Track: Phoenix Raceway, 1 Mile Tri-Oval
Race: 36 of 36
Event: Season Finale 500 (312 miles, 312 laps)

John Hunter Nemechek
No. 38 Fire Alarm Services, Inc. (FAS) Ford Mustang

Started: 27th
Finished: 26th

Stage One: 26th
Stage Two: 28th
Stage Three: 26th

For the final race of the 2020 season, John Hunter Nemechek took the green flag at Phoenix Raceway in the 27th position. After the first few laps, he radioed to the team that his No. 38 FAS Ford Mustang was very loose and needed lateral drive. At the Competition Caution on Lap 30, he would pit for 4 tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment before receiving a speeding penalty, which forced him to restart at the tail end of the field. By Lap 46, Nemechek noted that he was still “too loose running the top.” He would go on to finish Stage 1 in the 26th position and pitted at the Stage Break Caution for another track bar adjustment, 4 tires and fuel.

John Hunter Nemechek restarted Stage 2 in 24th place. On Lap 119, his No. 38 FAS Ford Mustang brushed the outside wall after an on-track incident with another car. With minimal damage, he pitted under green for the crew to make repairs, change out the tires, add fuel and make a track bar adjustment. When a caution came out on Lap 161, Nemechek said the balance had been better but was still lacking overall grip. Crew Chief Seth Barbour made the call for Nemechek to stay out under caution to take the wave around so that he would restart on the lead lap. By the time he took the green- and white-checkered flag to end Stage 2 in 28th place, Nemechek noted that he was “snug center, free off on old tires.” He pitted at the Stage Break Caution for 4 tires, fuel, a track bar adjustment and grille tape.

John Hunter Nemechek was able to settle into a rhythm as the Final Stage of the final race of 2020 got underway, noting on Lap 214 that the handling on his No. 38 FAS Ford Mustang was “not bad… little snug, little loose.” He managed to make his way into the top 20 with just over 50 laps to go before pitting under green for 4 tires with a slight air pressure adjustment and fuel. Nemechek would cross the finish line in 26th place.

Nemechek finished the season 27th in the driver point standings with three top-10 and eight top-15 finishes.

Nemechek on Phoenix:

“Not quite how we would have liked to finish out the season today. We would have loved to get a top-15 or a top-10 finish for our partners at FAS, but we made what adjustments we could throughout the race. Thank you to Seth [Barbour] and my No. 38 crew for an awesome year. Thank you to Bob [Jenkins] and Jerry [Freeze], the entire Front Row Motorsports team and each of our partners for all the support in my rookie season in the Cup Series. It’s been an amazing opportunity to drive this No. 38 Ford Mustang this year.”

Austin Dillon and the No. 3 Dow Chevrolet Team Round Out 2020 Season With Strong Points Showing

Finish: 18th
Start: 18th
Points: 11th

“We had a solid No. 3 Dow Chevrolet today at Phoenix Raceway. We started off tight in Stage 1, but the handling came to us the longer we ran. I just couldn’t get through the corners as well as I would have liked to all day long. Towards the end of the race, we knocked in both the left and right rears, which caused our Chevy’s handling to turn extremely loose. We hung on for all we had to finish 18th. Not the finish we wanted, but we’ll regroup and be ready next year. I’m so proud of the entire NASCAR industry for pulling together to complete the 2020 season despite the pandemic. Thank you everyone at RCR , ECR, all of our fans and partners for your support this year. Congratulations to Chase Elliott and Team Chevy on winning the Championship.” -Austin Dillon

Tyler Reddick Caps Off Strong Rookie Year with Top-20 Finish in No. 8 I Am Second Chevy at Phoenix Raceway

Finish: 21st
Start: 19th
Points: 19th

“Our No. 8 I Am Second Chevrolet had some good speed in it today at Phoenix Raceway. I just needed more to roll through the center of the turns, but it was tough to adjust on that since I was also fighting a loose feeling on entry and exit of the turns. We had a good top-15 run during part of the race today, but towards the end I started having some issues with my brakes and had to adjust a little bit to finish out the race. I want to thank everyone at RCR and ECR for building great cars this year and all the effort they put into this season, as well as all our great partners and fans for their support during an unprecedented season. I learned a lot during my rookie season and know our team will regroup over the off-season to study how to be better in 2021.” -Tyler Reddick

HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS NOTES:
2020 NASCAR CUP SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP

THIRD-YOUNGEST: With his victory today at Phoenix Raceway, Chase Elliott clinched the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series title and became the third-youngest champion at the top level of stock-car racing at 24 years, 11 months and 11 days old. In Cup history, only Bill Rexford in 1950 (23 years, 7 months and 15 days) and Jeff Gordon in 1995 (24 years, 3 months and 8 days) were younger. Gordon, who also drove for Hendrick Motorsports, won his 1995 title 16 days before Elliott was born.

