2020 Bank of America Roval 400

{{short description|NASCAR Cup Series race}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}

{{Infobox NASCAR race report

| Type = CUST

| Description = Race 32 of 36 in the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series

| Race Name = Bank of America Roval 400

| Details ref = {{cite web |title=2020 schedule |url=https://www.jayski.com/nascar-cup-series/2020-nascar-cup-series-schedule/ |website=Jayski.com|publisher=Jayski's Silly Season Site |access-date=August 23, 2020|date=January 17, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.nascar.com/en_us/nascar-tracks/charlotte-motor-speedway.html|title=Charlotte Motor Speedway|publisher=NASCAR Media Group, LLC.|date=January 3, 2013|website=NASCAR.com|access-date=August 23, 2020|archive-date=September 29, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929061845/http://www.nascar.com/en_us/nascar-tracks/charlotte-motor-speedway.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Entry List|url=https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2020/10/11/2020-32cup-entry.pdf|website=Jayski.com|publisher=Jayski's Silly Season Site|access-date=October 1, 2020|date=October 1, 2020}}{{cite web|title=Starting Lineup|url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2020/10/07/denny-hamlin-wins-busch-pole-award-for-playoff-race-at-charlotte-roval/|website=NASCAR.com|publisher=NASCAR Media Group, LLC.|access-date=October 7, 2020|date=October 7, 2020}}{{cite web|title=Bank of America Roval 400 Results|url=https://www.nascar.com/results/racecenter/2020/nascar-cup-series/bank-of-america-roval-400/stn/results/|website=NASCAR.com|publisher=NASCAR Media Group, LLC.|access-date=October 11, 2020|date=October 11, 2020}}{{cite web|title=Points standings|url=https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2020/10/11/2020-32cup-points.pdf|website=Jayski.com|publisher=Jayski's Silly Season Site|access-date=October 11, 2020|date=October 11, 2020}}

| Fulldate = {{Start date|2020|10|11}}

| Year = 2020

| Image = CharlotteMotorSpeedway Roval track map.jpg

| Caption = Roval (2018–2023)

| Location = Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina

| Course_mi = 2.280

| Course_km = 3.669

| Distance_laps = 109

| Distance_mi = 248.52

| Distance_km = 400

| Weather =

| Avg = {{convert|76.948|mph|km/h}}

| Pole_Driver = Denny Hamlin

| Pole_Team = Joe Gibbs Racing

| Grid_from_prev_perf = yes

| Most_Driver = William Byron
Chase Elliott

| Most_Team = Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports

| Most_laps = 27

| Car = 9

| First_Driver = Chase Elliott

| First_Team = Hendrick Motorsports

| Network = NBC

| Announcers = Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

| Ratings = 1.7 (2.78 miilion)

| Radio = PRN

| Booth_Ann = Doug Rice and Mark Garrow

| Turn_Ann = Nick Yeoman (1, 2 & 3), Mike Jaynes (4, 5 & 6), Doug Turnbull (7, 8 & 9), Pat Patterson (10, 11 & 12) and Rob Albright (13, 14 & 15)

}}

The 2020 Bank of America Roval 400 is a NASCAR Cup Series race that was held on October 11, 2020 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina. Contested over 109 laps on the {{convert|2.28|mi|adj=on}} road course, it was the 32nd race of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season, the sixth race of the playoffs, and final race of the round of 12. It was also the first points race in cup series history to be declared a wet race.

Report

=Background=

File:Lowesmotorspeedway.jpg]]

