The 2020 Cook Out Southern 500, the 71st running of the event, was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on September 6, 2020, at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina. Contested over 367 laps on the egg-shaped oval, it was the 27th race of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season, first race of the Playoffs, and the first race of the Round of 16.
Report
Background
Darlington Raceway is a race track built for NASCAR racing located near Darlington, South Carolina. It is nicknamed "The Lady in Black" and "The Track Too Tough to Tame" by many NASCAR fans and drivers and advertised as "A NASCAR Tradition." It is of a unique, somewhat egg-shaped design, an oval with the ends of very different configurations, a condition which supposedly arose from the proximity of one end of the track to a minnow pond the owner refused to relocate. This situation makes it very challenging for the crews to set up their cars' handling in a way that is effective at both ends.
Entry list (R) denotes rookie driver. (i) denotes driver who are ineligible for series driver points.
Driver Team Manufacturer Sponsor or Throwback 00 Quin Houff (R) StarCom Racing Chevrolet Permatex – Scheme based on the Ford V-8 Roadster that driver Milt Marion piloted to victory during America's first stock car race, which was held at the Daytona Beach Course in 1936. 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet Monster Energy 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford Discount Tire – Keselowski's 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship car; scheme also honors the 10th anniversary of Discount Tire's involvement with Team Penske. Keselowski would later decide to run this scheme through the remainder of the NASCAR Playoffs, and throughout the 2021 season. 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet American Ethanol E15 – Scheme pays homage to Hall of Famer Junior Johnson. 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 1997 Busch Beer design. 6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford Oscar Mayer – Newman's 1999 scheme from the USAC Silver Crown Series, where he won the National Championship. 7 Josh Bilicki (i) Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet Insurance King – Scheme paying homage to team owner Tommy Baldwin Jr.'s father, Tommy Baldwin Sr. 8 Tyler Reddick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Cat Power – Jeff Burton's 1994 Rookie of the Year Raybestos car. 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet NAPA Auto Parts – Jimmie Johnson's 2009 paint scheme. 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Go Bowling – Hall of Famer Fireball Roberts's 1957 NASCAR Grand National Series paint scheme. 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 1973 FedEx design and Hall of Famer Cale Yarborough inspired car. 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford Menards/Maytag – Scheme honors Paul Menard and his 2003 ARCA victory at Talladega. 13 Ty Dillon Germain Racing Chevrolet GEICO – Todd Bodine's 2010 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championship paint scheme. 14 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford PEAK – Kyle Petty's 1990 Goodwrench 500 winning car. 15 Brennan Poole (R) Premium Motorsports Chevrolet R.E.D. – Ricky Rudd's red Bud Moore Engineering paint scheme from the mid-80's 17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford Fastenal 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota M&M's – Elliott Sadler's 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series car. 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Bass Pro Shops – Hank Parker Jr.'s 2003 Aaron's 312 car. 20 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Sport Clips – Tony Stewart's 2005 Martinsville Home Depot inspired car. 21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford Ford Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center – Tiny Lund's 1963 Daytona 500 inspired car. 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford Shell Pennzoil – Bobby Allison's 1985 Miller car. 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Liberty University – Jimmie Johnson's 2013 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race paint scheme. 27 J. J. Yeley (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford Jacob Companies – Kenny Irwin Jr.'s 1997 Nerf car. 32 Corey LaJoie Go Fas Racing Ford Trump 2020 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford Love's Travel Stops 37 Ryan Preece JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet Bush's Beans 38 John Hunter Nemechek (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford Citgard – Elliott Sadler's 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Series inspired car. 41 Cole Custer (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Haas Automation – 1956 Southern 500 and Hall of Famer Curtis Turner's 1965 NASCAR Grand National Series inspired car. 42 Matt Kenseth Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet McDelivery 43 Bubba Wallace Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet Cash App – Scheme will honor Team Owner and Hall of Famer Richard Petty and his one-off 1986 Darlington ride in D. K. Ulrich's No. 6 Chevrolet. 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet Kroger 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Ally – Scheme honors Hall of Famers and seven-time Cup Series Champions Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt. 51 Joey Gase (i) Petty Ware Racing Ford Agri Supplies – Bobby Allison's 1971 Southern 500 inspired car. 53 James Davison Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet Signing Day Sports – Tom Sneva's 1983 NASCAR Winston Cup Series inspired car. 66 Timmy Hill (i) MBM Motorsports Toyota RoofClaim.com – Phil Parsons' 1984 Skoal Bandit scheme. 77 Ross Chastain (i) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Dirty Mo Media – Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt's 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Series paint scheme. 88 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet ChevyGoods.com – Jimmie Johnson's 2006-2008 paint scheme. 95 Christopher Bell (R) Leavine Family Racing Toyota Rheem – Bell's 2017 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship paint scheme. 96 Daniel Suárez Gaunt Brothers Racing Toyota Arris Now CommScope – Suárez's 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Series championship paint scheme.Official entry list
Qualifying Chase Elliott was awarded the pole for the race as determined by competition-based formula.
