The 2020 Cook Out Southern 500, the 71st running of the event, was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on September 6, 2020, at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina. Contested over 367 laps on the 1.366-mile (2.198km) egg-shaped oval, it was the 27th race of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season, first race of the Playoffs, and the first race of the Round of 16.

Report

Background

Layout of Darlington Raceway, the track where the race is held.

Darlington Raceway is a race track built for NASCAR racing located near Darlington, South Carolina. It is nicknamed "The Lady in Black" and "The Track Too Tough to Tame" by many NASCAR fans and drivers and advertised as "A NASCAR Tradition." It is of a unique, somewhat egg-shaped design, an oval with the ends of very different configurations, a condition which supposedly arose from the proximity of one end of the track to a minnow pond the owner refused to relocate. This situation makes it very challenging for the crews to set up their cars' handling in a way that is effective at both ends.

Entry list

  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
  • (i) denotes driver who are ineligible for series driver points.
No.DriverTeamManufacturerSponsor or Throwback
00Quin Houff (R)StarCom RacingChevroletPermatex – Scheme based on the Ford V-8 Roadster that driver Milt Marion piloted to victory during America's first stock car race, which was held at the Daytona Beach Course in 1936.
1Kurt BuschChip Ganassi RacingChevroletMonster Energy
2Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFordDiscount Tire – Keselowski's 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship car; scheme also honors the 10th anniversary of Discount Tire's involvement with Team Penske. Keselowski would later decide to run this scheme through the remainder of the NASCAR Playoffs, and throughout the 2021 season.
3Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevroletAmerican Ethanol E15 – Scheme pays homage to Hall of Famer Junior Johnson.
4Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord1997 Busch Beer design.
6Ryan NewmanRoush Fenway RacingFordOscar Mayer – Newman's 1999 scheme from the USAC Silver Crown Series, where he won the National Championship.
7Josh Bilicki (i)Tommy Baldwin RacingChevroletInsurance King – Scheme paying homage to team owner Tommy Baldwin Jr.'s father, Tommy Baldwin Sr.
8Tyler Reddick (R)Richard Childress RacingChevroletCat Power – Jeff Burton's 1994 Rookie of the Year Raybestos car.
9Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevroletNAPA Auto Parts – Jimmie Johnson's 2009 paint scheme.
10Aric AlmirolaStewart-Haas RacingFordGo Bowling – Hall of Famer Fireball Roberts's 1957 NASCAR Grand National Series paint scheme.
11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota1973 FedEx design and Hall of Famer Cale Yarborough inspired car.
12Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFordMenards/Maytag – Scheme honors Paul Menard and his 2003 ARCA victory at Talladega.
13Ty DillonGermain RacingChevroletGEICO – Todd Bodine's 2010 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championship paint scheme.
14Clint BowyerStewart-Haas RacingFordPEAK – Kyle Petty's 1990 Goodwrench 500 winning car.
15Brennan Poole (R)Premium MotorsportsChevroletR.E.D. – Ricky Rudd's red Bud Moore Engineering paint scheme from the mid-80's
17Chris BuescherRoush Fenway RacingFordFastenal
18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyotaM&M's – Elliott Sadler's 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series car.
19Martin Truex Jr.Joe Gibbs RacingToyotaBass Pro Shops – Hank Parker Jr.'s 2003 Aaron's 312 car.
20Erik JonesJoe Gibbs RacingToyotaSport Clips – Tony Stewart's 2005 Martinsville Home Depot inspired car.
21Matt DiBenedettoWood Brothers RacingFordFord Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center – Tiny Lund's 1963 Daytona 500 inspired car.
22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFordShell Pennzoil – Bobby Allison's 1985 Miller car.
24William ByronHendrick MotorsportsChevroletLiberty University – Jimmie Johnson's 2013 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race paint scheme.
27J. J. Yeley (i)Rick Ware RacingFordJacob Companies – Kenny Irwin Jr.'s 1997 Nerf car.
32Corey LaJoieGo Fas RacingFordTrump 2020
34Michael McDowellFront Row MotorsportsFordLove's Travel Stops
37Ryan PreeceJTG Daugherty RacingChevroletBush's Beans
38John Hunter Nemechek (R)Front Row MotorsportsFordCitgard – Elliott Sadler's 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Series inspired car.
41Cole Custer (R)Stewart-Haas RacingFordHaas Automation – 1956 Southern 500 and Hall of Famer Curtis Turner's 1965 NASCAR Grand National Series inspired car.
42Matt KensethChip Ganassi RacingChevroletMcDelivery
43Bubba WallaceRichard Petty MotorsportsChevroletCash App – Scheme will honor Team Owner and Hall of Famer Richard Petty and his one-off 1986 Darlington ride in D. K. Ulrich's No. 6 Chevrolet.
47Ricky Stenhouse Jr.JTG Daugherty RacingChevroletKroger
48Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevroletAlly – Scheme honors Hall of Famers and seven-time Cup Series Champions Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt.
51Joey Gase (i)Petty Ware RacingFordAgri Supplies – Bobby Allison's 1971 Southern 500 inspired car.
53James DavisonRick Ware RacingChevroletSigning Day Sports – Tom Sneva's 1983 NASCAR Winston Cup Series inspired car.
66Timmy Hill (i)MBM MotorsportsToyotaRoofClaim.com – Phil Parsons' 1984 Skoal Bandit scheme.
77Ross Chastain (i)Spire MotorsportsChevroletDirty Mo Media – Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt's 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Series paint scheme.
88Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevroletChevyGoods.com – Jimmie Johnson's 2006-2008 paint scheme.
95Christopher Bell (R)Leavine Family RacingToyotaRheem – Bell's 2017 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship paint scheme.
96Daniel SuárezGaunt Brothers RacingToyotaArris Now CommScope – Suárez's 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Series championship paint scheme.