Since 2018, deviating from past NASCAR events at Charlotte, the race will utilize a road course configuration of Charlotte Motor Speedway, promoted and trademarked as the "Roval". The course is {{convert|2.28|mi}} in length and features 17 turns, utilizing the infield road course and portions of the oval track. The race will be contested over a scheduled distance of 109 laps, {{convert|400|km}}.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2018/01/22/charlotte-motor-speedway-introduces-final-road-course-layout/|title=New layout for Charlotte Motor Speedway road course {{!}} NASCAR.com|date=2018-01-22|website=Official Site Of NASCAR|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-19}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.espn.com/racing/nascar/story/_/id/24793884/nascar-2018-everything-need-know-first-race-charlotte-motor-speedway-roval-road-course-oval|title=Everything to know for Sunday's race on the Charlotte roval|work=ESPN.com|access-date=2018-09-28|language=en}}{{cite web|url=http://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/nascar-cup-race-on-charlotte-roval-to-see-length-reduced-1055709/|title=NASCAR Cup race on Charlotte Roval to see length reduced|access-date=July 8, 2018|archive-date=July 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705094314/https://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/nascar-cup-race-on-charlotte-roval-to-see-length-reduced-1055709/|url-status=dead}}

During July 2018 tests on the road course, concerns were raised over drivers exceeding track limits on the backstretch chicane on the course. The chicanes were modified with additional tire barriers and rumble strips in order to encourage drivers to properly drive through them, and NASCAR will enforce drive-through penalties on drivers who illegally "short-cut" parts of the course. The chicanes will not be used during restarts. In the summer of 2019, the bus stop on the backstretch was changed and deepened, becoming a permanent part of the circuit, compared to the previous year where it was improvised.

If a driver fails to legally make the backstretch bus stop, the driver must skip the frontstretch chicane and make a complete stop by the dotted line on the exit before being allowed to continue. A driver who misses the frontstretch chicane must stop before the exit.{{Cite news|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nascar-auto-racing/thatsracin/article214943075.html|title=No more shortcut: NASCAR’s Roval tests to resume on course altered to stop ‘cheating’|work=Charlotte Observer|access-date=2018-09-28|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2018/09/26/charlotte-road-course-101-need-know-roval/|title=Charlotte road course 101: What you need to know|work=NASCAR.com|date=2018-09-26|access-date=2018-09-28|language=en-US}}

{{clear}}

==Entry list==

  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
  • (i) denotes driver who are ineligible for series driver points.

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
{{Tooltip|No.|Car number}}

! Driver

! Team

! Manufacturer

00Quin Houff (R)StarCom RacingChevrolet
1Kurt BuschChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet
2Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord
3Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
4Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord
6Ryan NewmanRoush Fenway RacingFord
8Tyler Reddick (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet
9Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
10Aric AlmirolaStewart-Haas RacingFord
11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
12Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord
13Ty DillonGermain RacingChevrolet
14Clint BowyerStewart-Haas RacingFord
15Brennan Poole (R)Premium MotorsportsChevrolet
17Chris BuescherRoush Fenway RacingFord
18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
19Martin Truex Jr.Joe Gibbs RacingToyota
20Erik JonesJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
21Matt DiBenedettoWood Brothers RacingFord
22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord
24William ByronHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
27Gray Gaulding (i)Rick Ware RacingFord
32Corey LaJoieGo Fas RacingFord
34Michael McDowellFront Row MotorsportsFord
37Ryan PreeceJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet
38John Hunter Nemechek (R)Front Row MotorsportsFord
41Cole Custer (R)Stewart-Haas RacingFord
42Matt KensethChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet
43Bubba WallaceRichard Petty MotorsportsChevrolet
47Ricky Stenhouse Jr.JTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet
48Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
51Josh Bilicki (i)Petty Ware RacingFord
53James DavisonRick Ware RacingChevrolet
66Timmy Hill (i)MBM MotorsportsToyota
77J. J. Yeley (i)Spire MotorsportsChevrolet
88Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
95Christopher Bell (R)Leavine Family RacingToyota
96Daniel SuárezGaunt Brothers RacingToyota
colspan="4"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2020/10/11/2020-32cup-entry.pdf Official entry list]

