2020 Toyota 500
# 2020 Toyota 500

The 2020 Toyota 500 was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on May 20, 2020, at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina, replacing Richmond Raceway's Toyota Owners 400. Contested over 208 laps—shortened from 228 laps due to rain, on the 1.366-mile (2.198 km) egg-shaped oval, it was the sixth race of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season and the 57th edition of the event.

There were three stages: first two were 75 laps each & the final was originally scheduled 78 laps, but reduced to 58 laps by weather.

## Report

### Background

The event was the second NASCAR Cup Series race held following a hiatus brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, after the formal resumption of the season with The Real Heroes 400 three days earlier, also at Darlington. The race marked the first Cup Series event to be held on a Wednesday since the 1984 Firecracker 400 at Daytona (until 1987, the Firecracker 400 was always held on July 4, regardless of day) — a race also noted for hosting Richard Petty's 200th and final Cup Series victory. It was the 57th edition of the event, dating to the 1950 Southern 500 (races billed as the Southern 500 from 2005 to 2020 ware lineally related the 1957 Rebel 300; for the 2021 season, with two race meetings scheduled, Darlington swapped the lineage of both races). It was the first scheduled Cup Series Darlington race with scheduled 300 mile (or 500 km distance, which is similar) distance since 1963, when the Rebel 300 was run in two 150-mile heat races.

**Entry list**

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

| No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| - | - | - | - |
| 00 | Quin Houff (R) | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet |
| 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford |
| 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 6 | Ryan Newman | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 8 | Tyler Reddick (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 11 | Denny Hamlin | 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 | Team Penske | Ford |
| 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 27 | Gray Gaulding | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 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 | Garrett Smithley | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 66 | Timmy Hill (i) | MBM Motorsports | Toyota |
| 77 | J. J. Yeley (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 78 | B. J. McLeod (i) | B. J. McLeod 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 ||||

## Qualifying

Under modified operational procedures, no qualifying sessions were held for this race. The starting order was determined by the results of The Real Heroes 400, but with the order of the top 20 inverted.

### Starting Lineup

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 37 | Ryan Preece | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 2 | 13 | Ty Dillon | Germain Racing | Chevrolet |
| 3 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford |
| 4 | 14 | Clint Bowyer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 5 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford |
| 6 | 6 | Ryan Newman | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 7 | 21 | Matt DiBenedetto | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford |
| 8 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford |
| 9 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 10 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 11 | 42 | Matt Kenseth | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 12 | 38 | John Hunter Nemechek (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 13 | 20 | Erik Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 14 | 8 | Tyler Reddick (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 15 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 16 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 17 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 18 | 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 19 | 88 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 20 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 21 | 43 | Bubba Wallace | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 22 | 41 | Cole Custer (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 23 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 24 | 95 | Christopher Bell (R) | Leavine Family Racing | Toyota |
| 25 | 96 | Daniel Suárez | Gaunt Brothers Racing | Toyota |
| 26 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 27 | 15 | Brennan Poole (R) | Premium Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 28 | 27 | Gray Gaulding | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 29 | 77 | J. J. Yeley (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 30 | 51 | Joey Gase (i) | Petty Ware Racing | Ford |
| 31 | 32 | Corey LaJoie | Go Fas Racing | Ford |
| 32 | 17 | Chris Buescher | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 33 | 66 | Timmy Hill (i) | MBM Motorsports | Toyota |
| 34 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 35 | 00 | Quin Houff (R) | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet |
| 36 | 53 | Garrett Smithley | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 37 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 38 | 78 | B. J. McLeod (i) | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 39 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| Official starting lineup |||||

## Race

### Stage Results

Stage One Laps: 60

| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 14 | Clint Bowyer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 10 |
| 2 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 9 |
| 3 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 8 |
| 4 | 88 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 7 |
| 5 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 6 |
| 6 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 5 |
| 7 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 8 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 3 |
| 9 | 42 | Matt Kenseth | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 2 |
| 10 | 37 | Ryan Preece | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 1 |
| Official stage one results ||||||

Stage Two Laps: 65

| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 14 | Clint Bowyer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 10 |
| 2 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 9 |
| 3 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 8 |
| 4 | 20 | Erik Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 7 |
| 5 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 6 |
| 6 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 4 |
| 8 | 88 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 9 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 2 |
| 10 | 21 | Matt DiBenedetto | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 1 |
| Official stage two results ||||||

