The 2020 Unhinged 300 (named as such due to a title sponsorship for the 2020 film of the same name) was a NASCAR Xfinity Series race held on June 20, 2020 at Talladega Superspeedway in Lincoln, Alabama. Contested over 113 laps on the superspeedway, it was the 11th race of the 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series season and the season's third Dash 4 Cash race. Kaulig Racing's Justin Haley picked up his first career Xfinity Series victory.
The race was originally scheduled to be held on April 25, but was rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Report
Background
Talladega Superspeedway, formerly known as Alabama International Motor Speedway, is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base in the small city of Lincoln. A tri-oval, the track was constructed in 1969 by the International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France family. Talladega is most known for its steep banking. The track currently hosts NASCAR's Cup Series, Xfinity Series and Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series. Talladega is the longest NASCAR oval with a length of 2.66-mile-long (4.28 km) tri-oval like the Daytona International Speedway, which is 2.5-mile-long (4.0 km).
Because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the race was held with limited spectators, with the grandstands and infield closed. Spectators were restricted to the 44 open backstretch motorhome lots who had camping tickets for both days of the meeting.
Dash 4 Cash The Dash 4 Cash is a series of four races in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, preceded by a qualifying race. The top four points-eligible drivers in the previous race are eligible to win a $100,000 bonus on top of their race winnings if they win the race. Cup Series regulars are not permitted to compete in the races.
The Unhinged 300 was the season's third Dash 4 Cash race. A. J. Allmendinger, Chase Briscoe, Ross Chastain, and Brandon Jones were eligible to win after finishing in the top 4 at the Contender Boats 250 at Homestead.
Entry list
(R) denotes rookie driver. (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
DriverTeamManufacturerSponsor0Jeffrey EarnhardtJD MotorsportsChevroletFlexfit 1101Michael AnnettJR MotorsportsChevroletPilot/Flying J02Brett Moffitt (i)Our MotorsportsChevroletFr8Auctions Camo4Jesse Little (R)JD MotorsportsChevroletSkuttleTight5Matt MillsB. J. McLeod MotorsportsToyotaJ.F. Electric6B. J. McLeodJD MotorsportsChevroletHappy Father's Day/JD Motorsports7Justin AllgaierJR MotorsportsChevroletBRANDT/TradeMark Nitrogen07Gray Gaulding (i)SS-Green Light RacingChevroletWalk-Ons Bistreux & Bar8Jeb BurtonJR MotorsportsChevroletLS Tractor08Joe Graf Jr. (R)SS-Green Light RacingChevroletBucked Up Energy9Noah GragsonJR MotorsportsChevroletHellmann's Roasted Garlic Sauce10Ross ChastainKaulig RacingChevroletNutrien Ag Solutions11Justin HaleyKaulig RacingChevroletLeafFilter Gutter Protection13Chad FinchumMBM MotorsportsToyotaMohawk Market/Kahnawake Reserve15Robby LyonsJD MotorsportsChevroletSunwest Construction16A. J. AllmendingerKaulig RacingChevroletEllsworth Advisors18Riley Herbst (R)Joe Gibbs RacingToyotaMonster Energy19Brandon JonesJoe Gibbs RacingToyotaMenards/Atlas Designer Shingles20Harrison Burton (R)Joe Gibbs RacingToyotaMorton Buildings/DEX Imaging21Anthony AlfredoRichard Childress RacingChevroletDude Wipes22Austin CindricTeam PenskeFordMoneyLion26Colin GarrettSam Hunt RacingToyotaRosie Network/The Jewelry Republic36Alex LabbéDGM RacingChevroletLake Wales High School: Congratulations Class of 2020!38Jeff GreenRSS RacingChevroletC2 Freight Resources39Ryan SiegRSS RacingChevroletCMR Construction Roofing/CMRRoofing.com44Tommy Joe MartinsMartins MotorsportsChevroletAAN Adjusters47Joe Nemechek (i)Mike Harmon RacingChevroletPatriots of America PAC/Boat Gadget51Jeremy ClementsJeremy Clements RacingChevroletRepairables.com52Kody Vanderwal (R)Means RacingChevroletADVANCED DAIRY SERVICE61Timmy Hill (i)Hattori RacingToyotaRoofClaim.com66John JacksonMBM MotorsportsToyotaJames Carter Attorney at Law/CrashClaimsR.Us68Brandon BrownBrandonbilt MotorsportsChevroletOriginal Larry's Hard Lemonade Brewing Co.74Mike HarmonMike Harmon RacingChevrolet#BackTheBlue78Vinnie MillerB. J. McLeod MotorsportsChevroletKoolbox ICE90Caesar BacarellaDGM RacingChevroletAlpha Prime/Maxim92Josh WilliamsDGM RacingChevroletTedlar/General Formulations93Myatt SniderRSS RacingChevroletSuperior Essex/Louisiana Hot Sauce98Chase BriscoeStewart-Haas RacingFordFord Performance Racing School99Mason MasseyB. J. McLeod MotorsportsToyotaGerber Collision & GlassOfficial entry list
Qualifying Justin Haley was awarded the pole for the race as determined by a random draw.
