2020 YellaWood 500

File:TalladegaSuperspeedway2.jpg, 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 {{convert|2.66|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} tri-oval like the Daytona International Speedway, which also is a {{convert|2.5|mi|km|adj=mid|-long|0}} tri-oval.

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

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

File:Denny hamlin (48010188356) (cropped).jpg won the race.]]

Stage One

Laps: 60

Stage Two

Laps: 60

Stage Three

Laps: 68

Extended because of Lap 182, 188, and 183 safety car situations.

• 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: {{convert|129.774|mph|km/h}} Slowest Talladega Superspeedway Cup Series race in history.

{{See also|Yellow-Line Rule}}

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.{{cite web |last1=Long |first1=Dustin |title=Should NASCAR eliminate yellow line rule at Talladega? |url=https://nascar.nbcsports.com/2020/10/05/denny-hamlin-erik-jones-ty-dillon-kyle-busch-nascar-talladega-winners-and-losers/ |website=NASCAR on NBC |publisher=NBC Sports |access-date=October 5, 2020 |date=October 4, 2020}} NASCAR later redistributed its penalty originally given to Elliott, assessing it to Chris Buescher for forcing Elliott beyond track limits.{{cite web |last1=Gastelu |first1=Gary |title=NASCAR: Penalty strips Matt DiBenedetto's Talladega second-place finish |url=https://www.foxnews.com/auto/nascar-penalty-matt-dibenedettos-talladega |website=FOX News |access-date=October 5, 2020 |date=October 5, 2020}} 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.{{cite web |last1=Crandall |first1=Kelly |title=Hamlin calls yellow line move "a non-story" |url=https://racer.com/2020/10/04/hamlin-calls-yellow-line-move-a-non-story/ |website=Racer |access-date=October 5, 2020 |date=October 4, 2020}} Despite myriad negative reactions to the decision at Talladega and online, a NASCAR official later said that the rulings were "clear-cut".{{cite web |last1=Taranto |first1=Steven |title=Yellow line controversy mars Denny Hamlin's win at Talladega |url=https://247sports.com/Article/NASCAR-Talladega-finish-Denny-Hamlin-wins-Matt-DiBenedetto-yellow-line-rule-controversy-152461587/ |website=247Sports |access-date=October 5, 2020 |date=October 4, 2020}}{{cite web |last1=DeGroot |first1=Nick |title=NASCAR explains Talladega penalties, defends yellow line rule |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/nascar-explains-talladega-penalties-defends-084151008.html |website=Yahoo! Sports |publisher=Autosport |access-date=October 5, 2020 |date=October 5, 2020}} 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.{{cite web |last1=Albert |first1=Zack |title=NASCAR official: Out-of-bounds rulings ‘clear-cut’ in turbulent Talladega finish |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2020/10/04/cup-series-playoffs-talladega-superspeedway-yellow-line-rule/ |website=NASCAR.com |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC |access-date=October 5, 2020 |date=October 4, 2020}}

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. Due to the red flag and to honour other programming commitments, the race was switched from NBC to NBCSN.

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.

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;Drivers' Championship standings

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;Manufacturers' Championship standings

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

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{{Reflist|30em}}

{{NASCAR next race

| Series = NASCAR Cup Series

| Monsteryear = 2020

| Previous_race = 2020 South Point 400

| Next_race = 2020 Bank of America Roval 400

}}

{{2020 NASCAR Cup}}

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Category:2020 in sports in Alabama

Category:2020 NASCAR Cup Series

Category:NASCAR races at Talladega Superspeedway

Category:October 2020 sports events in the United States

2020 YellaWood 500