2020 Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500
# 2020 Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500

The 2020 Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 was a NASCAR Cup Series race that was originally scheduled to be held on May 9, 2020, and was rescheduled to June 10, 2020, at Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, Virginia. Contested over 500 laps on the 0.526 mi (0.847 km) paperclip-shaped short track, it was the 11th race of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season.

## Report

### Background

Martinsville Speedway is an International Speedway Corporation-owned NASCAR stock car racing track located in Henry County, in Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At 0.526 miles (0.847 km) in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved oval tracks in NASCAR, being built in 1947 by H. Clay Earles. It is also the only remaining race track that has been on the NASCAR circuit from its beginning in 1948. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the race will be held behind closed doors with no fans in attendance with only essential staff present, guidelines for social distancing and use of the protective equipment equipped by team staff, and logging to help with the contact tracing efforts.

**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 |
| 7 | Reed Sorenson | Tommy Baldwin Racing | Chevrolet |
| 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 | J. J. Yeley (i) | 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 | Chevrolet |
| 53 | David Starr (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 66 | Timmy Hill (i) | MBM Motorsports | Toyota |
| 77 | Garrett Smithley (i) | Spire 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

Ryan Blaney was awarded the pole for the race as determined by a random draw.

### Starting Lineup

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

## Race

### Stage Results

Stage One Laps: 130

| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 10 |
| 2 | 14 | Clint Bowyer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 9 |
| 3 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 8 |
| 4 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 7 |
| 5 | 43 | Bubba Wallace | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet | 6 |
| 6 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 8 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 3 |
| 9 | 21 | Matt DiBenedetto | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 2 |
| 10 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1 |
| Official stage one results ||||||

Stage Two Laps: 130

| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 10 |
| 2 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 9 |
| 3 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 8 |
| 4 | 88 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 7 |
| 5 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 6 |
| 6 | 43 | Bubba Wallace | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 8 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 9 | 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 2 |
| 10 | 8 | Tyler Reddick (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 1 |
| Official stage two results ||||||

### Final Stage Results

Stage Three Laps: 240

| Pos | Grid | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 5 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 500 | 47 |
| 2 | 1 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 500 | 44 |
| 3 | 6 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 500 | 34 |
| 4 | 3 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 500 | 51 |
| 5 | 11 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 40 |
| 6 | 8 | 88 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 38 |
| 7 | 19 | 21 | Matt DiBenedetto | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 500 | 32 |
| 8 | 15 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 34 |
| 9 | 9 | 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 500 | 34 |
| 10 | 21 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 45 |
| 11 | 23 | 43 | Bubba Wallace | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 37 |
| 12 | 16 | 6 | Ryan Newman | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 500 | 25 |
| 13 | 24 | 17 | Chris Buescher | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 500 | 24 |
| 14 | 29 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 500 | 23 |
| 15 | 10 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 499 | 31 |
| 16 | 14 | 8 | Tyler Reddick (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 499 | 22 |
| 17 | 4 | 14 | Clint Bowyer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 499 | 29 |
| 18 | 25 | 32 | Corey LaJoie | Go Fas Racing | Ford | 499 | 19 |
| 19 | 7 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 499 | 18 |
| 20 | 13 | 20 | Erik Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 497 | 17 |
| 21 | 17 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 497 | 16 |
| 22 | 30 | 13 | Ty Dillon | Germain Racing | Chevrolet | 497 | 15 |
| 23 | 20 | 42 | Matt Kenseth | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 497 | 14 |
| 24 | 12 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 497 | 13 |
| 25 | 18 | 38 | John Hunter Nemechek (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 497 | 12 |
| 26 | 28 | 37 | Ryan Preece | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 496 | 11 |
| 27 | 37 | 96 | Daniel Suárez | Gaunt Brothers Racing | Toyota | 494 | 10 |
| 28 | 32 | 95 | Christopher Bell (R) | Leavine Family Racing | Toyota | 494 | 9 |
| 29 | 27 | 41 | Cole Custer (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 494 | 8 |
| 30 | 31 | 15 | Brennan Poole (R) | Premium Motorsports | Chevrolet | 494 | 7 |
| 31 | 26 | 27 | J. J. Yeley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 493 | 0 |
| 32 | 33 | 53 | David Starr (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet | 479 | 0 |
| 33 | 2 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 476 | 4 |
| 34 | 34 | 00 | Quin Houff (R) | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet | 474 | 3 |
| 35 | 36 | 51 | Joey Gase (i) | Petty Ware Racing | Chevrolet | 464 | 0 |
| 36 | 35 | 77 | Garrett Smithley (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 450 | 0 |
| 37 | 22 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 399 | 1 |
| 38 | 39 | 7 | Reed Sorenson | Tommy Baldwin Racing | Chevrolet | 295 | 1 |
| 39 | 38 | 66 | Timmy Hill (i) | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 105 | 0 |
| Official race results ||||||||

### Race statistics

* Lead changes: 14 among 8 different drivers
* Cautions/Laps: 7 for 52
* Red flags: 0
* Time of race: 3 hours, 23 minutes and 56 seconds
* Average speed: 77.378 miles per hour (124.528 km/h)

## Media

### Television

Fox Sports covered their 20th race at the Martinsville Speedway. Mike Joy and nine-time Martinsville winner Jeff Gordon will cover the race from the Fox Sports studio in Charlotte. Regan Smith 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 | Regan Smith | Larry McReynolds |

### Radio

MRN had the radio call for the race which was also simulcasted on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Alex Hayden, Dave Moody and seven-time Martinsville winner Rusty Wallace called the race in the booth as the cars raced down the frontstretch. Dillon Welch called the race from atop the turn 3 stands as the field raced down the backstretch. Steve Post worked pit road for the radio side.

MRN :

| Booth announcers | Turn announcers | Pit reporters |
| - | - | - |
| Lead announcer: Alex Hayden Announcer: Dave Moody Announcer: Rusty Wallace | Backstretch: Dillon Welch | Steve Post |

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| - | - | - | - |
| | 1 | Kevin Harvick | 452 |
| | 2 | Joey Logano | 424 (–28) |
| | 3 | Chase Elliott | 405 (–47) |
| 1 | 4 | Martin Truex Jr. | 381 (–71) |
| 1 | 5 | Brad Keselowski | 380 (–72) |
| 1 | 6 | Ryan Blaney | 361 (–91) |
| 1 | 7 | Alex Bowman | 352 (–100) |
| 2 | 8 | Denny Hamlin | 335 (–117) |
| | 9 | Kyle Busch | 326 (–126) |
| | 10 | Kurt Busch | 318 (–134) |
| 2 | 11 | Jimmie Johnson | 301 (–151) |
| | 12 | Clint Bowyer | 288 (–164) |
| 2 | 13 | Matt DiBenedetto | 278 (–174) |
| 3 | 14 | Aric Almirola | 264 (–188) |
| 1 | 15 | Erik Jones | 257 (–195) |
| 1 | 16 | William Byron | 254 (–198) |
| Official driver's standings ||||
| | Pos | Manufacturer | Points |
| | 1 | Ford | 410 |
| 1 | 2 | Toyota | 379 (–31) |
| 1 | 3 | Chevrolet | 373 (–37) |