Qualifying

Chase Elliott was awarded the pole for the race as determined by competition-based formula.

Starting Lineup

PosNo.DriverTeamManufacturer
19Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
211Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
324William ByronHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
488Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
52Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord
619Martin Truex Jr.Joe Gibbs RacingToyota
712Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord
84Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord
914Clint BowyerStewart-Haas RacingFord
1010Aric AlmirolaStewart-Haas RacingFord
1121Matt DiBenedettoWood Brothers RacingFord
123Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
1322Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord
1441Cole Custer (R)Stewart-Haas RacingFord
1518Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
161Kurt BuschChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet
1743Bubba WallaceRichard Petty MotorsportsChevrolet
1838John Hunter Nemechek (R)Front Row MotorsportsFord
1934Michael McDowellFront Row MotorsportsFord
2017Chris BuescherRoush Fenway RacingFord
2195Christopher Bell (R)Leavine Family RacingToyota
2248Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
2315Brennan Poole (R)Premium MotorsportsChevrolet
248Tyler Reddick (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet
2513Ty DillonGermain RacingChevrolet
2642Matt KensethChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet
2732Corey LaJoieGo Fas RacingFord
2896Daniel SuárezGaunt Brothers RacingToyota
2947Ricky Stenhouse Jr.JTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet
3020Erik JonesJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
316Ryan NewmanRoush Fenway RacingFord
3200Quin Houff (R)StarCom RacingChevrolet
3366Timmy Hill (i)MBM MotorsportsToyota
3477Ross Chastain (i)Spire MotorsportsChevrolet
3537Ryan PreeceJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet
3653James DavisonRick Ware RacingChevrolet
3727J. J. Yeley (i)Rick Ware RacingFord
387Josh Bilicki (i)Tommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet
3951Joey Gase (i)Petty Ware RacingFord

Race

Kevin Harvick won the race.

Stage Results

Stage One Laps: 115

PosNoDriverTeamManufacturerPoints
119Martin Truex Jr.Joe Gibbs RacingToyota10
248Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet9
39Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet8
411Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota7
51Kurt BuschChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet6
688Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet5
722Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord4
824William ByronHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet3
918Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota2
104Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord1

Stage Two Laps: 115

PosNoDriverTeamManufacturerPoints
119Martin Truex Jr.Joe Gibbs RacingToyota10
211Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota9
34Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord8
488Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet7
548Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet6
618Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota5
720Erik JonesJoe Gibbs RacingToyota4
83Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet3
914Clint BowyerStewart-Haas RacingFord2
101Kurt BuschChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet1

