The 2020 Brickyard 400, branded as Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 Powered by Big Machine Records, is a NASCAR Cup Series race that was held on July 5, 2020 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana. It is the 27th running of the Brickyard 400. Contested over 161 laps—extended from 160 laps due to an overtime finish, on the speedway, it was the 16th race of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season.
The race was originally branded as the Big Machine Vodka 400 Powered by Florida Georgia Line, but was renamed due to Big Machine producing hand sanitizer in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This was the first NASCAR race without 4-time Brickyard 400 winner Jimmie Johnson since the 2001 New Hampshire 300.
Report
Background
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located in Speedway, Indiana, (an enclave suburb of Indianapolis) in the United States, is the home of the Indianapolis 500 and the Brickyard 400. It is located on the corner of 16th Street and Georgetown Road, approximately west of Downtown Indianapolis.
Constructed in 1909, it is the original speedway, the first racing facility so named. It has a permanent seating capacity estimated at 235,000 with infield seating raising capacity to an approximate 400,000. It is the highest-capacity sports venue in the world.
Considered relatively flat by American standards, the track is a , nearly rectangular oval with dimensions that have remained essentially unchanged since its inception: four turns, two straightaways between the fourth and first turns and the second and third turns, and two short straightaways – termed "short chutes" – between the first and second, and third and fourth turns.
Due to postponements stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 edition of the Brickyard 400 became part of a double-header weekend, as the IndyCar Series moved their GMR Grand Prix to July 4, the day before 400. However, all races during the weekend were run with no fans in attendance.
In the lead up to the race, multi-time winner Jimmie Johnson announced he had tested positive for COVID-19 and was forced to withdraw. Justin Allgaier replaced Johnson for the weekend.
Entry list (R) denotes rookie driver. (i) denotes driver who are ineligible for series driver points. (W) denotes past winner of event
Driver Team Manufacturer 00 Quin Houff (R) StarCom Racing Chevrolet 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 2 Brad Keselowski (W) Team Penske Ford 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 4 Kevin Harvick (W) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 6 Ryan Newman (W) 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 (W) 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 Justin Allgaier* (i)Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 51 Joey Gase (i) Petty Ware Racing Ford 53 Garrett Smithley (i) Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 66 Timmy Hill (i) MBM Motorsports Toyota 77 Ross Chastain (i) 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 Allgaier replaced Jimmie Johnson after Johnson tested positive for COVID-19.
Qualifying Joey Logano was awarded the pole for the race as determined by a random draw.
Starting Lineup Pos Driver Team Manufacturer 1 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 2 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 3 88 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 4 48 Justin Allgaier (i) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 5 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 6 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 7 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 8 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 9 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 10 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 11 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 12 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 13 8 Tyler Reddick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 14 6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford 15 21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford 16 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 17 43 Bubba Wallace Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet 18 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 19 38 John Hunter Nemechek (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford 20 17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford 21 42 Matt Kenseth Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 22 14 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 23 20 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 24 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 25 51 Joey Gase (i) Petty Ware Racing Ford 26 15 Brennan Poole (R) Premium Motorsports Chevrolet 27 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 28 53 Garrett Smithley (i) Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 29 13 Ty Dillon Germain Racing Chevrolet 30 41 Cole Custer (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 31 32 Corey LaJoie Go Fas Racing Ford 32 77 Ross Chastain (i) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 33 00 Quin Houff (R) StarCom Racing Chevrolet 34 27 J. J. Yeley (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford 35 95 Christopher Bell (R) Leavine Family Racing Toyota 36 37 Ryan Preece JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 37 96 Daniel Suárez Gaunt Brothers Racing Toyota 38 66 Timmy Hill (i) MBM Motorsports Toyota 39 7 Josh Bilicki (i) Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet 40 78 B. J. McLeod (i) B. J. McLeod Motorsports ChevroletOfficial starting lineup
Race
Stage Results
Stage One Laps: 50
Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Points1 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 102 20 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 93 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 84 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 75 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 66 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 57 21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford 48 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 39 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 210 14 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 1Official stage one results
