The 2020 EchoPark 250 was a NASCAR Xfinity Series race held on June 6, 2020, at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia. Contested over 163 laps on the asphalt quad-oval intermediate speedway, it was the eighth race of the 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series season and the season's first Dash 4 Cash race. Kaulig Racing part-time driver A. J. Allmendinger won his first ever race on a NASCAR oval.
The race was originally scheduled to be held on March 14, but was rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Report
Background
Atlanta Motor Speedway (formerly Atlanta International Raceway) is a track in Hampton, Georgia, 20 miles (32 km) south of Atlanta. It is a 1.54-mile (2.48 km) quad-oval track with a seating capacity of 111,000. It opened in 1960 as a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) standard oval. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track. In 1997, to standardize the track with Speedway Motorsports' other two 1.5-mile (2.4 km) ovals, the entire track was almost completely rebuilt. The frontstretch and backstretch were swapped, and the configuration of the track was changed from oval to quad-oval. The project made the track one of the fastest on the NASCAR circuit.
The race was held without fans in attendance due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Dash 4 Cash The Dash 4 Cash is a series of four races in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, preceded by a qualifying race. The top four points-eligible drivers in the previous race are eligible to win a $100,000 bonus on top of their race winnings if they win the race. Cup Series regulars are not permitted to compete in the races.
The EchoPark 250 was the season's first Dash 4 Cash race. Noah Gragson, Chase Briscoe, Brandon Jones, and rookie Harrison Burton were eligible to win after finishing in the top 4 at the Cheddar's 300 at Bristol.
Entry list
(R) denotes rookie driver. (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
DriverTeamManufacturer0Jeffrey EarnhardtJD MotorsportsChevrolet1Michael AnnettJR MotorsportsChevrolet02Brett Moffitt (i)Our MotorsportsChevrolet4Jesse Little (R)JD MotorsportsChevrolet5Matt MillsB. J. McLeod MotorsportsChevrolet6B. J. McLeodJD MotorsportsChevrolet7Justin AllgaierJR MotorsportsChevrolet07Garrett SmithleySS-Green Light RacingChevrolet8Daniel HemricJR MotorsportsChevrolet08Joe Graf Jr. (R)SS-Green Light RacingChevrolet9Noah GragsonJR MotorsportsChevrolet10Ross ChastainKaulig RacingChevrolet11Justin HaleyKaulig RacingChevrolet13Chad FinchumMBM MotorsportsToyota15Colby HowardJD MotorsportsChevrolet16A. J. AllmendingerKaulig RacingChevrolet18Riley Herbst (R)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota19Brandon JonesJoe Gibbs RacingToyota20Harrison Burton (R)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota21Anthony AlfredoRichard Childress RacingChevrolet22Austin CindricTeam PenskeFord36Ronnie Bassett Jr.DGM RacingChevrolet39Ryan SiegRSS RacingChevrolet44Tommy Joe MartinsMartins MotorsportsChevrolet47Joe Nemechek (i)Mike Harmon RacingChevrolet51Jeremy ClementsJeremy Clements RacingChevrolet52Kody Vanderwal (R)Means RacingChevrolet61Timmy Hill (i)Hattori RacingToyota66Stephen LeichtMBM MotorsportsToyota68Brandon BrownBrandonbilt MotorsportsChevrolet74Bayley Currey (i)Mike Harmon RacingChevrolet78Vinnie MillerB. J. McLeod MotorsportsChevrolet90Alex LabbéDGM RacingChevrolet92Josh WilliamsDGM RacingChevrolet93Myatt SniderRSS RacingChevrolet98Chase BriscoeStewart-Haas RacingFord99Mason MasseyB. J. McLeod MotorsportsToyotaOfficial entry list
Qualifying Noah Gragson was awarded the pole for the race as determined by a random draw.