Starting Lineup PosDriverTeamManufacturer111Justin HaleyKaulig RacingChevrolet21Michael AnnettJR MotorsportsChevrolet339Ryan SiegRSS RacingChevrolet498Chase BriscoeStewart-Haas RacingFord59Noah GragsonJR MotorsportsChevrolet619Brandon JonesJoe Gibbs RacingToyota722Austin CindricTeam PenskeFord88Jeb BurtonJR MotorsportsChevrolet910Ross ChastainKaulig RacingChevrolet1021Anthony AlfredoRichard Childress RacingChevrolet1120Harrison Burton (R)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota127Justin AllgaierJR MotorsportsChevrolet130Jeffrey EarnhardtJD MotorsportsChevrolet1415Robby LyonsJD MotorsportsChevrolet1568Brandon BrownBrandonbilt MotorsportsChevrolet166B. J. McLeodJD MotorsportsChevrolet1790Caesar BacarellaDGM RacingChevrolet184Jesse Little (R)JD MotorsportsChevrolet1951Jeremy ClementsJeremy Clements RacingChevrolet2002Brett Moffitt (i)Our MotorsportsChevrolet2107Gray Gaulding (i)SS-Green Light RacingChevrolet2218Riley Herbst (R)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota2308Joe Graf Jr. (R)SS-Green Light RacingChevrolet2492Josh WilliamsDGM RacingChevrolet2574Mike HarmonMike Harmon RacingChevrolet2652Kody Vanderwal (R)Means RacingChevrolet2736Alex LabbéDGM RacingChevrolet2878Vinnie MillerB. J. McLeod MotorsportsChevrolet2947Tim Viens (i)Mike Harmon RacingChevrolet3013Chad FinchumMBM MotorsportsToyota3193Myatt Snider (R)RSS RacingChevrolet3244Tommy Joe MartinsMartins MotorsportsChevrolet3361Timmy Hill (i)Hattori RacingChevrolet3416A. J. AllmendingerKaulig RacingChevrolet3599Mason MasseyB. J. McLeod MotorsportsToyota3638Jeff GreenRSS RacingChevrolet375Matt MillsB. J. McLeod MotorsportsToyota3866John JacksonMBM MotorsportsToyota3926Colin GarrettSam Hunt RacingToyotaOfficial starting lineup
. – Eligible for Dash 4 Cash prize money. The No. 8 and No. 16 had to start from the rear due to failing pre-race inspection. The No. 47 had to start from the rear due to a driver change. The No. 99 had to start from the rear due to an unapproved adjustment.
