The 2020 Shady Rays 200 was a NASCAR Xfinity Series race held on July 9, 2020 at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Kentucky. Contested over 136 laps—extended from 134 laps due to an overtime finish—on the speedway, it was the 14th race of the 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series season. Team Penske's Austin Cindric won his first race of the season.
The Shady Rays 200 replaced New Hampshire Motor Speedway's date for the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was the first of two races for the Xfinity Series at Kentucky.
This was the final time the Xfinity Series had a second race at Kentucky Speedway, as the track lost both it's races in 2021.
Report
Background
Kentucky Speedway is a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) tri-oval speedway in Sparta, Kentucky, which has hosted ARCA, NASCAR and Indy Racing League racing annually since it opened in 2000. The track is currently owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports, Inc. and Jerry Carroll, who, along with four other investors, owned Kentucky Speedway until 2008. The speedway has a grandstand capacity of 117,000. Construction of the speedway began in 1998 and was completed in mid-2000. The speedway has hosted the Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series, Xfinity Series, IndyCar Series, Indy Lights, and most recently, the NASCAR Cup Series beginning in 2011.
The race was held without fans in attendance due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Entry list
(R) denotes rookie driver. (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
DriverTeamManufacturer0Jeffrey EarnhardtJD MotorsportsChevrolet1Michael AnnettJR MotorsportsChevrolet02Brett Moffitt (i)Our MotorsportsChevrolet4Jesse Little (R)JD MotorsportsChevrolet5Matt MillsB. J. McLeod MotorsportsToyota6B. J. McLeodJD MotorsportsChevrolet7Justin AllgaierJR MotorsportsChevrolet07Garrett SmithleySS-Green Light RacingChevrolet8Jeb BurtonJR MotorsportsChevrolet08Joe Graf Jr. (R)SS-Green Light RacingChevrolet9Noah GragsonJR MotorsportsChevrolet10Ross ChastainKaulig RacingChevrolet11Justin HaleyKaulig RacingChevrolet13Chad FinchumMBM MotorsportsToyota15Colby HowardJD MotorsportsChevrolet18Riley Herbst (R)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota19Brandon JonesJoe Gibbs RacingToyota20Harrison Burton (R)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota21Anthony AlfredoRichard Childress RacingChevrolet22Austin CindricTeam PenskeFord36Alex LabbéDGM RacingChevrolet39Ryan SiegRSS RacingChevrolet44Tommy Joe MartinsMartins MotorsportsChevrolet47Kyle WeathermanMike Harmon RacingChevrolet51Jeremy ClementsJeremy Clements RacingChevrolet52Kody Vanderwal (R)Means RacingChevrolet61Timmy Hill (i)Hattori RacingToyota66Stephen LeichtMBM MotorsportsToyota68Brandon BrownBrandonbilt MotorsportsChevrolet74Bayley Currey (i)Mike Harmon RacingChevrolet78Vinnie MillerB. J. McLeod MotorsportsChevrolet90Ronnie Bassett Jr.DGM RacingChevrolet92Josh WilliamsDGM RacingChevrolet93Myatt Snider (R)RSS RacingChevrolet98Chase BriscoeStewart-Haas RacingFord99Mason MasseyB. J. McLeod MotorsportsToyotaOfficial entry list
Qualifying Noah Gragson was awarded the pole for the race as determined by a random draw.
Starting Lineup PosDriverTeamManufacturer19Noah GragsonJR MotorsportsChevrolet210Ross ChastainKaulig RacingChevrolet38Jeb BurtonJR MotorsportsChevrolet41Michael AnnettJR MotorsportsChevrolet520Harrison Burton (R)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota619Brandon JonesJoe Gibbs RacingToyota798Chase BriscoeStewart-Haas RacingFord839Ryan SiegRSS RacingChevrolet911Justin HaleyKaulig RacingChevrolet107Justin AllgaierJR MotorsportsChevrolet1121Anthony AlfredoRichard Childress RacingChevrolet1222Austin CindricTeam PenskeFord1302Brett Moffitt (i)Our MotorsportsChevrolet144Jesse Little (R)JD MotorsportsChevrolet1507Garrett SmithleySS-Green Light RacingChevrolet1636Alex LabbéDGM RacingChevrolet176B. J. McLeodJD MotorsportsChevrolet1892Josh WilliamsDGM RacingChevrolet1968Brandon BrownBrandonbilt MotorsportsChevrolet2051Jeremy ClementsJeremy Clements RacingChevrolet2115Colby HowardJD MotorsportsChevrolet2290Ronnie Bassett Jr.DGM RacingChevrolet2318Riley Herbst (R)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota240Jeffrey EarnhardtJD MotorsportsChevrolet2552Kody Vanderwal (R)Means RacingChevrolet2699Mason MasseyB. J. McLeod MotorsportsToyota2774Bayley Currey (i)Mike Harmon RacingChevrolet2893Myatt Snider (R)RSS RacingChevrolet2966Stephen LeichtMBM MotorsportsToyota3047Kyle WeathermanMike Harmon RacingChevrolet3108Joe Graf Jr. (R)SS-Green Light RacingChevrolet3213Chad FinchumMBM MotorsportsToyota3361Timmy Hill (i)Hattori RacingToyota3478Vinnie MillerB. J. McLeod MotorsportsChevrolet355Matt MillsB. J. McLeod MotorsportsChevrolet3644Tommy Joe MartinsMartins MotorsportsChevroletOfficial starting lineup
The No. 74 and No. 99 had to start from the rear due to unapproved adjustments. The No. 78 had to start from the rear due to stopping in its pit box during the pit road speed check.
