# 2020 Coke Zero Sugar 400

The 2020 Coke Zero Sugar 400 was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on August 29, 2020 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. Contested over 164 laps—extended from 160 laps due to an overtime finish, on the 2.5-mile (4.0 km) superspeedway, it was the 26th race of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season, and the final race of the regular season before the playoffs.

## Report
### Background

The race was held at Daytona International Speedway, a race track located in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, the track is the home of the Daytona 500, the most prestigious race in NASCAR. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, USCC, SCCA, and Motocross. It features multiple layouts including the primary 2.5 miles (4.0 km) high speed tri-oval, a 3.56 miles (5.73 km) sports car course, a 2.95 miles (4.75 km) motorcycle course, and a .25 miles (0.40 km) karting and motorcycle flat-track. The track's 180-acre (73 ha) infield includes the 29-acre (12 ha) Lake Lloyd, which has hosted powerboat racing. The speedway is owned and operated by International Speedway Corporation.
The track was built in 1959 by NASCAR founder William "Bill" France, Sr. to host racing held at the former Daytona Beach Road Course. His banked design permitted higher speeds and gave fans a better view of the cars. Lights were installed around the track in 1998 and today, it is the third-largest single lit outdoor sports facility. The speedway has been renovated three times, with the infield renovated in 2004 and the track repaved twice — in 1978 and in 2010.
On January 22, 2013, the track unveiled artist depictions of a renovated speedway. On July 5 of that year, ground was broken for a project that would remove the backstretch seating and completely redevelop the frontstretch seating. The renovation to the speedway is being worked on by Rossetti Architects. The project, named "Daytona Rising", was completed in January 2016, and it cost US $400 million, placing emphasis on improving fan experience with five expanded and redesigned fan entrances (called "injectors") as well as wider and more comfortable seating with more restrooms and concession stands. After the renovations, the track's grandstands include 101,000 permanent seats with the ability to increase permanent seating to 125,000. The project was completed before the start of Speedweeks.

#### 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 |
| 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 | 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 | Chevrolet |
| 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 | James Davison | Petty Ware Racing | Ford |
| 53 | Joey Gase (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 62 | Brendan Gaughan | Beard Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 66 | Timmy Hill (i) | MBM Motorsports | Toyota |
| 77 | Ross Chastain (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

Kevin Harvick was awarded the pole for the race as determined by competition-based formula.

### Starting Lineup

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| 1 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 2 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 3 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford |
| 4 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford |
| 5 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 6 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 7 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 8 | 88 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 9 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford |
| 10 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 11 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 12 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 13 | 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 14 | 14 | Clint Bowyer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 15 | 21 | Matt DiBenedetto | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford |
| 16 | 41 | Cole Custer (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 17 | 17 | Chris Buescher | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 18 | 8 | Tyler Reddick (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 19 | 42 | Matt Kenseth | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 20 | 20 | Erik Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 21 | 43 | Bubba Wallace | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 22 | 6 | Ryan Newman | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 23 | 95 | Christopher Bell (R) | Leavine Family Racing | Toyota |
| 24 | 38 | John Hunter Nemechek (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 25 | 32 | Corey LaJoie | Go Fas Racing | Ford |
| 26 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 27 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 28 | 37 | Ryan Preece | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 29 | 13 | Ty Dillon | Germain Racing | Chevrolet |
| 30 | 96 | Daniel Suárez | Gaunt Brothers Racing | Toyota |
| 31 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 32 | 15 | Brennan Poole (R) | Premium Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 33 | 27 | J. J. Yeley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 34 | 00 | Quin Houff (R) | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet |
| 35 | 66 | Timmy Hill (i) | MBM Motorsports | Toyota |
| 36 | 77 | Ross Chastain (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 37 | 53 | Joey Gase (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 38 | 51 | James Davison | Petty Ware Racing | Ford |
| 39 | 7 | Josh Bilicki (i) | Tommy Baldwin Racing | Chevrolet |
| 40 | 62 | Brendan Gaughan | Beard Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| Official starting lineup |||||

## Race
### Stage Results

Stage One Laps: 50
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 10 |
| 2 | 20 | Erik Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 9 |
| 3 | 8 | Tyler Reddick (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 8 |
| 4 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 7 |
| 5 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 6 |
| 6 | 95 | Christopher Bell (R) | Leavine Family Racing | Toyota | 5 |
| 7 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 8 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 3 |
| 9 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 2 |
| 10 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 1 |
| Official stage one results ||||||
Stage Two Laps: 50
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 10 |
| 2 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 9 |
| 3 | 14 | Clint Bowyer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 8 |
| 4 | 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 7 |
| 5 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 6 |
| 6 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 5 |
| 7 | 21 | Matt DiBenedetto | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 4 |
| 8 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 9 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 2 |
| 10 | 95 | Christopher Bell (R) | Leavine Family Racing | Toyota | 1 |
| Official stage two results ||||||

