2020 Drydene 311 (Saturday)

The 2020 Drydene 311 was a NASCAR Cup Series race that was originally scheduled to be held on May 3, 2020, but postponed to August 22, 2020, at Dover International Speedway in Dover, Delaware. Scheduled to be contested over 400 laps but shortened to 311 laps because of the 500-kilometer doubleheader format used on the 1-mile (1.6 km) concrete speedway, it was the 24th race of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season. It was the first 300-mile Cup Series race since 1970 at Dover.

2020 Drydene 311 (Saturday)
Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Race 24 of 36 in the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series
The 2020 Drydene 311 program cover, featuring Jimmie Johnson's win at the 2012 FedEx 400.
The 2020 Drydene 311 program cover, featuring Jimmie Johnson's win at the 2012 FedEx 400.
Date August 22, 2020 (2020-08-22)
Location Dover International Speedway in Dover, Delaware
Course Permanent racing facility
1 mi (1.6 km)
Distance 311 laps, 311 mi (500.399 km)
Average speed 124.359 miles per hour (200.136 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Hendrick Motorsports
Grid positions set by competition-based formula
Most laps led
Driver Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing
Laps 115
Winner
No. 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing
Television in the United States
Network NBCSN
Announcers Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Nielsen Ratings 1.771 million[7]
Radio in the United States
Radio MRN
Booth Announcers Alex Hayden and Jeff Striegle
Turn Announcers Mike Bagley (Backstretch)

There were three stages, each ending at 70, 115 & 126.

Report

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Background

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Dover International Speedway, the track where the race was held.

Dover International Speedway is an oval race track in Dover, Delaware, United States that has held at least two NASCAR races since it opened in 1969. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosted USAC and the NTT IndyCar Series. The track features one layout, a 1 mile (1.6 km) concrete oval, with 24° banking in the turns and 9° banking on the straights. The speedway is owned and operated by Dover Motorsports.

The track, nicknamed "The Monster Mile", was built in 1969 by Melvin Joseph of Melvin L. Joseph Construction Company, Inc., with an asphalt surface, but was replaced with concrete in 1995. Six years later in 2001, the track's capacity moved to 135,000 seats, making the track have the largest capacity of sports venue in the mid-Atlantic. In 2002, the name changed to Dover International Speedway from Dover Downs International Speedway after Dover Downs Gaming and Entertainment split, making Dover Motorsports. From 2007 to 2009, the speedway worked on an improvement project called "The Monster Makeover", which expanded facilities at the track and beautified the track. After the 2014 season, the track's capacity was reduced to 95,500 seats.

Entry list

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  • (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 Garrett Smithley (i) 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 Ford
53 Josh Bilicki (i) Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet
66 Timmy Hill (i) MBM Motorsports Toyota
77 Reed Sorenson 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

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

Starting Lineup

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

Race

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Denny Hamlin won the race.

Stage Results

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Stage One Laps: 70

Pos No Driver Team Manufacturer Points
1 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 10
2 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 9
3 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 8
4 14 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 7
5 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 6
6 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 5
7 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 4
8 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 3
9 17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford 2
10 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 1
Official stage one results

Stage Two Laps: 115

Pos No Driver Team Manufacturer Points
1 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 10
2 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 9
3 14 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 8
4 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 7
5 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 6
6 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 5
7 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 4
8 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 3
9 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 2
10 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1
Official stage two results

Final Stage Results

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Stage Three Laps: 126

Pos Grid No Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points
1 2 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 311 60
2 3 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 311 50
3 22 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 311 41
4 10 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 311 42
5 1 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 311 33
6 4 14 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 311 46
7 6 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 311 37
8 5 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 311 37
9 7 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 311 42
10 19 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 311 29
11 21 41 Cole Custer (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 311 26
12 13 20 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 311 25
13 16 8 Tyler Reddick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 310 24
14 20 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 310 23
15 32 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 310 31
16 12 17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford 310 23
17 17 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 309 21
18 25 13 Ty Dillon Germain Racing Chevrolet 309 19
19 23 6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford 309 18
20 14 21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford 309 17
21 11 88 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 309 16
22 18 95 Christopher Bell (R) Leavine Family Racing Toyota 309 15
23 26 42 Matt Kenseth Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 309 14
24 31 38 John Hunter Nemechek (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford 309 13
25 27 37 Ryan Preece JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 309 12
26 15 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 308 11
27 24 43 Bubba Wallace Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet 308 10
28 8 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 308 9
29 29 32 Corey LaJoie Go Fas Racing Ford 308 8
30 28 96 Daniel Suárez Gaunt Brothers Racing Toyota 306 7
31 34 27 J. J. Yeley (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford 302 0
32 37 53 Josh Bilicki (i) Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 299 0
33 35 00 Quin Houff (R) StarCom Racing Chevrolet 298 4
34 33 66 Timmy Hill (i) MBM Motorsports Toyota 298 0
35 38 51 Joey Gase (i) Petty Ware Racing Ford 293 0
36 30 15 Brennan Poole (R) Premium Motorsports Chevrolet 286 1
37 39 7 Garrett Smithley (i) Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet 241 0
38 40 78 B. J. McLeod (i) B. J. McLeod Motorsports Chevrolet 166 0
39 36 77 Reed Sorenson Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 83 1
40 9 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 6 1
Official race results

Race statistics

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  • Lead changes: 15 among 10 different drivers
  • Cautions/Laps: 4 for 21
  • Red flags: 0
  • Time of race: 2 hours, 30 minutes and 3 seconds
  • Average speed: 124.359 miles per hour (200.136 km/h)

Media

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Television

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NBC Sports covered the race on the television side. Rick Allen, 2006 race winner Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and 2001 race winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. covered the race from the booth at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Dave Burns, Parker Kligerman and Dillon Welch handled the pit road duties on site.

NBCSN
Booth announcers Pit reporters
Lap-by-lap: Rick Allen
Color-commentator: Jeff Burton
Color-commentator: Steve Letarte
Color-commentator: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Dave Burns
Parker Kligerman
Dillon Welch

Radio

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

MRN Radio
Booth announcers Turn announcers Pit reporters
Lead announcer: Alex Hayden
Announcer: Jeff Striegle
Backstretch: Mike Bagley Steve Post
Kim Coon

Standings after the race

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References

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  1. ^ "2020 schedule". Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. January 17, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  2. ^ "Dover International Speedway". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. January 3, 2013. Archived from the original on April 29, 2017. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  3. ^ "Entry List" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. August 17, 2020. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
  4. ^ "Starting Lineup". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. August 19, 2020. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  5. ^ "Drydene 311 (Saturday) Results". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. August 22, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  6. ^ "Points standings" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. August 22, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  7. ^ "2020 Drydene 311 (Saturday) ratings". ShowBuzzDaily. Mitch Metcalf. Archived from the original on August 28, 2020. Retrieved August 25, 2020.


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2020 Drydene 311