# 2020 Ag-Pro 300

The 2020 Sparks 300 was a NASCAR Xfinity Series race held on October 3, 2020. It was contested over 113 laps on the 2.66-mile (4.28 km) tri-oval superspeedway. It was the twenty-eighth race of the 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series season, the second race of the playoffs, and the second race in the Round of 12. Kaulig Racing driver Justin Haley collected his third win of the season.

## Report
### Background

Talladega Superspeedway, originally known as Alabama International Motor Superspeedway (AIMS), is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base in the small city of Lincoln. The track is a tri-oval and was constructed in the 1960s by the International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France family. Talladega is most known for its steep banking and the unique location of the start/finish line that's located just past the exit to pit road. The track currently hosts the NASCAR series such as the NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity Series and the Camping World Truck Series. Talladega is the longest NASCAR oval with a length of 2.66-mile-long (4.28 km) tri-oval like the Daytona International Speedway, which also is a 2.5-mile-long (4 km) tri-oval.
The race was added to the schedule because of pandemic related cancellations, and spectators were restricted to campers in lots assigned by the speedway. No grandstands were open.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
* (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
| No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| 0 | Jeffrey Earnhardt | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 1 | Michael Annett | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 02 | Brett Moffitt (i) | Our Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 4 | Jesse Little (R) | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 5 | Matt Mills | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 6 | Ryan Vargas | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 07 | Garrett Smithley | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet |
| 8 | Daniel Hemric | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 08 | Joe Graf Jr. (R) | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet |
| 9 | Noah Gragson | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 10 | Ross Chastain | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 11 | Justin Haley | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 13 | Chad Finchum | MBM Motorsports | Toyota |
| 15 | Colby Howard | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 16 | A. J. Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 18 | Riley Herbst (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 19 | Brandon Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 20 | Harrison Burton (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 21 | Anthony Alfredo | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 22 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford |
| 36 | Alex Labbé | DGM Racing | Chevrolet |
| 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Chevrolet |
| 44 | Tommy Joe Martins | Martins Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 47 | Joe Nemechek (i) | Mike Harmon Racing | Chevrolet |
| 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet |
| 52 | Kody Vanderwal (R) | Means Racing | Chevrolet |
| 61 | Austin Hill (i) | Hattori Racing Enterprises | Toyota |
| 66 | Timmy Hill (i) | MBM Motorsports | Toyota |
| 68 | Brandon Brown | Brandonbilt Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 74 | Mike Harmon | Mike Harmon Racing | Chevrolet |
| 78 | Vinnie Miller | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 90 | Caesar Bacarella | DGM Racing | Chevrolet |
| 92 | Josh Williams | DGM Racing | Chevrolet |
| 93 | Myatt Snider (R) | RSS Racing | Chevrolet |
| 98 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 99 | Josh Bilicki | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Toyota |
| Official entry list ||||

## Qualifying

Chase Briscoe was awarded the pole based on competition based formula.

### Qualifying results

| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| 1 | 98 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 2 | 9 | Noah Gragson | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 3 | 22 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford |
| 4 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 5 | 8 | Daniel Hemric | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 6 | 21 | Anthony Alfredo | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 7 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Chevrolet |
| 8 | 11 | Justin Haley | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 9 | 1 | Michael Annett | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 10 | 19 | Brandon Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 11 | 20 | Harrison Burton (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 12 | 18 | Riley Herbst (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 13 | 10 | Ross Chastain | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 14 | 68 | Brandon Brown | Brandonbilt Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 15 | 02 | Brett Moffitt | Our Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 16 | 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet |
| 17 | 92 | Josh Williams | DGM Racing | Chevrolet |
| 18 | 61 | Austin Hill (i) | Hattori Racing Enterprises | Toyota |
| 19 | 93 | Myatt Snider (R) | RSS Racing | Chevrolet |
| 20 | 4 | Jesse Little (R) | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 21 | 44 | Tommy Joe Martins | Martins Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 22 | 15 | Colby Howard | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 23 | 36 | Alex Labbé | DGM Racing | Chevrolet |
| 24 | 0 | Jeffrey Earnhardt | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 25 | 08 | Joe Graf Jr. | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet |
| 26 | 07 | Garrett Smithley | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet |
| 27 | 5 | Matt Mills | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 28 | 78 | Vinnie Miller | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 29 | 6 | Ryan Vargas | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 30 | 52 | Kody Vanderwal (R) | Means Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 31 | 74 | Mike Harmon | Mike Harmon Racing | Chevrolet |
| 32 | 13 | Chad Finchum | MBM Motorsports | Toyota |
| 33 | 90 | Caesar Bacarella | DGM Racing | Chevrolet |
| 34 | 47 | Joe Nemechek (i) | Mike Harmon Racing | Chevrolet |
| 35 | 99 | Josh Bilicki | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 36 | 16 | A. J. Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 37 | 66 | Timmy Hill | MBM Motorsports | Toyota |
| Official qualifying results |||||