Race
Race results
Stage Results Stage One
Laps: 25 PosDriverTeamManufacturerPoints111Justin HaleyKaulig RacingChevrolet10221Anthony AlfredoRichard Childress RacingChevrolet9398Chase BriscoeStewart-Haas RacingFord8410Ross ChastainKaulig RacingChevrolet7519Brandon JonesJoe Gibbs RacingToyota6622Austin CindricTeam PenskeFord5720Harrison Burton (R)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota4802Brett Moffitt (i)Our MotorsportsChevrolet091Michael AnnettJR MotorsportsChevrolet21007Gray Gaulding (i)SS-Green Light RacingChevrolet0 Stage Two
Laps: 25 PosDriverTeamManufacturerPoints198Chase BriscoeStewart-Haas RacingFord1021Michael AnnettJR MotorsportsChevrolet9322Austin CindricTeam PenskeFord849Noah GragsonJR MotorsportsChevrolet7510Ross ChastainKaulig RacingChevrolet6611Justin HaleyKaulig RacingChevrolet578Jeb BurtonJR MotorsportsChevrolet4819Brandon JonesJoe Gibbs RacingToyota3902Brett Moffitt (i)Our MotorsportsChevrolet01068Brandon BrownBrandonbilt MotorsportsChevrolet1
Final Stage Results Laps: 63 PosGridDriverTeamManufacturerLapsPointsStatus1111Justin HaleyKaulig RacingChevrolet11355Running2910Ross ChastainKaulig RacingChevrolet11348Running388Jeb BurtonJR MotorsportsChevrolet11338Running4722Austin CindricTeam PenskeFord11346Running52002Brett Moffitt (i)Our MotorsportsChevrolet1130Running61021Anthony AlfredoRichard Childress RacingChevrolet11340Running73416A. J. AllmendingerKaulig RacingChevrolet11330Running82107Gray Gaulding (i)SS-Green Light RacingChevrolet1130Running92736Alex LabbéDGM RacingChevrolet11328Running1059Noah GragsonJR MotorsportsChevrolet11334Running111568Brandon BrownBrandonbilt MotorsportsChevrolet11327Running1221Michael AnnettJR MotorsportsChevrolet11336Running13184Jesse Little (R)JD MotorsportsChevrolet11324Running14130Jeffrey EarnhardtJD MotorsportsChevrolet11323Running153244Tommy Joe MartinsMartins MotorsportsChevrolet11322Running16619Brandon JonesJoe Gibbs RacingToyota11330Running171790Caesar BacarellaDGM RacingChevrolet11320Running18498Chase BriscoeStewart-Haas RacingFord11337Running191415Robby LyonsJD MotorsportsChevrolet11318Running203599Mason MasseyB. J. McLeod MotorsportsToyota11317Running212878Vinnie MillerB. J. McLeod MotorsportsChevrolet11316Running223013Chad FinchumMBM MotorsportsToyota11315Running23166B. J. McLeodJD MotorsportsChevrolet11314Running241951Jeremy ClementsJeremy Clements RacingChevrolet11213Running252574Mike HarmonMike Harmon RacingChevrolet11212Running263361Timmy Hill (i)Hattori RacingToyota1060Accident273193Myatt Snider (R)RSS RacingChevrolet10510Accident28127Justin AllgaierJR MotorsportsChevrolet1059Accident293638Jeff GreenRSS RacingChevrolet1058Accident30339Ryan SiegRSS RacingChevrolet1017Running312652Kody Vanderwal (R)Means RacingChevrolet956Accident321120Harrison Burton (R)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota959Accident332492Josh WilliamsDGM RacingChevrolet954Accident342308Joe Graf Jr. (R)SS-Green Light RacingChevrolet953Accident353926Colin GarrettSam Hunt RacingToyota952Accident362947Tim Viens (i)Mike Harmon RacingChevrolet900Accident372218Riley Herbst (R)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota761Accident38375Matt MillsB. J. McLeod MotorsportsToyota651Overheating393866John JacksonMBM MotorsportsToyota301OverheatingOfficial race results
. – Won the Dash 4 Cash prize money and subsequently qualified for the Dash 4 Cash prize money in the next race. . – Qualified for Dash 4 Cash prize money in the next race.
Race statistics
Lead changes: 22 among 12 different drivers Cautions/Laps: 6 for 22 Red flags: 2 Time of race: 2 hours, 15 minutes, 52 seconds Average speed:
Media
Television The Unhinged 300 was carried by FS1 in the United States. Adam Alexander, Stewart-Haas Racing driver Aric Almirola, and Jamie McMurray called the race from the Fox Sports Studio in Charlotte, with Jamie Little and Vince Welch covering pit road. +FS1Booth announcersPit reporterLap-by-lap: Adam Alexander Color-commentator: Aric Almirola
Color-commentator: Jamie McMurrayJamie Little Vince Welch
Radio The Motor Racing Network (MRN) called the race for radio, which was simulcast on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Standings after the race
Drivers' Championship standings
PosDriverPoints1Noah Gragson4692Chase Briscoe454 (-15) 13Austin Cindric426 (-43) 14Ross Chastain422 (-47) 25Harrison Burton (R)399 (-70) 16Justin Haley385 (-84) 17Brandon Jones375 (-94)8Justin Allgaier337 (-132) 19Michael Annett296 (-173) 110Ryan Sieg273 (-196)11Riley Herbst (R)257 (-212) 112Brandon Brown250 (-219)Official driver's standings
Note: Only the first 12 positions are included for the driver standings. . – Driver has clinched a position in the NASCAR playoffs.
References