# 2020 Quaker State 400

The 2020 Quaker State 400 presented by Walmart was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on July 12, 2020 at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Kentucky. Contested over 267 laps on the 1.5-mile (2.4 km) speedway, it was the 17th race of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season. Cole Custer became the 1st rookie in series history to claim his 1st career win at the track as well as the 33rd different driver to have won a race in all three NASCAR national touring series.

## Report
### Background

The tenth running of the Quaker State 400 was held in Sparta, Kentucky at Kentucky Speedway on July 9, 2016. The track is a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) tri-oval speedway owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc. Kentucky Speedway, which has also hosted the ARCA Menards Series, NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, and the Indy Racing League, has a grandstand seating capacity of 107,000.

#### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
* (i) denotes driver who are ineligible for series driver points.
| No. | 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 |
| 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 (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 66 | Timmy Hill (i) | MBM Motorsports | Toyota |
| 77 | Josh Bilicki (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 88 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 95 | Christopher Bell (R) | Leavine Family Racing | Toyota |
| 96 | Daniel Suárez | Gaunt Brothers Racing | Toyota |
| Official entry list ||||

## Qualifying

Kyle Busch was awarded the pole for the race as determined by a random draw.

### Starting Lineup

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| 1 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 2 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford |
| 3 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 4 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 5 | 88 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 6 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford |
| 7 | 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 8 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 9 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 10 | 21 | Matt DiBenedetto | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford |
| 11 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford |
| 12 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 13 | 17 | Chris Buescher | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 14 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 15 | 14 | Clint Bowyer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 16 | 20 | Erik Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 17 | 42 | Matt Kenseth | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 18 | 43 | Bubba Wallace | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 19 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 20 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 21 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 22 | 38 | John Hunter Nemechek (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 23 | 6 | Ryan Newman | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 24 | 8 | Tyler Reddick (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 25 | 53 | Garrett Smithley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 26 | 77 | Josh Bilicki (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 27 | 32 | Corey LaJoie | Go Fas Racing | Ford |
| 28 | 00 | Quin Houff (R) | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet |
| 29 | 41 | Cole Custer (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 30 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 31 | 15 | Brennan Poole (R) | Premium Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 32 | 37 | Ryan Preece | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 33 | 13 | Ty Dillon | Germain Racing | Chevrolet |
| 34 | 95 | Christopher Bell (R) | Leavine Family Racing | Toyota |
| 35 | 51 | Joey Gase (i) | Petty Ware Racing | Ford |
| 36 | 27 | J. J. Yeley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 37 | 96 | Daniel Suárez | Gaunt Brothers Racing | Toyota |
| 38 | 66 | Timmy Hill (i) | MBM Motorsports | Toyota |
| Official starting lineup |||||

## Race
### Stage Results

Stage One Laps: 80
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 10 |
| 2 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 9 |
| 3 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 8 |
| 4 | 21 | Matt DiBenedetto | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 7 |
| 5 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 6 |
| 6 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 5 |
| 7 | 88 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 8 | 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 9 | 14 | Clint Bowyer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 2 |
| 10 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 1 |
| Official stage one results ||||||
Stage Two Laps: 80
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 10 |
| 2 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 9 |
| 3 | 41 | Cole Custer (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 8 |
| 4 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 7 |
| 5 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 6 |
| 6 | 88 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 8 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 9 | 21 | Matt DiBenedetto | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 2 |
| 10 | 20 | Erik Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 1 |
| Official stage two results ||||||

### Final Lap

With 7 laps to go, Kevin Harvick was leading the race but a caution came out when Matt Kenseth spun in turn 4. As a result, the field would be bunched up and the race would go into overtime. Harvick was the leader and chose the outside for the restart with Martin Truex Jr. in 2nd, Ryan Blaney in 3rd, Brad Keselowski in 4th, Kurt Busch in 5th, and Cole Custer in 6th. On the restart, Custer made a move on the outside of Keselowski and took the 4th spot from Keselowski. Off of 2, Kevin Harvick took the lead from Martin Truex Jr. but Truex came up into Harvick causing Harvick to get loose. In turn 3, Truex made a move to the outside to take the lead from Harvick but the two left the inside open and Ryan Blaney went to the inside to make it 3 wide heading to the white flag. As the white flag flew, Custer made a move to the outside and made it 4 wide for the lead. Custer took the lead in turn 1 and never gave it up scoring his first Cup Series victory in his 20th Cup Series start and becoming the first rookie to score a win at Kentucky.