Stage Two Laps: 50
Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Points1 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 102 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 93 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 84 21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford 75 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 66 42 Matt Kenseth Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 57 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 48 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 39 95 Christopher Bell (R) Leavine Family Racing Toyota 210 14 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 1Official stage two results
Final Stage Results
Stage Three Laps: 60
Pos Grid Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points1 11 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 161 562 21 42 Matt Kenseth Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 161 403 5 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 161 344 9 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 161 355 30 41 Cole Custer (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 161 326 7 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 161 387 27 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 161 308 13 8 Tyler Reddick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 161 299 17 43 Bubba Wallace Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet 161 2810 1 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 161 2711 10 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 161 4212 35 95 Christopher Bell (R) Leavine Family Racing Toyota 161 2713 2 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 161 2714 29 13 Ty Dillon Germain Racing Chevrolet 161 2315 19 38 John Hunter Nemechek (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford 161 2216 22 14 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 161 2317 32 77 Ross Chastain (i) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 161 018 16 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 161 3319 15 21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford 161 2920 37 96 Daniel Suárez Gaunt Brothers Racing Toyota 160 1721 34 27 J. J. Yeley (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford 160 022 40 78 B. J. McLeod (i) B. J. McLeod Motorsports Chevrolet 160 023 33 00 Quin Houff (R) StarCom Racing Chevrolet 159 1424 28 53 Garrett Smithley (i) Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 159 025 39 7 Josh Bilicki (i) Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet 158 026 25 51 Joey Gase (i) Petty Ware Racing Ford 157 027 18 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 156 2028 6 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 153 2229 38 66 Timmy Hill (i) MBM Motorsports Toyota 153 030 3 88 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 132 731 20 17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford 99 632 12 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 96 533 23 20 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 73 1334 14 6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford 60 335 26 15 Brennan Poole (R) Premium Motorsports Chevrolet 24 236 24 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 20 137 4 48 Justin Allgaier (i) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 17 038 8 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 16 139 31 32 Corey LaJoie Go Fas Racing Ford 15 140 36 37 Ryan Preece JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 14 1Official race results
Race statistics Lead changes: 11 among 9 different drivers Cautions/Laps: 9 for 43 Red flags: 1 for 11 minutes and 17 seconds Time of race: 3 hours, 16 minutes and 5 seconds Average speed:
Media
Television NBC Sports covered the race on the television side. Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and Dale Earnhardt Jr. covered the race from the booth at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Marty Snider and Kelli Stavast handled the pit road duties on site. Rutledge Wood handled the features from the track.
NBCBooth announcersPit reportersFeatures reporter Lap-by-lap: Rick AllenColor-commentator: Jeff BurtonColor-commentator: Steve LetarteColor-commentator: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Marty SniderKelli Stavast Rutledge Wood
Radio Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network and the Performance Racing Network jointly co-produced the radio broadcast for the race, which was simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio, and aired on IMS or PRN stations, depending on contractual obligations. The lead announcers and two pit reporters were PRN staff, while the turns announcers and one pit reporter were from IMS.
PRN/IMS RadioBooth announcersTurn announcersPit reporters Lead announcer: Doug RiceAnnouncer: Pat PattersonAnnouncer: Jeff Hammond Turn 1: Mark Jaynes Turn 2: Nick YeomanTurn 3: Jake QueryTurn 4: Chris Denari Brad GillieBrett McMillanMichael Young
Standings after the race
Drivers' Championship standings Pos Driver Points 1 Kevin Harvick 637 2 2 Chase Elliott 552 (–85) 3 Brad Keselowski 549 (–88) 2 4 Ryan Blaney 534 (–103) 5 Denny Hamlin 528 (–109) 6 Joey Logano 527 (–110) 7 Martin Truex Jr. 501 (–136) 8 Alex Bowman 471 (–166) 9 Aric Almirola 465 (–172) 1 10 Kyle Busch 461 (–176) 1 11 Kurt Busch 457 (–180) 2 12 Matt DiBenedetto 413 (–224) 13 Clint Bowyer 410 (–227) 1 14 William Byron 392 (–245) 3 15 Jimmie Johnson 390 (–247) 1 16 Austin Dillon 360 (–277)Official driver's standings
Manufacturers' Championship standings Pos Manufacturer Points 1 Ford 599 2 Toyota 558 (–41) 3 Chevrolet 537 (–62)
Note: Only the first 16 positions are included for the driver standings. . – Driver has clinched a position in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.
References