The 2020 The Real Heroes 400 was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on May 17, 2020, at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina, replacing Chicagoland Speedway event. Contested over 293 laps on the egg-shaped oval, it was the fifth race of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season. It was the first Darlington event held in the spring since 2014, and the first major sporting event in the United States since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic.
Report
Background
The 56th edition of this race, last held in 2004, was the first of the NASCAR Cup Series season following a hiatus brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, beginning with the postponement of the Atlanta Motor Speedway race weekend on March 13, 2020, and subsequent postponement of all races through at least early-May. On April 30, 2020, NASCAR announced the resumption of races with twin races at Darlington, including a 400-mile race on May 17, 2020 and a 310-mile (500 kilometer) race the following Wednesday, May 20, 2020. All races will be held behind closed doors with only essential staff present, guidelines for social distancing and use of protective equipment by team staff, and logging to help with contact tracing efforts.
On May 14, 2020, NASCAR announced that the May 17 race would be branded as The Real Heroes 400, the naming was in support of The Real Heroes Project—a collaboration of major U.S. sports leagues to honor health care professionals working during the pandemic. As part of the initiative, the names of drivers printed above the cars' driver-side windows were replaced with the names of health care professionals (determined in collaboration with local Fox affiliates). The selected workers collectively served as Grand Marshals of the race via a video "mosaic".
Ryan Newman returned to racing, having recovered from injuries sustained after the final lap crash of the 2020 Daytona 500. Matt Kenseth made his return to the series, having been named the new driver of the Chip Ganassi Racing No. 42 Chevrolet, after the suspension and firing of Kyle Larson.
Entry list (R) denotes rookie driver. (i) denotes driver who are ineligible for series driver points.
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 Josh Bilicki (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 Garrett Smithley 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 ToyotaOfficial entry list
Brennan Poole competed under Premium Motorsports banner but the team is now owned by Rick Ware (also owner of the Rick Ware Racing).
Qualifying Under modified operational procedures, no qualifying sessions were held for this race. The starting order was determined by a random draw, with drivers grouped into pots of positions based on segments of the owners' points standings going into the race.
Starting Lineup Pos Driver Team Manufacturer 1 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 2 88 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 3 21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford 4 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 5 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 6 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 7 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 8 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 9 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 10 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 11 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 12 42 Matt Kenseth Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 13 14 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 14 41 Cole Custer (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 15 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 16 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 17 43 Bubba Wallace Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet 18 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 19 32 Corey LaJoie Go Fas Racing Ford 20 20 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 21 6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford 22 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 23 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 24 17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford 25 37 Ryan Preece JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 26 53 Garrett Smithley Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 27 00 Quin Houff (R) StarCom Racing Chevrolet 28 95 Christopher Bell (R) Leavine Family Racing Toyota 29 8 Tyler Reddick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 30 27 J. J. Yeley (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford 31 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 32 51 Joey Gase (i) Petty Ware Racing Ford 33 13 Ty Dillon Germain Racing Chevrolet 34 38 John Hunter Nemechek (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford 35 15 Brennan Poole (R) Premium Motorsports Chevrolet 36 77 Reed Sorenson Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 37 96 Daniel Suárez Gaunt Brothers Racing Toyota 38 66 Timmy Hill (i) MBM Motorsports Toyota 39 78 B. J. McLeod (i) B. J. McLeod Motorsports Chevrolet 40 7 Josh Bilicki (i) Tommy Baldwin Racing ChevroletOfficial starting lineup
Race
Stage Results
Stage One Laps: 90
Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Points1 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 102 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 93 88 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 84 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 75 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 66 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 57 14 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 48 8 Tyler Reddick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 39 6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford 210 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1Official stage one results
Stage Two Laps: 95
Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Points1 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 102 88 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 93 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 84 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 75 14 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 66 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 57 37 Ryan Preece JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 48 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 39 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 210 20 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 1Official stage two results
Final Stage Results
Stage Three Laps: 108
Pos Grid Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points1 6 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 293 542 2 88 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 293 523 22 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 293 394 11 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 293 345 10 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 293 436 15 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 293 397 29 8 Tyler Reddick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 293 338 20 20 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 293 309 34 38 John Hunter Nemechek (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford 293 2810 12 42 Matt Kenseth Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 293 2711 16 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 293 2612 5 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 293 3013 1 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 293 4014 3 21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford 293 2315 21 6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford 293 2416 7 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 293 2117 13 14 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 293 3018 9 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 293 2219 33 13 Ty Dillon Germain Racing Chevrolet 293 1820 25 37 Ryan Preece JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 293 2121 17 43 Bubba Wallace Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet 293 1622 14 41 Cole Custer (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 293 1523 31 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 293 1424 28 95 Christopher Bell (R) Leavine Family Racing Toyota 293 1325 37 96 Daniel Suárez Gaunt Brothers Racing Toyota 292 1226 4 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 292 1127 35 15 Brennan Poole (R) Premium Motorsports Chevrolet 292 1028 30 27 J. J. Yeley (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford 291 029 36 77 Reed Sorenson Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 291 830 32 51 Joey Gase (i) Petty Ware Racing Ford 289 031 19 32 Corey LaJoie Go Fas Racing Ford 289 632 24 17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford 287 533 38 66 Timmy Hill (i) MBM Motorsports Toyota 286 034 40 7 Josh Bilicki (i) Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet 286 035 18 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 279 1236 27 00 Quin Houff (R) StarCom Racing Chevrolet 137 137 26 53 Garrett Smithley Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 127 138 8 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 89 139 39 78 B. J. McLeod (i) B. J. McLeod Motorsports Chevrolet 13 040 23 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 0 1Official race results
Race statistics Lead changes: 10 among 6 different drivers Cautions/Laps: 10 for 57 Red flags: 0 Time of race: 3 hours, 27 minutes and 21 seconds Average speed:
Media
Television The Real Heroes 400 was carried by Fox in the United States. Mike Joy and seven-time Darlington winner Jeff Gordon called the race from the Fox Sports Studio in Charlotte. Regan Smith handled pit road duties. Larry McReynolds provided insight from the Fox Sports studio in Charlotte.
FoxBooth announcersPit reporterIn-race analyst Lap-by-lap: Mike JoyColor-commentator: Jeff Gordon Regan Smith 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.
MRNBooth announcersTurn announcersPit reporters Lead announcer: Alex HaydenAnnouncer: Dave Moody Turns 1 & 2: Dillon WelchTurns 3 & 4: Steve Post Kim CoonHannah Newhouse
Standings after the race
Drivers' Championship standings Pos Driver Points 1 Kevin Harvick 218 2 2 Alex Bowman 190 (−28) 1 3 Joey Logano 185 (−33) 1 4 Chase Elliott 178 (−40) 5 5 Brad Keselowski 158 (−60) 5 6 Denny Hamlin 154 (−64) 1 7 Aric Almirola 151 (−67) 2 8 Ryan Blaney 144 (−74) 9 Matt DiBenedetto 141 (−77) 4 10 Clint Bowyer 135 (−83) 4 11 Martin Truex Jr. 135 (−83) 7 12 Jimmie Johnson 132 (−86) 3 13 Kurt Busch 129 (−89) 2 14 Kyle Busch 122 (−96) 8 15 Kyle Larson 121 (−97) 2 16 Chris Buescher 107 (−111)Official driver's standings
Manufacturers' Championship standings Pos Manufacturer Points 1 Ford 187 2 Chevrolet 172 (−15) 3 Toyota 163 (−24)
Note: Only the first 16 positions are included for the driver standings.
References