### Final Stage Results

Stage Three Laps: 107
| Pos | Grid | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps | Points |
| 1 | 29 | 41 | Cole Custer (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 267 | 48 |
| 2 | 9 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 267 | 42 |
| 3 | 10 | 21 | Matt DiBenedetto | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 267 | 43 |
| 4 | 3 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 267 | 38 |
| 5 | 7 | 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 267 | 35 |
| 6 | 11 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 267 | 46 |
| 7 | 34 | 95 | Christopher Bell (R) | Leavine Family Racing | Toyota | 267 | 30 |
| 8 | 4 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 267 | 39 |
| 9 | 6 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 267 | 38 |
| 10 | 24 | 8 | Tyler Reddick (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 267 | 27 |
| 11 | 21 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 267 | 26 |
| 12 | 12 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 267 | 25 |
| 13 | 19 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 267 | 28 |
| 14 | 15 | 14 | Clint Bowyer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 267 | 25 |
| 15 | 2 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 267 | 37 |
| 16 | 33 | 13 | Ty Dillon | Germain Racing | Chevrolet | 267 | 21 |
| 17 | 23 | 6 | Ryan Newman | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 267 | 20 |
| 18 | 20 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 267 | 22 |
| 19 | 5 | 88 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 267 | 27 |
| 20 | 13 | 17 | Chris Buescher | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 267 | 17 |
| 21 | 1 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 267 | 16 |
| 22 | 16 | 20 | Erik Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 267 | 16 |
| 23 | 8 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 267 | 23 |
| 24 | 30 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 267 | 13 |
| 25 | 17 | 42 | Matt Kenseth | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 267 | 12 |
| 26 | 37 | 96 | Daniel Suárez | Gaunt Brothers Racing | Toyota | 267 | 11 |
| 27 | 18 | 43 | Bubba Wallace | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet | 265 | 10 |
| 28 | 27 | 32 | Corey LaJoie | Go Fas Racing | Ford | 264 | 9 |
| 29 | 14 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 264 | 8 |
| 30 | 36 | 27 | J. J. Yeley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 260 | 0 |
| 31 | 31 | 15 | Brennan Poole (R) | Premium Motorsports | Chevrolet | 259 | 6 |
| 32 | 26 | 77 | Josh Bilicki (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 257 | 0 |
| 33 | 25 | 53 | Garrett Smithley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet | 257 | 0 |
| 34 | 35 | 51 | Joey Gase (i) | Petty Ware Racing | Ford | 257 | 0 |
| 35 | 28 | 00 | Quin Houff (R) | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet | 255 | 2 |
| 36 | 22 | 38 | John Hunter Nemechek (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 248 | 1 |
| 37 | 38 | 66 | Timmy Hill (i) | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 170 | 0 |
| 38 | 32 | 37 | Ryan Preece | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 159 | 1 |
| Official race results ||||||||

### Race statistics

* Lead changes: 13 among 9 different drivers
* Cautions/Laps: 8 for 42
* Red flags: 0
* Time of race: 2 hours, 59 minutes and 49 seconds
* Average speed: 133.636 miles per hour (215.066 km/h)

## Media
### Television

Fox Sports televised the race in the United States on FS1. Mike Joy and Jeff Gordon covered the race from the Fox Sports studio in Charlotte. Jamie Little handled the pit road duties. Larry McReynolds provided insight from the Fox Sports studio in Charlotte.
FS1 :
| Booth announcers | Pit reporter | In-race analyst |
| Lap-by-lap: Mike Joy Color-commentator: Jeff Gordon | Jamie Little | Larry McReynolds |

### Radio

PRN had the radio call for the race, which was simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Doug Rice and Mark Garrow called the action from the booth when the field raced down the front straightaway. Doug Turnbull called the action from turns 1 & 2 and Pat Patterson called the action from turns 3 & 4. Brad Gillie, Brett McMillan and Wendy Venturini called the duties on pit lane.
PRN :
| Booth announcers | Turn announcers | Pit reporters |
| Lead announcer: Doug Rice Announcer: Mark Garrow | Turns 1 & 2: Doug Turnbull Turns 3 & 4: Pat Patterson | Brad Gillie Brett McMillan Wendy Venturini |

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Kevin Harvick | 675 |
| 1 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | 587 (–88) |
| 1 | 3 | Ryan Blaney | 580 (–95) |
| 2 | 4 | Chase Elliott | 575 (–100) |
| 1 | 5 | Joey Logano | 564 (–111) |
| 1 | 6 | Denny Hamlin | 553 (–122) |
| | 7 | Martin Truex Jr. | 543 (–132) |
| 1 | 8 | Aric Almirola | 504 (–171) |
| 1 | 9 | Alex Bowman | 498 (–177) |
| 1 | 10 | Kurt Busch | 492 (–183) |
| 1 | 11 | Kyle Busch | 477 (–198) |
| | 12 | Matt DiBenedetto | 456 (–219) |
| | 13 | Clint Bowyer | 435 (–240) |
| | 14 | William Byron | 418 (–257) |
| | 15 | Jimmie Johnson | 412 (–263) |
| | 16 | Austin Dillon | 388 (–287) |
| Official driver's standings ||||
| Pos | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | Ford | 639 |
| 2 | Toyota | 593 (–46) |
| 3 | Chevrolet | 569 (–70) |