## Race
### Race results
#### Stage Results

Stage One Laps: 25
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | 98 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 10 |
| 2 | 22 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford | 9 |
| 3 | 19 | Brandon Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 8 |
| 4 | 11 | Justin Haley | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 7 |
| 5 | 21 | Anthony Alfredo | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 6 |
| 6 | 18 | Riley Herbst (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 5 |
| 7 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 8 | 20 | Harrison Burton | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 3 |
| 9 | 8 | Daniel Hemric | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 2 |
| 10 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1 |
Stage Two Laps: 25
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | 98 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 10 |
| 2 | 22 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford | 9 |
| 3 | 8 | Daniel Hemric | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 8 |
| 4 | 11 | Justin Haley | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 7 |
| 5 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 6 |
| 6 | 20 | Harrison Burton | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 5 |
| 7 | 19 | Brandon Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 4 |
| 8 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 9 | 68 | Brandon Brown | Brandonbilt Motorsports | Chevrolet | 2 |
| 10 | 9 | Noah Gragson | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1 |

### Final Stage Results

Laps: 63
| Pos | Grid | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps | Points | Status |
| 1 | 8 | 11 | Justin Haley | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 113 | 54 | Running |
| 2 | 7 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | 113 | 42 | Running |
| 3 | 2 | 9 | Noah Gragson | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 113 | 35 | Running |
| 4 | 10 | 19 | Brandon Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 113 | 45 | Running |
| 5 | 5 | 8 | Daniel Hemric | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 113 | 42 | Running |
| 6 | 13 | 10 | Ross Chastain | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 113 | 31 | Running |
| 7 | 17 | 92 | Josh Williams | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | 113 | 30 | Running |
| 8 | 26 | 07 | Garrett Smithley | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 113 | 29 | Running |
| 9 | 14 | 68 | Brandon Brown | Brandonbilt Motorsports | Chevrolet | 113 | 30 | Running |
| 10 | 23 | 36 | Alex Labbé | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | 113 | 27 | Running |
| 11 | 32 | 13 | Chad Finchum | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 113 | 26 | Running |
| 12 | 6 | 21 | Anthony Alfredo | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 113 | 31 | Running |
| 13 | 33 | 90 | Caesar Bacarella | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | 113 | 24 | Running |
| 14 | 37 | 66 | Timmy Hill (i) | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 113 | 0 | Running |
| 15 | 21 | 44 | Tommy Joe Martins | Martins Motorsports | Chevrolet | 113 | 22 | Running |
| 16 | 34 | 47 | Joe Nemechek | Mike Harmon Racing | Chevrolet | 113 | 0 | Running |
| 17 | 31 | 74 | Mike Harmon | Mike Harmon Racing | Chevrolet | 113 | 20 | Running |
| 18 | 35 | 99 | Josh Bilicki | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet | 113 | 19 | Running |
| 19 | 1 | 98 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 113 | 38 | Running |
| 20 | 16 | 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet | 113 | 17 | Running |
| 21 | 27 | 5 | Matt Mills | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet | 113 | 16 | Running |
| 22 | 28 | 78 | Vinnie Miller | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet | 113 | 15 | Running |
| 23 | 11 | 20 | Harrison Burton (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 113 | 22 | Running |
| 24 | 36 | 16 | A. J. Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 112 | 13 | Accident |
| 25 | 20 | 4 | Jesse Little (R) | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 112 | 12 | Accident |
| 26 | 19 | 93 | Myatt Snider (R) | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | 112 | 11 | Accident |
| 27 | 15 | 02 | Brett Moffitt (i) | Our Motorsports | Chevrolet | 112 | 0 | Accident |
| 28 | 30 | 52 | Kody Vanderwal (R) | Means Motorsports | Chevrolet | 100 | 9 | Running |
| 29 | 4 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 95 | 15 | Engine |
| 30 | 29 | 6 | Ryan Vargas | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 92 | 7 | Suspension |
| 31 | 25 | 08 | Joe Graf Jr. | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 77 | 6 | Engine |
| 32 | 24 | 0 | Jeffrey Earnhardt | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 76 | 5 | Accident |
| 33 | 18 | 61 | Austin Hill (i) | Hattori Racing Enterprises | Toyota | 75 | 0 | Accident |
| 34 | 3 | 22 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford | 75 | 21 | Accident |
| 35 | 12 | 18 | Riley Herbst | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 48 | 7 | DVP |
| 36 | 22 | 15 | Colby Howard | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 45 | 1 | Accident |
| 37 | 9 | 1 | Michael Annett | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 113 | 1 | Running |
| Official race results |||||||||

### Race statistics

* Lead changes: 13 among 9 different drivers
* Cautions/Laps: 7 for 25
* Time of race: 2 hours, 8 minutes, and 24 seconds
* Average speed: 140.458 mph (226.045 km/h)
* Fastest lap speed: 195.900
* Fastest lap: 48.882