### Final Stage Results

Final Stage Laps: 83

| Pos | Grid | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 16 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 208 | 47 |
| 2 | 26 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 208 | 35 |
| 3 | 20 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 208 | 40 |
| 4 | 8 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 208 | 33 |
| 5 | 13 | 20 | Erik Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 208 | 39 |
| 6 | 3 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 208 | 39 |
| 7 | 9 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 208 | 35 |
| 8 | 37 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 208 | 29 |
| 9 | 7 | 21 | Matt DiBenedetto | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 208 | 29 |
| 10 | 15 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 208 | 44 |
| 11 | 24 | 95 | Christopher Bell (R) | Leavine Family Racing | Toyota | 208 | 26 |
| 12 | 34 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 208 | 30 |
| 13 | 14 | 8 | Tyler Reddick (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 208 | 24 |
| 14 | 6 | 6 | Ryan Newman | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 208 | 23 |
| 15 | 18 | 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 208 | 22 |
| 16 | 21 | 43 | Bubba Wallace | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet | 208 | 21 |
| 17 | 23 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 208 | 20 |
| 18 | 19 | 88 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 208 | 29 |
| 19 | 2 | 13 | Ty Dillon | Germain Racing | Chevrolet | 208 | 18 |
| 20 | 10 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 208 | 17 |
| 21 | 5 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 208 | 24 |
| 22 | 4 | 14 | Clint Bowyer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 208 | 35 |
| 23 | 32 | 17 | Chris Buescher | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 208 | 14 |
| 24 | 31 | 32 | Corey LaJoie | Go Fas Racing | Ford | 207 | 13 |
| 25 | 39 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 207 | 12 |
| 26 | 35 | 00 | Quin Houff (R) | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet | 207 | 11 |
| 27 | 25 | 96 | Daniel Suárez | Gaunt Brothers Racing | Toyota | 207 | 10 |
| 28 | 29 | 77 | J. J. Yeley (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 207 | 0 |
| 29 | 30 | 51 | Joey Gase (i) | Petty Ware Racing | Ford | 207 | 0 |
| 30 | 11 | 42 | Matt Kenseth | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 206 | 9 |
| 31 | 22 | 41 | Cole Custer (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 206 | 6 |
| 32 | 28 | 27 | Gray Gaulding | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 206 | 5 |
| 33 | 33 | 66 | Timmy Hill (i) | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 204 | 0 |
| 34 | 36 | 53 | Garrett Smithley | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet | 204 | 3 |
| 35 | 12 | 38 | John Hunter Nemechek (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 202 | 2 |
| 36 | 38 | 78 | B. J. McLeod (i) | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet | 202 | 0 |
| 37 | 27 | 15 | Brennan Poole (R) | Premium Motorsports | Chevrolet | 201 | 1 |
| 38 | 17 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 14 |
| 39 | 1 | 37 | Ryan Preece | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 69 | 2 |
| Official race results ||||||||

### Race statistics

* Lead changes: 17 among 13 different drivers
* Cautions/Laps: 11 for 54
* Red flags: 1
* Time of race: 2 hours, 42 minutes and 23 seconds
* Average speed: 104.984 miles per hour (168.955 km/h) It was the slowest hardtop race since the 1958 Southern 500.

## Media

### Television

The Toyota 500 was carried by FS1 in the United States. Mike Joy and five-time Darlington winner Jeff Gordon covered the race from the Fox Sports studio in Charlotte. Matt Yocum handled the pit road duties. Larry McReynolds provided insight from the Fox Sports studio in Charlotte.

FS1 :

| Booth announcers | Pit reporter | In-race analyst |
| - | - | - |
| Lap-by-lap: Mike Joy Color-commentator: Jeff Gordon | Matt Yocum | Larry McReynolds |

### Radio

The Motor Racing Network (MRN) called the race for radio, which was simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Alex Hayden and Dave Moody called the action for MRN when the field raced down the front stretch. Dillon Welch called the race from a Billboard outside of turn 1 when the field raced through turns 1 and 2, and Steve Post called the race atop of the Darlington Raceway Club outside of turn 3 when the field raced through turns 3 and 4. Kim Coon and Hannah Newhouse called the action on pit road for MRN.

MRN :

| Booth announcers | Turn announcers | Pit reporters |
| - | - | - |
| Lead announcer: Alex Hayden Announcer: Dave Moody | Turns 1 & 2: Dillon Welch Turns 3 & 4: Steve Post | Kim Coon Hannah Newhouse |

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| - | - | - | - |
| | 1 | Kevin Harvick | 258 |
| 1 | 2 | Joey Logano | 224 (–34) |
| 1 | 3 | Alex Bowman | 219 (–39) |
| 2 | 4 | Denny Hamlin | 201 (–57) |
| 1 | 5 | Chase Elliott | 192 (–66) |
| 1 | 6 | Brad Keselowski | 191 (–67) |
| | 7 | Aric Almirola | 186 (–72) |
| 3 | 8 | Martin Truex Jr. | 179 (–79) |
| | 9 | Matt DiBenedetto | 170 (–88) |
| | 10 | Clint Bowyer | 170 (–88) |
| 3 | 11 | Ryan Blaney | 168 (–90) |
| | 12 | Jimmie Johnson | 161 (–97) |
| 1 | 13 | Kyle Busch | 157 (–101) |
| 1 | 14 | Kurt Busch | 151 (–107) |
| 2 | 15 | Erik Jones | 146 (–112) |
| | 16 | William Byron | 129 (–129) |
| Official driver's standings ||||
| | Pos | Manufacturer | Points |
| | 1 | Ford | 221 |
| 1 | 2 | Toyota | 203 (–18) |
| 1 | 3 | Chevrolet | 201 (–21) |
