2020 Drydene 311 (Sunday)

{{short description|NASCAR Cup Series race}}

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

{{Infobox NASCAR race report

| Type = CUST

| Description = Race 25 of 36 in the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series

| Race Name = Drydene 311 (Sunday)

| 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=July 8, 2020|date=January 17, 2020}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nascar.com/en_us/nascar-tracks/dover-international-speedway.html|title=Dover International Speedway|publisher=NASCAR Media Group, LLC.|date=January 3, 2013|website=NASCAR.com|access-date=July 8, 2020|archive-date=April 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429053836/http://www.nascar.com/en_us/nascar-tracks/dover-international-speedway.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Entry List|url=https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2020/8/17/2020-25cup-entry.pdf|website=Jayski.com|publisher=Jayski's Silly Season Site|access-date=August 17, 2020|date=August 17, 2020}}{{Dead link|date=August 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite web|title=Starting Lineup|url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2020/08/22/projected-dover-starting-lineup-for-sunday/|website=NASCAR.com|publisher=NASCAR Media Group, LLC.|access-date=August 22, 2020|date=August 22, 2020}}{{cite web|title=Drydene 311 (Sunday) Results|url=https://www.nascar.com/results/racecenter/2020/nascar-cup-series/drydene-311-2/stn/results/|website=NASCAR.com|publisher=NASCAR Media Group, LLC.|access-date=August 23, 2020|date=August 23, 2020}}{{cite web|title=Points standings|url=https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2020/8/23/2020-25cup-points.pdf|website=Jayski.com|publisher=Jayski's Silly Season Site|access-date=August 23, 2020|date=August 23, 2020}}

| Fulldate = {{Start date|2020|08|23}}

| Year = 2020

| Image =2020 Drydene 311 (Saturday and Sunday) program cover.jpeg

| Caption =The 2020 Drydene 311 program cover, featuring Jimmie Johnson's win at the 2012 FedEx 400.

| Location = Dover International Speedway in Dover, Delaware

| Course_mi = 1

| Course_km = 1.6

| Distance_laps = 311

| Distance_mi = 311

| Distance_km = 500.399

| Weather =

| Avg = {{convert|110.994|mph|km/h}}

| Pole_Driver = Matt DiBenedetto

| Pole_Team = Wood Brothers Racing

| Grid_from_inversion = yes

| Most_Driver = Kevin Harvick

| Most_Team = Stewart-Haas Racing

| Most_laps = 223

| Car = 4

| First_Driver = Kevin Harvick

| First_Team = Stewart-Haas Racing

| Network = NBCSN

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

| Ratings = 1.946 million{{cite web|title=2020 Drydene 311 (Sunday) ratings|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/skedball-weekly-sports-tv-ratings-8-17-8-23-2020.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200828144820/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/skedball-weekly-sports-tv-ratings-8-17-8-23-2020.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 28, 2020|website=ShowBuzzDaily|publisher=Mitch Metcalf|access-date=August 25, 2020}}

| Radio = MRN

| Booth_Ann = Alex Hayden and Jeff Striegle

| Turn_Ann = Mike Bagley (Backstretch)

}}

The 2020 Drydene 311 was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on August 23, 2020, at Dover International Speedway in Dover, Delaware. Scheduled to be contested over 400 laps but shortened to 311 laps because of the doubleheader format on the 1-mile (1.6 km) concrete speedway, it was the 25th race of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season.

Report

=Background=

File:Dover International Raceway.jpg, the track where the race was held.]]

Dover International Speedway is an oval race track in Dover, Delaware, United States that has held at least two NASCAR races since it opened in 1969. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosted USAC and the NTT IndyCar Series. The track features one layout, a {{convert|1|mi|km}} concrete oval, with 24° banking in the turns and 9° banking on the straights. The speedway is owned and operated by Dover Motorsports.

The track, nicknamed "The Monster Mile", was built in 1969 by Melvin Joseph of Melvin L. Joseph Construction Company, Inc., with an asphalt surface, but was replaced with concrete in 1995. Six years later in 2001, the track's capacity moved to 135,000 seats, making the track have the largest capacity of sports venue in the mid-Atlantic. In 2002, the name changed to Dover International Speedway from Dover Downs International Speedway after Dover Downs Gaming and Entertainment split, making Dover Motorsports. From 2007 to 2009, the speedway worked on an improvement project called "The Monster Makeover", which expanded facilities at the track and beautified the track. After the 2014 season, the track's capacity was reduced to 95,500 seats.

