The 2020 Season Finale 500 was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on November 8, 2020 at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona. Contested over 312 laps on the one mile (1.6 km) oval, it was the 36th and final race of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season.
| Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 36 of 36 in the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series | |||
 2020 Season Finale 500 program cover | |||
| Date | November 8, 2020 | ||
| Location | Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility 1 mi (1.6 km) | ||
| Distance | 312 laps, 312 mi (499.2 km) | ||
| Average speed | 112.096 miles per hour (180.401 km/h) | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Hendrick Motorsports | ||
| Grid positions set by competition-based formula | |||
| Most laps led | |||
| Driver | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | |
| Laps | 154 | ||
| Winner | |||
| No. 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | |
| Television in the United States | |||
| Network | NBC | ||
| Announcers | Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and Dale Earnhardt Jr. | ||
| Radio in the United States | |||
| Radio | MRN | ||
| Booth Announcers | Alex Hayden, Jeff Striegle and Rusty Wallace | ||
| Turn Announcers | Dave Moody (1 & 2) and Mike Bagley (3 & 4) | ||
The Season Finale 500 was the final start for seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson, and for 2012 Cup runner-up Clint Bowyer, and 2003 Winston Cup champion Matt Kenseth as full-time Cup Series drivers.
Report
Background
Phoenix Raceway – also known as PIR – is a one-mile, low-banked tri-oval race track located in Avondale, Arizona. It is named after the nearby metropolitan area of Phoenix. The motorsport track opened in 1964 and currently hosts two NASCAR race weekends annually. PIR has also hosted the IndyCar Series, CART, USAC and the Rolex Sports Car Series. The raceway is currently owned and operated by International Speedway Corporation.
The raceway was originally constructed with a 2.5 mi (4.0 km) road course that ran both inside and outside of the main tri-oval. In 1991 the track was reconfigured with the current 1.51 mi (2.43 km) interior layout. PIR has an estimated grandstand seating capacity of around 67,000. Lights were installed around the track in 2004 following the addition of a second annual NASCAR race weekend.
Phoenix Raceway is home to two annual NASCAR race weekends, one of 13 facilities on the NASCAR schedule to host more than one race weekend a year. The track is both the first and last stop in the western United States, as well as the fourth and the last track on the schedule.
This was the first time the championship race was held in Phoenix.
Championship drivers
Joey Logano was the first of the four drivers to clinch a spot in the Championship 4, winning the first race of the Round of 8 at Kansas.
Chase Elliott clinched the second spot in the Championship 4, winning the final race of the Round of 8 at Martinsville.
Brad Keselowski clinched the third spot in the Championship 4 based on points.
Denny Hamlin clinched the final spot in the Championship 4 based on points.
Entry list
- (R) denotes rookie driver.
- (i) denotes driver who are ineligible for series driver points.
- (CC) denotes championship contender
Qualifying
Chase Elliott was awarded the pole for the race as determined by competition-based formula.[4] However he was sent to the rear of the field as a result of failing pre-race inspection multiple times.[7]
Starting Lineup
Race
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- Note: Chase Elliott, Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, and Denny Hamlin are not eligible for stage points because of their participation in the Championship 4.