### Final Stage Results

Stage Three Laps: 60
| Pos | Grid | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps | Points |
| 1 | 6 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 164 | 44 |
| 2 | 27 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 164 | 35 |
| 3 | 10 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 164 | 36 |
| 4 | 2 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 164 | 42 |
| 5 | 21 | 43 | Bubba Wallace | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet | 164 | 32 |
| 6 | 9 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 164 | 40 |
| 7 | 8 | 88 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 164 | 30 |
| 8 | 40 | 62 | Brendan Gaughan | Beard Motorsports | Chevrolet | 164 | 29 |
| 9 | 17 | 17 | Chris Buescher | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 164 | 28 |
| 10 | 4 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 164 | 32 |
| 11 | 24 | 38 | John Hunter Nemechek (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 164 | 26 |
| 12 | 15 | 21 | Matt DiBenedetto | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 164 | 29 |
| 13 | 23 | 95 | Christopher Bell (R) | Leavine Family Racing | Toyota | 164 | 30 |
| 14 | 26 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 164 | 26 |
| 15 | 32 | 15 | Brennan Poole (R) | Premium Motorsports | Chevrolet | 164 | 22 |
| 16 | 36 | 77 | Ross Chastain (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 164 | 0 |
| 17 | 7 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 164 | 32 |
| 18 | 5 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 164 | 19 |
| 19 | 14 | 14 | Clint Bowyer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 164 | 26 |
| 20 | 1 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 164 | 17 |
| 21 | 25 | 32 | Corey LaJoie | Go Fas Racing | Ford | 163 | 16 |
| 22 | 29 | 13 | Ty Dillon | Germain Racing | Chevrolet | 163 | 15 |
| 23 | 34 | 00 | Quin Houff (R) | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet | 162 | 14 |
| 24 | 35 | 66 | Timmy Hill (i) | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 161 | 0 |
| 25 | 12 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 161 | 12 |
| 26 | 30 | 96 | Daniel Suárez | Gaunt Brothers Racing | Toyota | 159 | 11 |
| 27 | 3 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 158 | 30 |
| 28 | 19 | 42 | Matt Kenseth | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 158 | 9 |
| 29 | 18 | 8 | Tyler Reddick (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 158 | 16 |
| 30 | 16 | 41 | Cole Custer (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 158 | 7 |
| 31 | 37 | 53 | Joey Gase (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 158 | 0 |
| 32 | 31 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 155 | 8 |
| 33 | 11 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 152 | 5 |
| 34 | 13 | 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 151 | 10 |
| 35 | 20 | 20 | Erik Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 151 | 11 |
| 36 | 22 | 6 | Ryan Newman | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 151 | 1 |
| 37 | 28 | 37 | Ryan Preece | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 151 | 1 |
| 38 | 39 | 7 | Josh Bilicki (i) | Tommy Baldwin Racing | Chevrolet | 151 | 0 |
| 39 | 38 | 51 | James Davison | Petty Ware Racing | Ford | 139 | 1 |
| 40 | 33 | 27 | J. J. Yeley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet | 3 | 0 |
| Official race results ||||||||

### Race statistics

* Lead changes: 35 among 16 different drivers
* Cautions/Laps: 6 for 21
* Red flags: 2 for 15 minutes and 47 seconds
* Time of race: 2 hours, 39 minutes and 59 seconds
* Average speed: 153.766 miles per hour (247.462 km/h)

## Media
### Television

NBC Sports covered the race on the television side. Rick Allen, 2000 Coke Zero 400 winner Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and two-time Coke Zero 400 winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. covered the race from the booth at Charlotte Motor Speedway. 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.
NBC :
| Booth announcers | Pit reporters | Features reporter |
| Lap-by-lap: Rick Allen Color-commentator: Jeff Burton Color-commentator: Steve Letarte Color-commentator: Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dave Burns Parker Kligerman Marty Snider | Rutledge Wood |

### Radio

MRN had the radio call for the race, which was also simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio.
MRN Radio :
| Booth announcers | Turn announcers | Pit reporters |
| Lead announcer: Alex Hayden Announcer: Jeff Striegle Announcer: Rusty Wallace | Turns 1 & 2: Dave Moody Backstretch: Mike Bagley Turns 3 & 4: Jason Toy | Winston Kelley Steve Post |

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Kevin Harvick | 2,057 |
| | 2 | Denny Hamlin | 2,047 (–10) |
| | 3 | Brad Keselowski | 2,029 (–28) |
| 1 | 4 | Joey Logano | 2,022 (–35) |
| 2 | 5 | Chase Elliott | 2,020 (–37) |
| 2 | 6 | Martin Truex Jr. | 2,014 (–43) |
| 1 | 7 | Ryan Blaney | 2,013 (–44) |
| 4 | 8 | Alex Bowman | 2,009 (–48) |
| 5 | 9 | William Byron | 2,007 (–50) |
| 8 | 10 | Austin Dillon | 2,005 (–52) |
| 8 | 11 | Cole Custer | 2,005 (–52) |
| 4 | 12 | Aric Almirola | 2,005 (–52) |
| 2 | 13 | Clint Bowyer | 2,004 (–53) |
| 5 | 14 | Kyle Busch | 2,003 (–54) |
| 5 | 15 | Kurt Busch | 2,001 (–56) |
| 3 | 16 | Matt DiBenedetto | 2,000 (–57) |
| Official driver's standings ||||
| Pos | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | Ford | 964 |
| 2 | Toyota | 914 (–50) |
| 3 | Chevrolet | 871 (–93) |