2020 Shady Rays 200
# 2020 Shady Rays 200

The 2020 Shady Rays 200 was a NASCAR Xfinity Series race held on July 9, 2020 at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Kentucky. Contested over 136 laps -- extended from 134 laps due to an overtime finish -- on the 1.5-mile (2.4 km) speedway, it was the 14th race of the 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series season. Team Penske's Austin Cindric won his first race of the season.

The Shady Rays 200 replaced New Hampshire Motor Speedway's date for the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was the first of two races for the Xfinity Series at Kentucky.

## Report

### Background

Kentucky Speedway is a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) tri-oval speedway in Sparta, Kentucky, which has hosted ARCA, NASCAR and Indy Racing League racing annually since it opened in 2000. The track is currently owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports, Inc. and Jerry Carroll, who, along with four other investors, owned Kentucky Speedway until 2008. The speedway has a grandstand capacity of 117,000. Construction of the speedway began in 1998 and was completed in mid-2000. The speedway has hosted the Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series, Xfinity Series, IndyCar Series, Indy Lights, and most recently, the NASCAR Cup Series beginning in 2011.

The race was held without fans in attendance due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

### Entry list

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

| No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| - | - | - | - |
| 0 | Jeffrey Earnhardt | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 1 | Michael Annett | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 02 | Brett Moffitt (i) | Our Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 4 | Jesse Little (R) | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 5 | Matt Mills | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Toyota |
| 6 | B. J. McLeod | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 07 | Garrett Smithley | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet |
| 8 | Jeb Burton | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 08 | Joe Graf Jr. (R) | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet |
| 9 | Noah Gragson | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 10 | Ross Chastain | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 11 | Justin Haley | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 13 | Chad Finchum | MBM Motorsports | Toyota |
| 15 | Colby Howard | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 18 | Riley Herbst (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 19 | Brandon Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 20 | Harrison Burton (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 21 | Anthony Alfredo | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 22 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford |
| 36 | Alex Labbé | DGM Racing | Chevrolet |
| 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Chevrolet |
| 44 | Tommy Joe Martins | Martins Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 47 | Kyle Weatherman | Mike Harmon Racing | Chevrolet |
| 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet |
| 52 | Kody Vanderwal (R) | Means Racing | Chevrolet |
| 61 | Timmy Hill (i) | Hattori Racing | Toyota |
| 66 | Stephen Leicht | MBM Motorsports | Toyota |
| 68 | Brandon Brown | Brandonbilt Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 74 | Bayley Currey (i) | Mike Harmon Racing | Chevrolet |
| 78 | Vinnie Miller | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 90 | Ronnie Bassett Jr. | DGM Racing | Chevrolet |
| 92 | Josh Williams | DGM Racing | Chevrolet |
| 93 | Myatt Snider (R) | RSS Racing | Chevrolet |
| 98 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 99 | Mason Massey | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Toyota |
| Official entry list ||||

## Qualifying

Noah Gragson was awarded the pole for the race as determined by a random draw.

### Starting Lineup

| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 9 | Noah Gragson | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 2 | 10 | Ross Chastain | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 3 | 8 | Jeb Burton | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 4 | 1 | Michael Annett | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 5 | 20 | Harrison Burton (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 6 | 19 | Brandon Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 7 | 98 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 8 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Chevrolet |
| 9 | 11 | Justin Haley | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 10 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 11 | 21 | Anthony Alfredo | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 12 | 22 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford |
| 13 | 02 | Brett Moffitt (i) | Our Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 14 | 4 | Jesse Little (R) | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 15 | 07 | Garrett Smithley | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet |
| 16 | 36 | Alex Labbé | DGM Racing | Chevrolet |
| 17 | 6 | B. J. McLeod | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 18 | 92 | Josh Williams | DGM Racing | Chevrolet |
| 19 | 68 | Brandon Brown | Brandonbilt Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 20 | 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet |
| 21 | 15 | Colby Howard | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 22 | 90 | Ronnie Bassett Jr. | DGM Racing | Chevrolet |
| 23 | 18 | Riley Herbst (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 24 | 0 | Jeffrey Earnhardt | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 25 | 52 | Kody Vanderwal (R) | Means Racing | Chevrolet |
| 26 | 99 | Mason Massey | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Toyota |
| 27 | 74 | Bayley Currey (i) | Mike Harmon Racing | Chevrolet |
| 28 | 93 | Myatt Snider (R) | RSS Racing | Chevrolet |
| 29 | 66 | Stephen Leicht | MBM Motorsports | Toyota |
| 30 | 47 | Kyle Weatherman | Mike Harmon Racing | Chevrolet |
| 31 | 08 | Joe Graf Jr. (R) | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet |
| 32 | 13 | Chad Finchum | MBM Motorsports | Toyota |
| 33 | 61 | Timmy Hill (i) | Hattori Racing | Toyota |
| 34 | 78 | Vinnie Miller | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 35 | 5 | Matt Mills | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 36 | 44 | Tommy Joe Martins | Martins Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| Official starting lineup |||||

* The No. 74 and No. 99 had to start from the rear due to unapproved adjustments.
* The No. 78 had to start from the rear due to stopping in its pit box during the pit road speed check.