==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
7Garrett Smithley (i)Tommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet
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
27J. J. Yeley (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
51Joey Gase (i)Petty Ware RacingFord
53Josh Bilicki (i)Rick Ware RacingChevrolet
66Timmy Hill (i)MBM MotorsportsToyota
77Reed SorensonSpire MotorsportsChevrolet
78B. J. McLeod (i)B. J. McLeod MotorsportsChevrolet
88Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
95Christopher Bell (R)Leavine Family RacingToyota
96Daniel SuárezGaunt Brothers RacingToyota
colspan="4"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2020/8/17/2020-25cup-entry.pdf Official entry list]{{Dead link|date=August 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Qualifying

Matt DiBenedetto was awarded the pole for the race as determined by the top 20 from Saturday's finishing order inverted.

=Starting Lineup=

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

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

! Driver

! Team

! Manufacturer

1

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

2

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

3

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

4

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

5

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

6

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

7

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

8

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

9

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

10

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

11

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

12

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

13

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

14

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

15

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

16

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

17

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

18

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

19

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

20

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

21

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

22

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

23

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

24

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

25

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

26

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

27

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

28

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

29

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

30

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

31

| 27 || J. J. Yeley (i) || Rick Ware Racing || Ford

32

| 53 || Josh Bilicki (i) || Rick Ware Racing || Chevrolet

33

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

34

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

35

| 51 || Joey Gase (i) || Petty Ware Racing || Ford

36

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

37

| 7 || Garrett Smithley (i) || Tommy Baldwin Racing || Chevrolet

38

| 78 || B. J. McLeod (i) || B. J. McLeod Motorsports || Chevrolet

39

| 77 || Reed Sorenson || Spire Motorsports || Chevrolet

40

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

colspan="7"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2020/8/22/2020-25cup-lineup.pdf Official starting lineup]

Race

=Stage Results=

Stage One

Laps: 70

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

! {{Tooltip|No|Car Number}}

! Driver

! Team

! Manufacturer

! Points

14Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord10
212Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord9
324William ByronHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet8
410Aric AlmirolaStewart-Haas RacingFord7
52Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord6
622Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord5
721Matt DiBenedettoWood Brothers RacingFord4
848Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet3
91Kurt BuschChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet2
103Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet1
colspan="6"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2020/8/23/2020-25cup-results.pdf Official stage one results]

Stage Two

Laps: 115

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

! {{Tooltip|No|Car Number}}

! Driver

! Team

! Manufacturer

! Points

14Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord10
222Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord9
311Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota8
419Martin Truex Jr.Joe Gibbs RacingToyota7
512Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord6
624William ByronHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet5
788Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet4
841Cole Custer (R)Stewart-Haas RacingFord3
948Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet2
102Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord1
colspan="6"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2020/8/23/2020-25cup-results.pdf Official stage two results]

=Final Stage Results=

Stage Three

Laps: 126

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

! Grid

! {{Tooltip|No|Car Number}}

! Driver

! Team

! Manufacturer

! Laps

! Points

1174Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord31160
21919Martin Truex Jr.Joe Gibbs RacingToyota31142
31448Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet31139
42324William ByronHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet31146
52188Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet31136
61322Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord31145
7410Aric AlmirolaStewart-Haas RacingFord31137
8122Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord31136
963Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet31129
101041Cole Custer (R)Stewart-Haas RacingFord31130
111818Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota31126
12712Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord31140
13281Kurt BuschChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet31126
14517Chris BuescherRoush Fenway RacingFord31123
152242Matt KensethChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet31122
161514Clint BowyerStewart-Haas RacingFord31121
17121Matt DiBenedettoWood Brothers RacingFord31124
1888Tyler Reddick (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet31119
192011Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota31126
202738John Hunter Nemechek (R)Front Row MotorsportsFord31117
212643Bubba WallaceRichard Petty MotorsportsChevrolet31116
22920Erik JonesJoe Gibbs RacingToyota31015
233032Corey LaJoieGo Fas RacingFord31014
2426Ryan NewmanRoush Fenway RacingFord31013
252534Michael McDowellFront Row MotorsportsFord31012
262937Ryan PreeceJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet31011
272495Christopher Bell (R)Leavine Family RacingToyota31010
283196Daniel SuárezGaunt Brothers RacingToyota3099
29313Ty DillonGermain RacingChevrolet3098
303415Brennan Poole (R)Premium MotorsportsChevrolet3057
314078B. J. McLeod (i)B. J. McLeod MotorsportsChevrolet3030
323353Josh Bilicki (i)Rick Ware RacingChevrolet3020
333777Reed SorensonSpire MotorsportsChevrolet3024
343500Quin Houff (R)StarCom RacingChevrolet3023
35397Garrett Smithley (i)Tommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet2960
363666Timmy Hill (i)MBM MotorsportsToyota2520
371147Ricky Stenhouse Jr.JTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet2151
383127J. J. Yeley (i)Rick Ware RacingFord1100
39169Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet61
403551Joey Gase (i)Petty Ware RacingFord40
colspan="8"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2020/8/23/2020-25cup-results.pdf Official race results]