LUCKY 13: With his first career NASCAR Cup Series championship, Elliott delivered a record-extending 13th to car owner Rick Hendrick. Hendrick Motorsports is now the only team in NASCAR history to win Cup titles with four different drivers: Jimmie Johnson (seven), Gordon (four), Terry Labonte (1996) and Elliott (2020).

ANOTHER BOW-TITLE: With Elliott’s 2020 result, Chevrolet now has 32 NASCAR Cup Series driver titles to its credit. The manufacturer’s first Cup champion was Buck Baker in 1957. Hendrick Motorsports has fielded Chevrolets since Hendrick founded the team in 1984, winning a modern-era record 263 points-paying Cup Series races. Chevrolet has won 795 Cup events since 1949, the most of any manufacturer in NASCAR history.

WINNING PERCENTAGE: With Elliott’s performance, Hendrick Motorsports has won 13 of the last 26 NASCAR Cup Series championships (50%). Gordon won the team’s first in 1995, then Labonte in 1996 and Gordon again in 1997 and 1998 – a streak of four in a row. Gordon won his fourth Cup title in 2001, followed by Johnson’s unprecedented five consecutive championships from 2006-2010. Johnson won his sixth in 2013 and a record-tying seventh in 2016.

HISTORY REPEATING: Elliott’s 2020 achievement marked the record-setting fourth decade in which Hendrick Motorsports has won a NASCAR Cup Series championship: the 1990s, 2000s, 2010s and 2020s. The organization was previously tied with Petty Enterprises, which won titles in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.

SWEET 16: The 2020 Cup Series car owner championship is the 16th for Hendrick Motorsports across NASCAR’s three national series, extending the team’s all-time record. Richard Childress Racing ranks second among owners with 12 combined titles. In the car owner category, Hendrick Motorsports has won 13 championships in the Cup Series and three in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series. Hendrick Motorsports also won a NASCAR Xfinity Series driver title in 2003, giving the organization 17 total national series championships.

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON: The legendary Elliott racing family from Dawsonville, Georgia, now boasts two NASCAR Cup Series champions with Chase joining father Bill, who won the title in 1988 when he was 33 years old. They are just the third father-son duo in history to win Cup Series championships, along with Lee and Richard Petty and Ned and Dale Jarrett. Both Elliott titles were won with the No. 9 car.

GOT YOUR NUMBER: Hendrick Motorsports has now won NASCAR Cup Series titles with a record-extending four different car numbers: 48 (seven), 24 (four), 5 (1996) and 9 (2020). With the return of the No. 5 team, the organization will field all four of its championship car numbers in 2021.

HAIL TO THE CHIEF: With today’s performance, Alan Gustafson, 45, became the fifth crew chief to win a NASCAR Cup Series championship for Hendrick Motorsports, joining Chad Knaus (seven), Ray Evernham (three), Robbie Loomis (2001) and Gary DeHart (1996). Hendrick Motorsports now holds the record for the most different crew chiefs with a Cup Series title, breaking a tie with Junior Johnson and Associates. Gustafson’s team led a race-high 153 laps today at Phoenix for the crew chief’s 31st career Cup Series victory.

ENGINE, ENGINE NO. 9: Engines built by Hendrick Motorsports have now powered 15 NASCAR Cup Series championships and a combined 22 NASCAR national series titles.

2020 VISION: In 2020, Hendrick Motorsports extended its streak of NASCAR Cup Series seasons with at least one points-paying victory to 35 in a row dating back to 1986. The organization has won at least one race in 36 of its 37 active seasons, missing only 1985, and is tied with Petty Enterprises for the most total seasons with a Cup victory. This year, the team won seven combined races with Elliott (five), William Byron and Alex Bowman.