Qualifying

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

=Starting lineup=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
Pos

! {{Tooltip|No.|Car number}}

! Driver

! Team

! Manufacturer

1

| 11 || Denny Hamlin || Joe Gibbs Racing || Toyota

2

| 9 || Chase Elliott || Hendrick Motorsports || Chevrolet

3

| 2 || Brad Keselowski || Team Penske || Ford

4

| 4 || Kevin Harvick || Stewart-Haas Racing || Ford

5

| 88 || Alex Bowman || Hendrick Motorsports || Chevrolet

6

| 3 || Austin Dillon || Richard Childress Racing || Chevrolet

7

| 19 || Martin Truex Jr. || Joe Gibbs Racing || Toyota

8

| 22 || Joey Logano || Team Penske || Ford

9

| 18 || Kyle Busch || Joe Gibbs Racing || Toyota

10

| 1 || Kurt Busch || Chip Ganassi Racing || Chevrolet

11

| 14 || Clint Bowyer || Stewart-Haas Racing || Ford

12

| 10 || Aric Almirola || Stewart-Haas Racing || Ford

13

| 24 || William Byron || Hendrick Motorsports || Chevrolet

14

| 20 || Erik Jones || Joe Gibbs Racing || Toyota

15

| 6 || Ryan Newman || Roush Fenway Racing || Ford

16

| 8 || Tyler Reddick (R) || Richard Childress Racing || Chevrolet

17

| 13 || Ty Dillon || Germain Racing || Chevrolet

18

| 37 || Ryan Preece || JTG Daugherty Racing || Chevrolet

19

| 38 || John Hunter Nemechek (R) || Front Row Motorsports || Ford

20

| 21 || Matt DiBenedetto || Wood Brothers Racing || Ford

21

| 17 || Chris Buescher || Roush Fenway Racing || Ford

22

| 15 || Brennan Poole (R) || Premium Motorsports || Chevrolet

23

| 42 || Matt Kenseth || Chip Ganassi Racing || Chevrolet

24

| 12 || Ryan Blaney || Team Penske || Ford

25

| 00 || Quin Houff (R) || StarCom Racing || Chevrolet

26

| 43 || Bubba Wallace || Richard Petty Motorsports || Chevrolet

27

| 66 || Timmy Hill (i) || MBM Motorsports || Toyota

28

| 41 || Cole Custer (R) || Stewart-Haas Racing || Ford

29

| 51 || Josh Bilicki (i) || Petty Ware Racing || Ford

30

| 48 || Jimmie Johnson || Hendrick Motorsports || Chevrolet

31

| 34 || Michael McDowell || Front Row Motorsports || Ford

32

| 32 || Corey LaJoie || Go Fas Racing || Ford

33

| 77 || J. J. Yeley (i) || Spire Motorsports || Chevrolet

34

| 96 || Daniel Suárez || Gaunt Brothers Racing || Toyota

35

| 95 || Christopher Bell (R) || Leavine Family Racing || Toyota

36

| 27 || Gray Gaulding (i) || Rick Ware Racing || Ford

37

| 53 || James Davison || Rick Ware Racing || Chevrolet

38

| 47 || Ricky Stenhouse Jr. || JTG Daugherty Racing || Chevrolet

colspan="7"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2020/10/7/2020-32cup-lineup.pdf Official starting lineup]

Race

=Stage results=

Stage one

Laps: 25

class="wikitable" style="font-size:98%"
Pos

! {{Tooltip|No|Car Number}}

! Driver

! Team

! Manufacturer

! Points

113Ty DillonGermain RacingChevrolet10
295Christopher Bell (R)Leavine Family RacingToyota9
321Matt DiBenedettoWood Brothers RacingFord8
424William ByronHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet7
566Timmy Hill (i)MBM MotorsportsToyota0
66Ryan NewmanRoush Fenway RacingFord5
712Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord4
822Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord3
943Bubba WallaceRichard Petty MotorsportsChevrolet2
1020Erik JonesJoe Gibbs RacingToyota1
colspan="6"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2020/10/11/2020-32cup-results.pdf Official stage one results]

Stage two

Laps: 25

class="wikitable" style="font-size:98%"
Pos

! {{Tooltip|No|Car Number}}

! Driver

! Team

! Manufacturer

! Points

112Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord10
29Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet9
395Christopher Bell (R)Leavine Family RacingToyota8
419Martin Truex Jr.Joe Gibbs RacingToyota7
522Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord6
688Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet5
724William ByronHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet4
88Tyler Reddick (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet3
934Michael McDowellFront Row MotorsportsFord2
102Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord1
colspan="6"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2020/10/11/2020-32cup-results.pdf Official stage two results]