=Race statistics=

  • Lead changes: 15 among 6 different drivers
  • Cautions/Laps: 7 for 40
  • Red flags: 1 for 12 minutes and 19 seconds
  • Time of race: 2 hours, 48 minutes and 7 seconds
  • Average speed: {{convert|110.994|mph|km/h}}

Media

=Television=

NBC Sports covered the race on the television side. Rick Allen, 2006 race winner Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and 2001 race winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. covered the race from the booth at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Dave Burns, Parker Kligerman and Dillon Welch handled the pit road duties on site.

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
colspan="2"|NBCSN
Booth announcersPit reporters
Lap-by-lap: Rick Allen
Color-commentator: Jeff Burton
Color-commentator: Steve Letarte
Color-commentator: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Dave Burns
Parker Kligerman
Dillon Welch

=Radio=

MRN had the radio call for the race, which was also simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio.

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
colspan="3"|MRN Radio
Booth announcersTurn announcersPit reporters
Lead announcer: Alex Hayden
Announcer: Jeff Striegle
Backstretch: Mike BagleySteve Post
Kim Coon

Standings after the race

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

;Drivers' Championship standings

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

! Driver

! Points

align="left"| 10px

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

| style="background:#FFDEAD;"| Kevin Harvick

| style="text-align:center;"| 1,041

align="left"| 10px

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

| style="background:#FFDEAD;"| Denny Hamlin

| style="text-align:center;"| 907 (–134)

align="left"| 10px

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

| style="background:#FFDEAD;"| Brad Keselowski

| style="text-align:center;"| 881 (–160)

align="left"| 10px 1

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

| style="background:#FFDEAD;"| Martin Truex Jr.

| style="text-align:center;"| 845 (–196)

align="left"| 10px 1

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

| style="background:#FFDEAD;"| Joey Logano

| style="text-align:center;"| 836 (–205)

align="left"| 10px 1

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

| style="background:#FFDEAD;"| Ryan Blaney

| style="text-align:center;"| 818 (–223)

align="left"| 10px 3

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

| style="background:#FFDEAD;"| Chase Elliott

| style="text-align:center;"| 809 (–232)

align="left"| 10px

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

| style="background:#FFDEAD;"| Aric Almirola

| style="text-align:center;"| 740 (–301)

align="left"| 10px

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

| style="background:#FFDEAD;"| Kyle Busch

| style="text-align:center;"| 719 (–322)

align="left"| 10px

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

| style="background:#FFDEAD;"| Kurt Busch

| style="text-align:center;"| 700 (–341)

align="left"| 10px

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

| Clint Bowyer

| style="text-align:center;"| 685 (–356)

align="left"| 10px

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

| style="background:#FFDEAD;"| Alex Bowman

| style="text-align:center;"| 662 (–379)

align="left"| 10px

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

| Matt DiBenedetto

| style="text-align:center;"| 637 (–404)

align="left"| 10px 1

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

| William Byron

| style="text-align:center;"| 632 (–409)

align="left"| 10px 1

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

| Jimmie Johnson

| style="text-align:center;"| 628 (–413)

align="left"| 10px

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

| Erik Jones

| style="text-align:center;"| 582 (–459)

class="sortbottom"

!colspan="9"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2020/8/23/2020-25cup-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;"| 933

align="left"| 10px

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

| Toyota

| style="text-align:center;"| 880 (–53)

align="left"| 10px

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

| Chevrolet

| style="text-align:center;"| 831 (–102)

class="sortbottom"

  • Note: Only the first 16 positions are included for the driver standings.
  • . – Driver has clinched a position in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.

{{col-end}}

References

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{NASCAR next race

| Series = NASCAR Cup Series

| Monsteryear = 2020

| Previous_race = 2020 Drydene 311

| Next_race = 2020 Coke Zero Sugar 400

}}

{{2020 NASCAR Cup}}

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Drydene 500

Drydene 500

Category:NASCAR races at Dover Motor Speedway

Drydene 311 Sunday