THE STATS: Since its inception in 1984, Hendrick Motorsports has earned 263 race victories and holds the all-time records for championships (13), pole positions (226), top-five finishes (1,101), top-10s (1,900) and laps led (70,823) in points-paying NASCAR Cup Series competition. Including 2020, the organization has won at least one race in 35 consecutive seasons, the longest-ever streak. Hendrick Motorsports is five wins away from tying Petty Enterprises’ all-time Cup team record of 268.

ABOUT HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS:
Founded by Rick Hendrick in 1984, Hendrick Motorsports has earned 263 points-paying race victories and a record 13 car owner championships in the premier NASCAR Cup Series. In 2021, the organization will field four full-time Chevrolet teams on the Cup circuit with drivers Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, William Byron and Alex Bowman. Headquartered in Concord, North Carolina, Hendrick Motorsports employs more than 600 people. For more information, please visit HendrickMotorsports.com or interact on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

NASCAR CUP SERIES
SEASON FINALE 500
PHOENIX RACEWAY
TEAM CHEVY RACE NOTES & QUOTES
NOVEMBER 8, 2020

CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS CAMARO ZL1 1LE – Race Winner and 2020 NASCAR Cup Series Champion ~ Post race quick win quotes:

Q. I think it’s all finally starting to soak in for Chase Elliott, the sport’s most popular driver, now its newest champion. Just 20 days shy of his 25th birthday, the youngest champion since Jeff Gordon won his first of four titles back in 1995. Chase, you’ve been asked all week time and again what it would mean to you to win this championship; you didn’t have an answer back then. How do you answer that one now?
CHASE ELLIOTT: I’m not sure that I still even know. I just, man, I’m at a loss for words. This is unbelievable. Oh, my gosh. We did it. I mean, we did it. That’s all I’ve got to tell you. Unreal.
Championship crew chief, Alan Gustafson, is now a NASCAR Cup Series champion, and very deserving. I just can’t say enough about our group. I felt like we took some really big strides this year, and last week was a huge one. To come out of that with a win and a shot to come here and have a chance to race is unbelievable.
Heck, I don’t know. I don’t even know. This is unreal.

Q. You got back around Joey Logano and that 22 and then you just had to wait it out. I know you were anticipating a late caution. We’ve seen them in the other championship races. What was going through your mind in those closing laps?
CHASE ELLIOTT: Yeah, just waiting on the caution, as always. You know, I saw Joey was pretty loose there and felt like I needed to get to him while I could. I knew I’d been kind of tight on a longer run and he was probably going to get a little better. Just unbelievable.
I mean, I just never would have thought that this year would have gone like it has. I mean, NASCAR Cup Series champion; are you kidding me? Unreal.

Q. You come from a Hall of Fame pedigree. You’ve got your parents, Bill and Cindy, here to celebrate with you. They’re behind the car here. What does it mean to you to add to the family legacy?
CHASE ELLIOTT: Oh, it’s unbelievable. All you can dream for is an opportunity, and I’ve been very fortunate to have that over the years. You know, and that’s all thanks to some great people. You know, my parents obviously have played a huge role. The past year has been tough. I lost my best friend about a year ago tonight. Lost my grandmother last year. And all those things bring families closer, so I really can’t thank them enough.
Mr. Hendrick, for taking a chance on me and believing in me when a lot of people didn’t. I think it really says a lot about him. And then to have a championship sponsor like NAPA, all of our partners, and Chevrolet, huge thanks to Team Hendrick and everybody at our shop that peaked at the right time. That’s all we can ask for.

Q. It almost seemed like a changing of the guard. We saw a lot of people come by to congratulate you after the finish including the seven‑time champion Jimmie Johnson. What did that moment mean to you?
CHASE ELLIOTT: Oh, my gosh, to share a moment like that in Jimmie’s last race and to win and to lock the championship, those are moments you can only dream of. You know, and this is a dream. I’m just hoping I don’t ever wake up.

Q. You didn’t get to celebrate the win for Martinsville a week ago, but you can bet this 24‑year‑old will be celebrating this tonight.

Team Chevy high-resolution racing photos are available for editorial use.

About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is one of the world’s largest car brands, doing business in more than 100 countries and selling more than 4.0 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

HAMLIN’S CHAMPIONSHIP RUN COMES UP JUST SHORT
Denny Hamlin finishes fourth in the season finale at Phoenix Raceway

AVONDALE, Arizona (November 8, 2020) – Denny Hamlin (fourth) led Toyota with a top-five effort in the season finale at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday. Hamlin finishes fourth in the final 2020 NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) point standings after an incredible season with seven NCS victories overall, including his third career Daytona 500 win.