=Final stage results=

Stage three

Laps: 59

class="wikitable" style="font-size:98%"
Pos

! Grid

! {{Tooltip|No|Car Number}}

! Driver

! Team

! Manufacturer

! Laps

! Points

129Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet10949
2822Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord10944
31420Erik JonesJoe Gibbs RacingToyota10935
4101Kurt BuschChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet10933
52412Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord10946
61324William ByronHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet10942
7719Martin Truex Jr.Joe Gibbs RacingToyota10937
8588Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet10934
92841Cole Custer (R)Stewart-Haas RacingFord10928
101114Clint BowyerStewart-Haas RacingFord10927
1144Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord10926
12168Tyler Reddick (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet10928
133048Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet10924
141837Ryan PreeceJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet10923
15111Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota10922
161210Aric AlmirolaStewart-Haas RacingFord10921
173847Ricky Stenhouse Jr.JTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet10920
1832Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord10920
1963Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet10918
202117Chris BuescherRoush Fenway RacingFord10917
212643Bubba WallaceRichard Petty MotorsportsChevrolet10918
222021Matt DiBenedettoWood Brothers RacingFord10923
231713Ty DillonGermain RacingChevrolet10924
243595Christopher Bell (R)Leavine Family RacingToyota10930
253496Daniel SuárezGaunt Brothers RacingToyota10912
263627Gray Gaulding (i)Rick Ware RacingFord1090
273232Corey LaJoieGo Fas RacingFord10910
282500Quin Houff (R)StarCom RacingChevrolet1099
293753James DavisonRick Ware RacingChevrolet1098
30918Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota1097
31156Ryan NewmanRoush Fenway RacingFord10911
323134Michael McDowellFront Row MotorsportsFord1097
332951Josh Bilicki (i)Petty Ware RacingFord1080
342342Matt KensethChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet1083
353377J. J. Yeley (i)Spire MotorsportsChevrolet1080
361938John Hunter Nemechek (R)Front Row MotorsportsFord1051
372215Brennan Poole (R)Premium MotorsportsChevrolet951
382766Timmy Hill (i)MBM MotorsportsToyota570
colspan="8"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2020/10/11/2020-32cup-results.pdf Official race results]

=Race statistics=

  • Lead changes: 17 among 11 different drivers
  • Cautions/Laps: 9 for 16
  • Red flags: 0
  • Time of race: 3 hours, 17 minutes and 11 seconds
  • Average speed: {{convert|76.948|mph|km/h}}

Media

=Television=

NBC Sports covered the race on the television side. Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and Dale Earnhardt Jr. called the action from the booth live from the track for the first time since March. Dave Burns, Parker Kligerman and Dillon Welch handled the pit road duties and Rutledge Wood handled the features live from the track.

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%"
colspan="3"|NBC
Booth announcersPit reportersFeatures reporter
Lap-by-lap: Rick Allen
Color-commentator: Jeff Burton
Color-commentator: Steve Letarte
Color-commentator: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Dave Burns
Parker Kligerman
Dillon Welch
Rutledge Wood

=Radio=

The Performance Racing Network had the radio call for the race, which was also simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Doug Rice and Mark Garrow called the race from the booth when the field raced down the front straightaway. IMS Radio's Nick Yeoman was assigned the entrance to the road course and into the Bank of America bridge (Turns 1-3). Voice of the Indianapolis 500 Mark Jaynes was assigned the action from the Bank of America bridge to the middle of the infield section. Doug Turnbull called the action exiting in infield into the oval Turn 1 banking (Turns 7-9). Pat Patterson called the action on the backstretch and into the bus stop. Rob Albright was assigned to the oval Turn 3-4 end. (Turns 13-15). Brad Gillie, Brett McMillan and Wendy Venturini had the call from the pit area for PRN.

