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.

2020 Quaker State 400
Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Race 17 of 36 in the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series
2020 Quaker State 400 program cover featuring Brothers Kyle and Kurt Busch and the 2019 Quaker State 400 finish
2020 Quaker State 400 program cover featuring Brothers Kyle and Kurt Busch and the 2019 Quaker State 400 finish
Date July 12, 2020 (2020-07-12)
Location Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Kentucky
Course Permanent racing facility
1.5 mi (2.4 km)
Distance 267 laps, 400.5 mi (640.8 km)
Average speed 133.636 miles per hour (215.066 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Joe Gibbs Racing
Grid positions set by ballot
Most laps led
Driver Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing
Laps 128
Winner
No. 41 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing
Television in the United States
Network FS1
Announcers Mike Joy and Jeff Gordon
Nielsen Ratings 2.575 million[7]
Radio in the United States
Radio PRN
Booth Announcers Doug Rice and Mark Garrow
Turn Announcers Doug Turnbull (1 & 2) and Pat Patterson (3 & 4)

Report

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Background

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Layout of Kentucky Speedway

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

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  • (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

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

Starting Lineup

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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

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Cole Custer scored his first career win.

Stage Results

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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

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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

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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

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  • 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

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Television

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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

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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

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References

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  1. ^ "2020 schedule". Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. January 17, 2020. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
  2. ^ "Kentucky Speedway". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. January 3, 2013. Archived from the original on April 28, 2017. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
  3. ^ "Entry List" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. July 3, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  4. ^ "Starting Lineup". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. July 8, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
  5. ^ "Quaker State 400 Results". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. July 12, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
  6. ^ "Points standings" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. July 12, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2020.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ "Quaker State 400 ratings". ShowBuzzDaily. Mitch Metcalf. Archived from the original on July 15, 2020. Retrieved July 14, 2020.


Previous race:
2020 Brickyard 400
NASCAR Cup Series
2020 season
Next race:
2020 O'Reilly Auto Parts 500