Starting Lineup Pos Driver Team Manufacturer 1 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 2 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 3 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 4 88 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 5 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 6 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 7 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 8 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 9 14 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 10 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 11 21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford 12 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 13 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 14 41 Cole Custer (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 15 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 16 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 17 43 Bubba Wallace Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet 18 38 John Hunter Nemechek (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford 19 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 20 17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford 21 95 Christopher Bell (R) Leavine Family Racing Toyota 22 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 23 15 Brennan Poole (R) Premium Motorsports Chevrolet 24 8 Tyler Reddick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 25 13 Ty Dillon Germain Racing Chevrolet 26 42 Matt Kenseth Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 27 32 Corey LaJoie Go Fas Racing Ford 28 96 Daniel Suárez Gaunt Brothers Racing Toyota 29 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 30 20 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 31 6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford 32 00 Quin Houff (R) StarCom Racing Chevrolet 33 66 Timmy Hill (i) MBM Motorsports Toyota 34 77 Ross Chastain (i) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 35 37 Ryan Preece JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 36 53 James Davison Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 37 27 J. J. Yeley (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford 38 7 Josh Bilicki (i) Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet 39 51 Joey Gase (i) Petty Ware Racing FordOfficial starting lineup
Race
Stage Results
Stage One Laps: 115
Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Points1 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 102 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 93 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 84 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 75 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 66 88 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 57 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 48 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 39 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 210 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 1Official stage one results
Stage Two Laps: 115
Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Points1 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 102 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 93 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 84 88 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 75 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 66 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 57 20 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 48 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 39 14 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 210 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 1Official stage two results
Final Stage Results
Stage Three Laps: 137
Pos Grid Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points1 8 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 367 492 12 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 367 383 13 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 367 384 30 20 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 367 375 3 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 367 356 4 88 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 367 437 15 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 367 378 16 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 367 369 10 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 367 2810 9 14 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 367 2911 5 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 367 2612 14 41 Cole Custer (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 367 2513 2 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 367 4014 26 42 Matt Kenseth Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 367 2315 31 6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford 367 2216 19 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 367 2117 35 37 Ryan Preece JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 367 2018 22 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 367 3419 29 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 367 1820 1 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 367 2521 11 21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford 366 1622 6 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 366 3523 24 8 Tyler Reddick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 366 1424 7 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 366 1325 28 96 Daniel Suárez Gaunt Brothers Racing Toyota 364 1226 20 17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford 364 1127 25 13 Ty Dillon Germain Racing Chevrolet 363 1028 23 15 Brennan Poole (R) Premium Motorsports Chevrolet 362 929 34 77 Ross Chastain (i) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 360 030 37 27 J. J. Yeley (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford 360 031 32 00 Quin Houff (R) StarCom Racing Chevrolet 357 632 38 7 Josh Bilicki (i) Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet 356 033 39 51 Joey Gase (i) Petty Ware Racing Ford 351 034 21 95 Christopher Bell (R) Leavine Family Racing Toyota 349 335 33 66 Timmy Hill (i) MBM Motorsports Toyota 296 036 18 38 John Hunter Nemechek (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford 245 137 27 32 Corey LaJoie Go Fas Racing Ford 234 138 17 43 Bubba Wallace Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet 217 139 36 53 James Davison Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 162 1Official race results
Race statistics Lead changes: 18 among 6 different drivers Cautions/Laps: 7 for 34 Red flags: 0 Time of race: 3 hours, 47 minutes and 26 seconds Average speed:
Media
Television NBC Sports covered the race on the television side. Rick Allen, two–time Darlington winner Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and Dale Earnhardt Jr. covered the race from the booth at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Earnhardt Jr., Dale Jarrett and Kyle Petty also called a portion of the race as part of the Throwback Weekend, Dave Burns, Parker Kligerman and Marty Snider handled the pit road duties on site, and Rutledge Wood handled the features from his home during the race.