Final Stage Results

Stage Three Laps: 137

PosGridNoDriverTeamManufacturerLapsPoints
184Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord36749
2123Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet36738
31322Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord36738
43020Erik JonesJoe Gibbs RacingToyota36737
5324William ByronHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet36735
6488Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet36743
71518Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota36737
8161Kurt BuschChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet36736
91010Aric AlmirolaStewart-Haas RacingFord36728
10914Clint BowyerStewart-Haas RacingFord36729
1152Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord36726
121441Cole Custer (R)Stewart-Haas RacingFord36725
13211Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota36740
142642Matt KensethChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet36723
15316Ryan NewmanRoush Fenway RacingFord36722
161934Michael McDowellFront Row MotorsportsFord36721
173537Ryan PreeceJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet36720
182248Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet36734
192947Ricky Stenhouse Jr.JTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet36718
2019Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet36725
211121Matt DiBenedettoWood Brothers RacingFord36616
22619Martin Truex Jr.Joe Gibbs RacingToyota36635
23248Tyler Reddick (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet36614
24712Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord36613
252896Daniel SuárezGaunt Brothers RacingToyota36412
262017Chris BuescherRoush Fenway RacingFord36411
272513Ty DillonGermain RacingChevrolet36310
282315Brennan Poole (R)Premium MotorsportsChevrolet3629
293477Ross Chastain (i)Spire MotorsportsChevrolet3600
303727J. J. Yeley (i)Rick Ware RacingFord3600
313200Quin Houff (R)StarCom RacingChevrolet3576
32387Josh Bilicki (i)Tommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet3560
333951Joey Gase (i)Petty Ware RacingFord3510
342195Christopher Bell (R)Leavine Family RacingToyota3493
353366Timmy Hill (i)MBM MotorsportsToyota2960
361838John Hunter Nemechek (R)Front Row MotorsportsFord2451
372732Corey LaJoieGo Fas RacingFord2341
381743Bubba WallaceRichard Petty MotorsportsChevrolet2171
393653James DavisonRick Ware RacingChevrolet1621

Race statistics

  • Lead changes: 18 among 6 different drivers
  • Cautions/Laps: 7 for 34
  • Red flags: 0
  • Time of race: 3 hours, 47 minutes and 26 seconds
  • Average speed: 132.256 miles per hour (212.845km/h)

Media

Television

NBC Sports covered the race on the television side. Rick Allen, two–time Darlington winner Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and Dale Earnhardt Jr. covered the race from the booth at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Earnhardt Jr., Dale Jarrett and Kyle Petty also called a portion of the race as part of the Throwback Weekend, 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.

NBCSN
Booth announcersPit reportersFeatures reporter
Lap-by-lap: Rick Allen Color-commentator: Jeff Burton Color-commentator: Steve Letarte Color-commentator: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Throwback commentator: Dale Jarrett Throwback commentator: Kyle PettyDave Burns Parker Kligerman Marty SniderRutledge Wood

Radio

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

MRN Radio
Booth announcersTurn announcersPit reporters
Lead announcer: Alex Hayden Announcer: Jeff Striegle Announcer: Rusty WallaceTurns 1 & 2: Dave Moody Turns 3 & 4: Mike BagleyWinston Kelley Steve Post

Standings after the race

PosDriverPoints
Drivers' Championship standings Pos Driver Points 1 Kevin Harvick 2,106 2 Denny Hamlin 2,087 (–19) 1 3 Joey Logano 2,060 (–46) 1 4 Brad Keselowski 2,055 (–51) 3 5 Alex Bowman 2,052 (–54) 6 Martin Truex Jr. 2,049 (–57) 2 7 Chase Elliott 2,045 (–61) 2 8 Austin Dillon 2,043 (–63) 9 William Byron 2,042 (–64) 4 10 Kyle Busch 2,040 (–66) 4 11 Kurt Busch 2,037 (–69) 12 Aric Almirola 2,033 (–73) 13 Clint Bowyer 2,033 (–73) 3 14 Cole Custer 2,030 (–76) 1 15 Matt DiBenedetto 2,016 (–90) 9 16 Ryan Blaney 2,016 (–90)Manufacturers' Championship standings Pos Manufacturer Points 1 Ford 1,004 2 Toyota 947 (–57) 3 Chevrolet 906 (–98) Note: Only the first 16 positions are included for the driver standings.
1Kevin Harvick2,106
2Denny Hamlin2,087 (–19)
13Joey Logano2,060 (–46)
14Brad Keselowski2,055 (–51)
35Alex Bowman2,052 (–54)
6Martin Truex Jr.2,049 (–57)
27Chase Elliott2,045 (–61)
28Austin Dillon2,043 (–63)
9William Byron2,042 (–64)
410Kyle Busch2,040 (–66)
411Kurt Busch2,037 (–69)
12Aric Almirola2,033 (–73)
13Clint Bowyer2,033 (–73)
314Cole Custer2,030 (–76)
115Matt DiBenedetto2,016 (–90)
916Ryan Blaney2,016 (–90)
PosManufacturerPoints
1Ford1,004
2Toyota947 (–57)
3Chevrolet906 (–98)
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