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%"
colspan="3"|PRN
Booth announcersTurn announcersPit reporters
Lead announcer: Doug Rice
Announcer: Mark Garrow
Infield entrance: Nick Yeoman
Middle of Infield: Mark Jaynes
Exit of Infield: Doug Turnbull
Oval 2 to Bus Stop Pat Patterson
Oval 3/4: Rob Albright
Brad Gillie
Brett McMillan
Wendy Venturini

Standings after the race

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

;Drivers' Championship standings

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%"
! Pos

! Driver

! Points

style="background:#D4AF37;"

|align="left"| 10px 1

| style="text-align:center;"| 1

| Kevin Harvick

| style="text-align:center;"| 4,067

style="background:#D4AF37;"

|align="left"| 10px 1

| style="text-align:center;"| 2

| Denny Hamlin

| style="text-align:center;"| 4,054 (–13)

style="background:#D4AF37;"

|align="left"| 10px 1

| style="text-align:center;"| 3

| Brad Keselowski

| style="text-align:center;"| 4,035 (–32)

style="background:#D4AF37;"

|align="left"| 10px 1

| style="text-align:center;"| 4

| Chase Elliott

| style="text-align:center;"| 4,027 (–40)

style="background:#D4AF37;"

|align="left"| 10px 2

| style="text-align:center;"| 5

| Joey Logano

| style="text-align:center;"| 4,022 (–45)

style="background:#D4AF37;"

|align="left"| 10px 1

| style="text-align:center;"| 6

| Martin Truex Jr.

| style="text-align:center;"| 4,017 (–50)

style="background:#D4AF37;"

|align="left"| 10px 1

| style="text-align:center;"| 7

| Alex Bowman

| style="text-align:center;"| 4,009 (–58)

style="background:#D4AF37;"

|align="left"| 10px 2

| style="text-align:center;"| 8

| Kurt Busch

| style="text-align:center;"| 4,006 (–61)

align="left"| 10px 1

| style="text-align:center;"| 9

| Kyle Busch

| style="text-align:center;"| 2,187 (–1,880)

align="left"| 10px 1

| style="text-align:center;"| 10

| Austin Dillon

| style="text-align:center;"| 2,186 (–1,881)

align="left"| 10px 2

| style="text-align:center;"| 11

| Ryan Blaney

| style="text-align:center;"| 2,160 (–1,907)

align="left"| 10px 2

| style="text-align:center;"| 12

| William Byron

| style="text-align:center;"| 2,155 (–1,912)

align="left"| 10px 2

| style="text-align:center;"| 13

| Clint Bowyer

| style="text-align:center;"| 2,154 (–1,913)

align="left"| 10px 2

| style="text-align:center;"| 14

| Aric Almirola

| style="text-align:center;"| 2,143 (–1,924)

align="left"| 10px

| style="text-align:center;"| 15

| Matt DiBenedetto

| style="text-align:center;"| 2,131 (–1,936)

align="left"| 10px

| style="text-align:center;"| 16

| Cole Custer

| style="text-align:center;"| 2,123 (–1,944)

class="sortbottom"

!colspan="9"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2020/10/11/2020-32cup-points.pdf Official driver's standings]

{{col-2}}

;Manufacturers' Championship standings

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%"
! Pos

! Manufacturer

! Points

align="left"| 10px

| style="text-align:center;"| 1

| Ford

| style="text-align:center;"| 1,186

align="left"| 10px

| style="text-align:center;"| 2

| Toyota

| style="text-align:center;"| 1,125 (–61)

align="left"| 10px

| style="text-align:center;"| 3

| Chevrolet

| style="text-align:center;"| 1,086 (–100)

class="sortbottom"

  • Note: Only the first 16 positions are included for the driver standings.

{{col-end}}

References

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{NASCAR next race

| Series = NASCAR Cup Series

| Monsteryear = 2020

| Previous_race = 2020 YellaWood 500

| Next_race = 2020 Hollywood Casino 400

}}

{{2020 NASCAR Cup}}

{{NASCAR on NBC}}

Bank of America Roval 400

Bank of America Roval 400

Category:NASCAR races at Charlotte Motor Speedway

Bank of America Roval 400