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. Chase Elliott won the race, claiming his first Cup Series championship.
The Season Finale 500 was the final full-time 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 road course that ran both inside and outside of the main tri-oval. In 1991 the track was reconfigured with the current 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
Driver Team Manufacturer 00 Quin Houff (R) StarCom Racing Chevrolet 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 2 Brad Keselowski (CC) 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 Garrett Smithley (i) Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet 8 Tyler Reddick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 9 Chase Elliott (CC) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 11 Denny Hamlin (CC) 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 (CC) 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 Joey Gase (i) Petty Ware Racing Ford 53 James Davison Rick Ware Racing Ford 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 ToyotaOfficial entry list
Qualifying Chase Elliott was awarded the pole for the race as determined by competition-based formula. However he was sent to the rear of the field as a result of failing pre-race inspection multiple times.
Starting Lineup Pos Driver Team Manufacturer 1 9 Chase Elliott (CC) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 2 22 Joey Logano (CC) Team Penske Ford 3 2 Brad Keselowski (CC) Team Penske Ford 4 11 Denny Hamlin (CC) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 5 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 6 88 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 7 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 8 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 9 14 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 10 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 11 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 12 21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford 13 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 14 20 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 15 41 Cole Custer (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 16 42 Matt Kenseth Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 17 95 Christopher Bell (R) Leavine Family Racing Toyota 18 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 19 6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford 20 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 21 8 Tyler Reddick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 22 13 Ty Dillon Germain Racing Chevrolet 23 43 Bubba Wallace Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet 24 37 Ryan Preece JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 25 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 26 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 27 38 John Hunter Nemechek (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford 28 32 Corey LaJoie Go Fas Racing Ford 29 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 30 96 Daniel Suárez Gaunt Brothers Racing Toyota 31 17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford 32 27 J. J. Yeley (i) Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 33 66 Timmy Hill (i) MBM Motorsports Toyota 34 00 Quin Houff (R) StarCom Racing Chevrolet 35 15 Brennan Poole (R) Premium Motorsports Chevrolet 36 53 James Davison Rick Ware Racing Ford 37 51 Joey Gase (i) Petty Ware Racing Ford 38 77 Josh Bilicki (i) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 39 7 Garrett Smithley (i) Tommy Baldwin Racing ChevroletOfficial starting lineup
Race
Note: Chase Elliott, Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, and Denny Hamlin were not eligible for stage points because of their participation in the Championship 4.
Stage Results
Stage One Laps: 75
Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Points1 22 Joey Logano (CC) Team Penske Ford 02 11 Denny Hamlin (CC) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 03 9 Chase Elliott (CC) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 04 2 Brad Keselowski (CC) Team Penske Ford 05 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 66 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 57 88 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 48 14 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 39 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 210 21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford 1Official stage one results
Stage Two Laps: 115
Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Points1 2 Brad Keselowski (CC) Team Penske Ford 02 9 Chase Elliott (CC) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 03 22 Joey Logano (CC) Team Penske Ford 04 11 Denny Hamlin (CC) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 05 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 66 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 57 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 48 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 39 21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford 210 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1Official stage two results
Final Stage Results
Stage Three Laps: 122
Pos Grid Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points1 1 9 Chase Elliott (CC) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 312 402 3 2 Brad Keselowski (CC) Team Penske Ford 312 353 2 22 Joey Logano (CC) Team Penske Ford 312 344 4 11 Denny Hamlin (CC) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 312 335 26 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 312 376 5 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 312 437 11 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 312 308 12 21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford 312 329 25 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 312 2910 13 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 312 2711 8 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 312 3412 7 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 312 3013 10 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 311 2414 9 14 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 311 2615 23 43 Bubba Wallace Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet 311 2216 6 88 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 311 2517 17 95 Christopher Bell (R) Leavine Family Racing Toyota 311 2018 18 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 311 1919 21 8 Tyler Reddick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 311 1820 31 17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford 311 1721 22 13 Ty Dillon Germain Racing Chevrolet 311 1622 14 20 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 311 1523 29 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 311 1424 19 6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford 311 1325 16 42 Matt Kenseth Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 311 1226 27 38 John Hunter Nemechek (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford 311 1127 20 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 310 1028 15 41 Cole Custer (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 310 929 35 15 Brennan Poole (R) Premium Motorsports Chevrolet 309 830 32 27 J. J. Yeley (i) Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 306 031 30 96 Daniel Suárez Gaunt Brothers Racing Toyota 306 632 37 51 Joey Gase (i) Petty Ware Racing Ford 302 033 36 53 James Davison Rick Ware Racing Ford 302 434 24 37 Ryan Preece JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 299 335 38 77 Josh Bilicki (i) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 296 036 33 66 Timmy Hill (i) MBM Motorsports Toyota 288 037 39 7 Garrett Smithley (i) Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet 261 038 28 32 Corey LaJoie Go Fas Racing Ford 215 139 34 00 Quin Houff (R) StarCom Racing Chevrolet 149 1Official 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:
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.
NBCBooth announcersPit reportersFeatures reporter Lap-by-lap: Rick AllenColor-commentator: Jeff BurtonColor-commentator: Steve LetarteColor-commentator: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dave BurnsParker KligermanMarty SniderKelli 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 announcersTurn announcersPit reporters Lead announcer: Alex HaydenAnnouncer: Jeff StriegleAnnouncer: Rusty Wallace Turns 1 & 2: Dave MoodyTurns 3 & 4: Mike Bagley Winston KelleySteve Post
Standings after the race
Drivers' Championship standings Pos Driver Points 1 1 Chase Elliott 5,040 1 2 Brad Keselowski 5,035 (–5) 2 3 Joey Logano 5,034 (–6) 4 Denny Hamlin 5,033 (–7) 5 Kevin Harvick 2,410 (–2,630) 6 Alex Bowman 2,371 (–2,669) 7 Martin Truex Jr. 2,341 (–2,699) 8 Kyle Busch 2,341 (–2,699) 9 Ryan Blaney 2,336 (–2,704) 1 10 Kurt Busch 2,287 (–2,753) 1 11 Austin Dillon 2,277 (–2,763) 12 Clint Bowyer 2,254 (–2,786) 1 13 Matt DiBenedetto 2,249 (–2,791) 1 14 William Byron 2,247 (–2,793) 15 Aric Almirola 2,235 (–2,805) 16 Cole Custer 2,202 (–2,838)Official driver's standings
Manufacturers' Championship standings Pos Manufacturer Points 1 Ford 1,329 2 Toyota 1,258 (–71) 3 Chevrolet 1,232 (–97)
Note: Only the first 16 positions are included for the driver standings.
References