Stage Results
Stage OneLaps: 75
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 22 | Joey Logano (CC) | Team Penske | Ford | 0 |
| 2 | 11 | Denny Hamlin (CC) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 0 |
| 3 | 9 | Chase Elliott (CC) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 0 |
| 4 | 2 | Brad Keselowski (CC) | Team Penske | Ford | 0 |
| 5 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 6 |
| 6 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 5 |
| 7 | 88 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 8 | 14 | Clint Bowyer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 3 |
| 9 | 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 2 |
| 10 | 21 | Matt DiBenedetto | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 1 |
| Official stage one results | |||||
Stage TwoLaps: 115
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | Brad Keselowski (CC) | Team Penske | Ford | 0 |
| 2 | 9 | Chase Elliott (CC) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 0 |
| 3 | 22 | Joey Logano (CC) | Team Penske | Ford | 0 |
| 4 | 11 | Denny Hamlin (CC) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 0 |
| 5 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 6 |
| 6 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 8 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 3 |
| 9 | 21 | Matt DiBenedetto | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 2 |
| 10 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1 |
| Official stage two results | |||||
Final Stage Results
Stage ThreeLaps: 122
| Pos | Grid | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 9 | Chase Elliott (CC) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 312 | 40 |
| 2 | 3 | 2 | Brad Keselowski (CC) | Team Penske | Ford | 312 | 35 |
| 3 | 2 | 22 | Joey Logano (CC) | Team Penske | Ford | 312 | 34 |
| 4 | 4 | 11 | Denny Hamlin (CC) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 312 | 33 |
| 5 | 26 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 312 | 37 |
| 6 | 5 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 312 | 43 |
| 7 | 11 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 312 | 30 |
| 8 | 12 | 21 | Matt DiBenedetto | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 312 | 32 |
| 9 | 25 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 312 | 29 |
| 10 | 13 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 312 | 27 |
| 11 | 8 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 312 | 34 |
| 12 | 7 | 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 312 | 30 |
| 13 | 10 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 311 | 24 |
| 14 | 9 | 14 | Clint Bowyer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 311 | 26 |
| 15 | 23 | 43 | Bubba Wallace | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet | 311 | 22 |
| 16 | 6 | 88 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 311 | 25 |
| 17 | 17 | 95 | Christopher Bell (R) | Leavine Family Racing | Toyota | 311 | 20 |
| 18 | 18 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 311 | 19 |
| 19 | 21 | 8 | Tyler Reddick (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 311 | 18 |
| 20 | 31 | 17 | Chris Buescher | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 311 | 17 |
| 21 | 22 | 13 | Ty Dillon | Germain Racing | Chevrolet | 311 | 16 |
| 22 | 14 | 20 | Erik Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 311 | 15 |
| 23 | 29 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 311 | 14 |
| 24 | 19 | 6 | Ryan Newman | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 311 | 13 |
| 25 | 16 | 42 | Matt Kenseth | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 311 | 12 |
| 26 | 27 | 38 | John Hunter Nemechek (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 311 | 11 |
| 27 | 20 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 310 | 10 |
| 28 | 15 | 41 | Cole Custer (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 310 | 9 |
| 29 | 35 | 15 | Brennan Poole (R) | Premium Motorsports | Chevrolet | 309 | 8 |
| 30 | 32 | 27 | J. J. Yeley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet | 306 | 0 |
| 31 | 30 | 96 | Daniel Suárez | Gaunt Brothers Racing | Toyota | 306 | 6 |
| 32 | 37 | 51 | Joey Gase (i) | Petty Ware Racing | Ford | 302 | 0 |
| 33 | 36 | 53 | James Davison | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 302 | 4 |
| 34 | 24 | 37 | Ryan Preece | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 299 | 3 |
| 35 | 38 | 77 | Josh Bilicki (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 296 | 0 |
| 36 | 33 | 66 | Timmy Hill (i) | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 288 | 0 |
| 37 | 39 | 7 | Garrett Smithley (i) | Tommy Baldwin Racing | Chevrolet | 261 | 0 |
| 38 | 28 | 32 | Corey LaJoie | Go Fas Racing | Ford | 215 | 1 |
| 39 | 34 | 00 | Quin Houff (R) | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet | 149 | 1 |
| Official race results | |||||||
Race statistics
- Lead changes: 19 among 9 different drivers
- Cautions/Laps: 4 for 27
- Red flags: 0
- Time of race: 2 hours, 47 minutes and 0 seconds
- Average speed: 112.096 miles per hour (180.401 km/h)
Media
Television
NBC Sports covered the race on the television side. Rick Allen, two–time Phoenix winner Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte, and three-time Phoenix winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. called the action from the booth. Dave Burns, Parker Kligerman, Marty Snider, and Kelli Stavast handled the pit road duties, 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 Kelli Stavast | Rutledge Wood |
Radio
MRN covered the radio call for the race, which was simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Alex Hayden, Jeff Striegle, and Rusty Wallace called the action from the broadcast booth when the field raced down the front straightaway. Dave Moody called the action from turns 1 & 2 and Mike Bagley called the action from turns 3 & 4. Winston Kelley and Steve Post covered the action for MRN from pit lane.
| MRN | ||
|---|---|---|
| Booth announcers | Turn announcers | Pit reporters |
| Lead announcer: Alex Hayden Announcer: Jeff Striegle Announcer: Rusty Wallace | Turns 1 & 2: Dave Moody Turns 3 & 4: Mike Bagley | Winston Kelley Steve Post |