Starting Lineup PosDriverTeamManufacturer19Noah GragsonJR MotorsportsChevrolet28Daniel HemricJR MotorsportsChevrolet37Justin AllgaierJR MotorsportsChevrolet411Justin HaleyKaulig RacingChevrolet520Harrison Burton (R)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota618Riley Herbst (R)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota739Ryan SiegRSS RacingChevrolet822Austin CindricTeam PenskeFord998Chase BriscoeStewart-Haas RacingFord1068Brandon BrownBrandonbilt MotorsportsChevrolet1110Ross ChastainKaulig RacingChevrolet1219Brandon JonesJoe Gibbs RacingToyota1302Brett Moffitt (i)Our MotorsportsChevrolet144Jesse Little (R)JD MotorsportsChevrolet1590Alex LabbéDGM RacingChevrolet160Jeffrey EarnhardtJD MotorsportsChevrolet176B. J. McLeodJD MotorsportsChevrolet1813Chad FinchumMBM MotorsportsToyota1978Vinnie MillerB. J. McLeod MotorsportsChevrolet2051Jeremy ClementsJeremy Clements RacingChevrolet211Michael AnnettJR MotorsportsChevrolet2207Garrett SmithleySS-Green Light RacingChevrolet2392Josh WilliamsDGM RacingChevrolet2421Anthony AlfredoRichard Childress RacingChevrolet2599Mason MasseyB. J. McLeod MotorsportsToyota265Matt MillsB. J. McLeod MotorsportsChevrolet2708Joe Graf Jr. (R)SS-Green Light RacingChevrolet2847Joe Nemechek (i)Mike Harmon RacingChevrolet2961Timmy Hill (i)Hattori RacingToyota3016A. J. AllmendingerKaulig RacingChevrolet3174Bayley Currey (i)Mike Harmon RacingChevrolet3236Ronnie Bassett Jr.DGM RacingChevrolet3344Tommy Joe MartinsMartins MotorsportsChevrolet3415Colby HowardJD MotorsportsChevrolet3593Myatt SniderRSS RacingChevrolet3652Kody Vanderwal (R)Means RacingChevrolet3766Stephen LeichtMBM MotorsportsToyotaOfficial starting lineup
. – Eligible for Dash 4 Cash prize money. The No. 44 of Tommy Joe Martins had to start from the rear due to unapproved adjustments. The No. 61 of Timmy Hill had to start from the rear on pace laps due to pitting before the green flag.
Race
Race results
Stage Results Stage One
Laps: 40
PosDriverTeamManufacturerPoints122Austin CindricTeam PenskeFord10210Ross ChastainKaulig RacingChevrolet9311Justin HaleyKaulig RacingChevrolet847Justin AllgaierJR MotorsportsChevrolet758Daniel HemricJR MotorsportsChevrolet669Noah GragsonJR MotorsportsChevrolet5718Riley Herbst (R)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota4898Chase BriscoeStewart-Haas RacingFord3916A. J. AllmendingerKaulig RacingChevrolet21020Harrison Burton (R)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota1
Stage Two
Laps: 40
PosDriverTeamManufacturerPoints122Austin CindricTeam PenskeFord10298Chase BriscoeStewart-Haas RacingFord9310Ross ChastainKaulig RacingChevrolet848Daniel HemricJR MotorsportsChevrolet7516A. J. AllmendingerKaulig RacingChevrolet669Noah GragsonJR MotorsportsChevrolet5711Justin HaleyKaulig RacingChevrolet487Justin AllgaierJR MotorsportsChevrolet391Michael AnnettJR MotorsportsChevrolet21020Harrison Burton (R)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota1
Final Stage Results
Laps: 83