Race
Race results
Stage Results Stage One
Laps: 30 PosDriverTeamManufacturerPoints19Noah GragsonJR MotorsportsChevrolet10220Harrison Burton (R)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota9322Austin CindricTeam PenskeFord8410Ross ChastainKaulig RacingChevrolet7521Anthony AlfredoRichard Childress RacingChevrolet661Michael AnnettJR MotorsportsChevrolet5711Justin HaleyKaulig RacingChevrolet487Justin AllgaierJR MotorsportsChevrolet3939Ryan SiegRSS RacingChevrolet21002Brett Moffitt (i)Our MotorsportsChevrolet0 Stage Two
Laps: 30 PosDriverTeamManufacturerPoints19Noah GragsonJR MotorsportsChevrolet10222Austin CindricTeam PenskeFord9398Chase BriscoeStewart-Haas RacingFord8410Ross ChastainKaulig RacingChevrolet7518Riley Herbst (R)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota667Justin AllgaierJR MotorsportsChevrolet571Michael AnnettJR MotorsportsChevrolet4839Ryan SiegRSS RacingChevrolet3968Brandon BrownBrandonbilt MotorsportsChevrolet21021Anthony AlfredoRichard Childress RacingChevrolet1
Final Stage Results Laps: 74 PosGridDriverTeamManufacturerLapsPointsStatus11222Austin CindricTeam PenskeFord13657Running22318Riley Herbst (R)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota13641Running3210Ross ChastainKaulig RacingChevrolet13648Running4798Chase BriscoeStewart-Haas RacingFord13641Running541Michael AnnettJR MotorsportsChevrolet13641Running61121Anthony AlfredoRichard Childress RacingChevrolet13638Running7911Justin HaleyKaulig RacingChevrolet13634Running83047Kyle WeathermanMike Harmon RacingChevrolet13629Running9839Ryan SiegRSS RacingChevrolet13633Running101302Brett Moffitt (i)Our MotorsportsChevrolet1360Running1119Noah GragsonJR MotorsportsChevrolet13646Running122051Jeremy ClementsJeremy Clements RacingChevrolet13625Running133108Joe Graf Jr. (R)SS-Green Light RacingChevrolet13624Running14144Jesse Little (R)JD MotorsportsChevrolet13623Running152893Myatt Snider (R)RSS RacingChevrolet13622Running163213Chad FinchumMBM MotorsportsToyota13621Running17520Harrison Burton (R)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota13629Running18176B. J. McLeodJD MotorsportsChevrolet13619Running192290Ronnie Bassett Jr.DGM RacingChevrolet13518Accident20107Justin AllgaierJR MotorsportsChevrolet13525Accident213361Timmy Hill (i)Hattori RacingToyota1350Accident222774Bayley Currey (i)Mike Harmon RacingChevrolet1350Running233478Vinnie MillerB. J. McLeod MotorsportsChevrolet13414Running241636Alex LabbéDGM RacingChevrolet13413Running252552Kody Vanderwal (R)Means RacingChevrolet13412Running261892Josh WilliamsDGM RacingChevrolet13311Running271968Brandon BrownBrandonbilt MotorsportsChevrolet13212Running282699Mason MasseyB. J. McLeod MotorsportsToyota1309Running29240Jeffrey EarnhardtJD MotorsportsChevrolet1298Suspension30355Matt MillsB. J. McLeod MotorsportsToyota1227Running311507Garrett SmithleySS-Green Light RacingChevrolet1206Brakes322115Colby HowardJD MotorsportsChevrolet1195Accident333644Tommy Joe MartinsMartins MotorsportsChevrolet544Rear Gear3438Jeb BurtonJR MotorsportsChevrolet453Accident352966Stephen LeichtMBM MotorsportsToyota212Electrical36619Brandon JonesJoe Gibbs RacingToyota01AccidentOfficial race results
Race statistics
Lead changes: 6 among 4 different drivers Cautions/Laps: 9 for 40 Red flags: 0 Time of race: 1 hour, 51 minutes, 31 seconds Average speed:
Media
Television The Shady Rays 200 was carried by FS1 in the United States. Adam Alexander, Stewart-Haas Racing driver Clint Bowyer, and Hendrick Motorsports crew chief Chad Knaus called the race from the Fox Sports Studio in Charlotte, with Jamie Little covering pit road. +FS1Booth announcersPit reporterLap-by-lap: Adam Alexander Color-commentator: Clint Bowyer
Color-commentator: Chad KnausJamie Little
Radio The Performance Racing Network (PRN) called the race for radio, which was simulcast on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Standings after the race
Drivers' Championship standings
PosDriverPoints1Chase Briscoe5972Noah Gragson581 (-16) 13Austin Cindric552 (-45) 14Ross Chastain549 (-48)5Justin Haley485 (-112)6Justin Allgaier459 (-138)7Harrison Burton (R)450 (-147) 18Michael Annett414 (-183) 19Brandon Jones384 (-213)10Ryan Sieg362 (-235)11Riley Herbst (R)339 (-258) 112Myatt Snider (R)301 (-296)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