## Race

### Race results

**Stage Results**

Stage One

Laps: 30

| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 9 | Noah Gragson | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 10 |
| 2 | 20 | Harrison Burton (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 9 |
| 3 | 22 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford | 8 |
| 4 | 10 | Ross Chastain | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 7 |
| 5 | 21 | Anthony Alfredo | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 6 |
| 6 | 1 | Michael Annett | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 11 | Justin Haley | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 8 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 9 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | 2 |
| 10 | 02 | Brett Moffitt (i) | Our Motorsports | Chverolet | 0 |

Stage Two

Laps: 30

| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 9 | Noah Gragson | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 10 |
| 2 | 22 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford | 9 |
| 3 | 98 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 8 |
| 4 | 10 | Ross Chastain | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 7 |
| 5 | 18 | Riley Herbst (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 6 |
| 6 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 1 | Michael Annett | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 8 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 9 | 68 | Brandon Brown | Brandonbilt Motorsports | Chevrolet | 2 |
| 10 | 21 | Anthony Alfredo | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 1 |

### Final Stage Results

Laps: 74

| Pos | Grid | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps | Points | Status |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 12 | 22 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford | 136 | 57 | Running |
| 2 | 23 | 18 | Riley Herbst (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 136 | 41 | Running |
| 3 | 2 | 10 | Ross Chastain | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 136 | 48 | Running |
| 4 | 7 | 98 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 136 | 41 | Running |
| 5 | 4 | 1 | Michael Annett | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 136 | 41 | Running |
| 6 | 11 | 21 | Anthony Alfredo | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 136 | 38 | Running |
| 7 | 9 | 11 | Justin Haley | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 136 | 34 | Running |
| 8 | 30 | 47 | Kyle Weatherman | Mike Harmon Racing | Chevrolet | 136 | 29 | Running |
| 9 | 8 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | 136 | 33 | Running |
| 10 | 13 | 02 | Brett Moffitt (i) | Our Motorsports | Chevrolet | 136 | 0 | Running |
| 11 | 1 | 9 | Noah Gragson | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 136 | 46 | Running |
| 12 | 20 | 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet | 136 | 25 | Running |
| 13 | 31 | 08 | Joe Graf Jr. (R) | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 136 | 24 | Running |
| 14 | 14 | 4 | Jesse Little (R) | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 136 | 23 | Running |
| 15 | 28 | 93 | Myatt Snider (R) | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | 136 | 22 | Running |
| 16 | 32 | 13 | Chad Finchum | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 136 | 21 | Running |
| 17 | 5 | 20 | Harrison Burton (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 136 | 29 | Running |
| 18 | 17 | 6 | B. J. McLeod | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 136 | 19 | Running |
| 19 | 22 | 90 | Ronnie Bassett Jr. | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | 135 | 18 | Accident |
| 20 | 10 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 135 | 25 | Accident |
| 21 | 33 | 61 | Timmy Hill (i) | Hattori Racing | Toyota | 135 | 0 | Accident |
| 22 | 27 | 74 | Bayley Currey (i) | Mike Harmon Racing | Chevrolet | 135 | 0 | Running |
| 23 | 34 | 78 | Vinnie Miller | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet | 134 | 14 | Running |
| 24 | 16 | 36 | Alex Labbé | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | 134 | 13 | Running |
| 25 | 25 | 52 | Kody Vanderwal (R) | Means Racing | Chevrolet | 134 | 12 | Running |
| 26 | 18 | 92 | Josh Williams | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | 133 | 11 | Running |
| 27 | 19 | 68 | Brandon Brown | Brandonbilt Motorsports | Chevrolet | 132 | 12 | Running |
| 28 | 26 | 99 | Mason Massey | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Toyota | 130 | 9 | Running |
| 29 | 24 | 0 | Jeffrey Earnhardt | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 129 | 8 | Suspension |
| 30 | 35 | 5 | Matt Mills | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Toyota | 122 | 7 | Running |
| 31 | 15 | 07 | Garrett Smithley | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 120 | 6 | Brakes |
| 32 | 21 | 15 | Colby Howard | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 119 | 5 | Accident |
| 33 | 36 | 44 | Tommy Joe Martins | Martins Motorsports | Chevrolet | 54 | 4 | Rear Gear |
| 34 | 3 | 8 | Jeb Burton | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 45 | 3 | Accident |
| 35 | 29 | 66 | Stephen Leicht | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 21 | 2 | Electrical |
| 36 | 6 | 19 | Brandon Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 0 | 1 | Accident |
| Official race results |||||||||

### Race statistics

* Lead changes: 6 among 4 different drivers
* Cautions/Laps: 9 for 40
* Red flags: 0
* Time of race: 1 hour, 51 minutes, 31 seconds
* Average speed: 109.759 mph (176.640 km/h)

## Media

### Television

The Shady Rays 200 was carried by FS1 in the United States. Adam Alexander, Stewart-Haas Racing driver Clint Bowyer, and Hendrick Motorsports crew chief Chad Knaus called the race from the Fox Sports Studio in Charlotte, with Jamie Little covering pit road.

FS1 :

| Booth announcers | Pit reporter |
| - | - |
| Lap-by-lap: Adam Alexander Color-commentator: Clint Bowyer Color-commentator: Chad Knaus | Jamie Little |

### Radio

The Performance Racing Network (PRN) called the race for radio, which was simulcast on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

## Standings after the race

### Drivers' Championship standings

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| - | - | - | - |
| | 1 | Chase Briscoe | 597 |
| | 2 | Noah Gragson | 581 (-16) |
| 1 | 3 | Austin Cindric | 552 (-45) |
| 1 | 4 | Ross Chastain | 549 (-48) |
| | 5 | Justin Haley | 485 (-112) |
| | 6 | Justin Allgaier | 459 (-138) |
| | 7 | Harrison Burton (R) | 450 (-147) |
| 1 | 8 | Michael Annett | 414 (-183) |
| 1 | 9 | Brandon Jones | 384 (-213) |
| | 10 | Ryan Sieg | 362 (-235) |
| | 11 | Riley Herbst (R) | 339 (-258) |
| 1 | 12 | Myatt Snider (R) | 301 (-296) |
| Official driver's standings ||||

* Note: Only the first 12 positions are included for the driver standings.
* . – Driver has clinched a position in the NASCAR playoffs.