Toyota Racing Post-Race Recap
NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Phoenix Raceway
Race 36 of 36 – 312 miles, 312 laps

TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS
1st, Chase Elliott*
2nd, Brad Keselowski*
3rd, Joey Logano*
4th, DENNY HAMLIN
5th, Jimmie Johnson*
10th, MARTIN TRUEX JR.
11th, KYLE BUSCH
17th, CHRISTOPHER BELL
22nd, ERIK JONES
31st, DANIEL SUÁREZ
36th, TIMMY HILL
*non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 FedEx Express Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 4th

What were you dealing with behind the wheel?
“We were a little off handling, but overall car speed, we just didn’t have enough. Our next best teammate was 10th, so as an organization we have got to get a little better, especially on the short tracks. It seems like we were a little bit off all year, and that was all it had, that’s for sure. I was pushing for everything I had. The FedEx Camry just didn’t quite have enough today, and we ended up fourth.”

What more did you need in your race car today to run at the front of the field?

“We just needed a little bit of speed and handling. Just a little bit every lap. It was so, so small. At time we were pretty good and maybe I had the fastest car, but it was just a few laps here and there. We just needed a little bit more. Obviously, this package in particular we weren’t great this year and this was one of our better runs with it, but it just wasn’t enough really.”

How will you reflect on this 2020 season?

“No one has won more than we have over the last two years. Daytona 500 two years in a row, the final four two years in a row. I’m pretty proud of what this team is doing and what we are building toward. Proud of the effort. We will come back and do it again next year. I’m looking forward to it. We will win as many races as we possibly can to get ourselves back to Phoenix again with another shot, but I’m proud of this whole Joe Gibbs Racing FedEx team for giving me cars that are capable of winning every week.”

# # #

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. and North America for more than 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands. During that time, Toyota has created a tremendous value chain as our teams have contributed to world-class design, engineering, and assembly of more than 40 million cars and trucks in North America, where we have 14 manufacturing plants, 15 including our joint venture in Alabama (10 in the U.S.), and directly employ more than 47,000 people (over 36,000 in the U.S.). Our 1,800 North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.) sold nearly 2.8 million cars and trucks (nearly 2.4 million in the U.S.) in 2019.

Through the Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.

AVONDALE, Ariz. (Nov. 8, 2020) – Closing the books on an eventful 2020 season, Chris Buescher battled to finish 20th in the final race of the season. The 28-year-old wrapped up his first season in the NASCAR Cup Series with Roush Fenway, where he scored two top-five and eight top-ten finishes.

Buescher began the day from the 31st position but quickly worked his No. 17 Fastenal Ford forward before damage to his right side caused the right rear tire to deflate. He was able to nurse the tire to the lap 30 competition caution, where he was scored 28th. Buescher would maintain his track position throughout the remainder of the first stage, finishing 29th.

The Fastenal Racing team was able to make needed adjustments to the Ford’s handling at the break, and Buescher again began to work his way forward through the field. Various pit strategies played out in the stage, and an ill-timed caution at lap 160 caught Buescher one lap down in 25th. He was able to get his lap back by waving around under the caution and would go on to finish the second stage in 26th.

Buescher’s team made quick work on the ensuing pit stop, picking up two positions under yellow. He would restart for the final stage of the 2020 season from the 24th position and steadily worked his way forward to a 20th-place finish in the season finale.

AVONDALE, Ariz. (Nov. 8, 2020) – In a mostly incident-free Championship race, Ryan Newman drove his Guaranteed Rate Ford to a 24th-place finish in the final race of the 2020 NASCAR season. The race marked the conclusion of Newman’s 19th season in the series.

Newman rolled off 19th for the 312-lap race, one that featured a competition caution at lap 30. Newman – a 2017 winner at the 1-mile track – ran 23rd at the time of the first yellow, just one of four cautions on the day.

After the first stop of the day, Newman restarted 29th and ultimately finished 25th in the opening 75-lap stage. As the team continued work on the handling of his Ford Mustang, green flag pit stops spaced the field out and he would fall one lap down to the leaders. A caution at lap 160 sent the field to pit road and he took the wave around to get back on the lead lap. A green-flag run to the end of the segment saw Newman finish the stage 25th.

The final stage brought more green flag action as Newman steadily worked his way through traffic to finish 24th in the season finale.