In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic caused the Indianapolis 500 to be moved from May to August while the Coca-Cola 600 remained on its scheduled date. While it was consequently possible for a driver to compete in both races, the rescheduled Indy 500 date fell on the same day as a Cup race at Dover International Speedway, making it impossible to run both races. James Davison skipped the practice session at Indy following the Fast 9 Shootout to compete in that day's Go Bowling 235 Cup race at the Daytona Road Course. Complications from the pandemic extended into 2021 as the Indianapolis 500 qualifying clashed with the Cup Series' Texas Grand Prix. In order to compete at both COTA and the Indy 500, NASCAR drivers would have had to sacrifice practice time at both events. In addition, the race at COTA started almost immediately after the Fast 9 Shootout at Indy, ruling out a pole run. Davison and Cup teammate Cody Ware initially entered the Indy 500 but opted to remain in NASCAR and run the 600, though the latter was due to a lack of sponsorship.