PosGridDriverTeamManufacturerLapsPointsStatus13016A. J. AllmendingerKaulig RacingChevrolet16348Running219Noah GragsonJR MotorsportsChevrolet16345Running3411Justin HaleyKaulig RacingChevrolet16346Running428Daniel HemricJR MotorsportsChevrolet16346Running5520Harrison Burton (R)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota16334Running637Justin AllgaierJR MotorsportsChevrolet16341Running71110Ross ChastainKaulig RacingChevrolet16347Running81219Brandon JonesJoe Gibbs RacingToyota16329Running9998Chase BriscoeStewart-Haas RacingFord16340Running102421Anthony AlfredoRichard Childress RacingChevrolet16327Running11211Michael AnnettJR MotorsportsChevrolet16328Running121068Brandon BrownBrandonbilt MotorsportsChevrolet16325Running132051Jeremy ClementsJeremy Clements RacingChevrolet16324Running141302Brett Moffitt (i)Our MotorsportsChevrolet1630Running153415Colby HowardJD MotorsportsChevrolet16322Running16822Austin CindricTeam PenskeFord16341Running17618Riley Herbst (R)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota16324Running183174Bayley Currey (i)Mike Harmon RacingChevrolet1630Running193236Ronnie Bassett Jr.DGM RacingChevrolet16218Running20144Jesse Little (R)JD MotorsportsChevrolet16217Running21160Jeffrey EarnhardtJD MotorsportsChevrolet16216Running223344Tommy Joe MartinsMartins MotorsportsChevrolet16215Running232599Mason MasseyB. J. McLeod MotorsportsToyota16214Running242207Garrett SmithleySS-Green Light RacingChevrolet16213Running25176B. J. McLeodJD MotorsportsChevrolet16212Running262708Joe Graf Jr. (R)SS-Green Light RacingChevrolet16211Running271590Alex LabbéDGM RacingChevrolet16210Running282392Josh WilliamsDGM RacingChevrolet1629Running293593Myatt SniderRSS RacingChevrolet1618Running30265Matt MillsB. J. McLeod MotorsportsChevrolet1617Running311978Vinnie MillerB. J. McLeod MotorsportsChevrolet1566Running322847Joe Nemechek (i)Mike Harmon RacingChevrolet1290Suspension332961Timmy Hill (i)Hattori RacingToyota870Alternator341813Chad FinchumMBM MotorsportsToyota503Suspension35739Ryan SiegRSS RacingChevrolet472Engine363766Stephen LeichtMBM MotorsportsToyota81Clutch373652Kody Vanderwal (R)Means RacingChevrolet31EngineOfficial race results
. – Won the Dash 4 Cash prize money and subsequently qualified for the Dash 4 Cash prize money in the next race. . – Qualified for Dash 4 Cash prize money in the next race.
Race statistics
Lead changes: 10 among 7 different drivers Cautions/Laps: 6 for 28 Red flags: 0 Time of race: 2 hours, 2 minutes, 37 seconds Average speed:
Media
Television The EchoPark 250 was carried by Fox in the United States. Adam Alexander, Stewart-Haas Racing driver Clint Bowyer, and Jamie McMurray called the race from the Fox Sports Studio in Charlotte, with Jamie Little covering pit road. +FoxBooth announcersPit reporterLap-by-lap: Adam Alexander Color-commentator: Clint Bowyer
Color-commentator: Jamie McMurrayJamie Little
Radio The Performance Racing Network (PRN) called the race for radio, which was simulcast on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Doug Rice and Mark Garrow anchored the action from the booth. Rob Albright called the race from turns 1 & 2 and Pat Patterson called the action through turns 3 & 4. Brad Gillie, Brett McMillan, and Doug Turnbull provided reports from pit road. +PRN RadioBooth announcersTurn announcersPit reportersLead announcer: Doug Rice Announcer: Mark GarrowTurns 1 & 2: Rob Albright Turns 3 & 4: Pat PattersonBrad Gillie Brett McMillan
Doug Turnbull
Standings after the race
Drivers' Championship standings
PosDriverPoints1Chase Briscoe3402Noah Gragson336 (-4)3Harrison Burton (R)308 (-32)4Justin Allgaier297 (-43)5Ross Chastain295 (-45)6Austin Cindric285 (-55) 17Justin Haley267 (-73) 18Brandon Jones258 (-82) 29Daniel Hemric222 (-118) 110Ryan Sieg217 (-123) 111Riley Herbst (R)201 (-139)12Brandon Brown199 (-141)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.
References