 seconds
  • Average speed: 112.096 miles per hour (180.401 km/h)

Media

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Television

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NBC Sports covered the race on the television side. Rick Allen, two–time Phoenix winner Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte, and three-time Phoenix winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. called the action from the booth. Dave Burns, Parker Kligerman, Marty Snider, and Kelli Stavast handled the pit road duties, and Rutledge Wood handled the features from his home during the race.

NBC
Booth announcers Pit reporters Features reporter
Lap-by-lap: Rick Allen
Color-commentator: Jeff Burton
Color-commentator: Steve Letarte
Color-commentator: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Dave Burns
Parker Kligerman
Marty Snider
Kelli Stavast
Rutledge Wood

Radio

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MRN covered the radio call for the race, which was simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Alex Hayden, Jeff Striegle, and Rusty Wallace called the action from the broadcast booth when the field raced down the front straightaway. Dave Moody called the action from turns 1 & 2 and Mike Bagley called the action from turns 3 & 4. Winston Kelley and Steve Post covered the action for MRN from pit lane.

MRN
Booth announcers Turn announcers Pit reporters
Lead announcer: Alex Hayden
Announcer: Jeff Striegle
Announcer: Rusty Wallace
Turns 1 & 2: Dave Moody
Turns 3 & 4: Mike Bagley
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 September 13, 2020.
  2. ^ "Phoenix International Raceway". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. January 3, 2013. Archived from the original on March 10, 2017. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  3. ^ "Entry List" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. November 4, 2020. Retrieved November 4, 2020.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ a b "Starting Lineup". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. November 4, 2020. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  5. ^ "Season Finale 500 Results". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. November 8, 2020. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  6. ^ "Points standings" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. November 8, 2020. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  7. ^ "Chase Elliott starts from rear, No. 9 fails pre-race inspection | NASCAR". 8 November 2020.


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2020 Xfinity 500
NASCAR Cup Series
2020 season
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2021 Daytona 500