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NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Daytona Road Course

By
Jeffrey Boswell
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DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - AUGUST 16: Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, drives during the NASCAR Cup Series Go Bowling 235 at Daytona International Speedway on August 16, 2020 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)

Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

1. Kevin Harvick: Harvick started on the pole at Daytona and finished 17th after an early spin and contact left his back in the field.

“I was the first car to the new chicane,” Harvick said. “Let me be the first to tell you, facing a chicane you’ve never seen before ain’t easy. In fact, it’s a ‘hard left.'”

2. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin finished 2nd in the Gobowling.com 235 at Daytona Road Course.

“That’s my third runner-up finish in the last 4 races,” Hamlin said. “If someone told you that I’m sick of coming up short, I would ‘second’ that emotion.”

3. Chase Elliott: Elliott held off Denny Hamlin over the closing laps to capture the win at Daytona’s road course.

“The race was called the ‘Gobowling.com 235,'” Elliott said. “And Hooters is one of my major sponsors. If it hasn’t already been done, then I’ll take credit for the first ‘nice rack’ reference.”

4. Joey Logano: Logano finished 9th at Daytona.

“The new chicane at Daytona caused a lot of worries beforehand,” Logano said, “but it was mostly a non-factor. That wasn’t the case in the Xfinity Series race on Saturday when several drivers braked late and ran off the track. It was definitely a ‘turn for the worse’ in that race.”

5. Brad Keselowski: Keselowski finished 13th at Daytona on a lackluster day for Penske Racing.

“Some drivers thrive on road courses,” Keselowski said. “Like Chase Elliott. He’s a ‘road warrior.’ Me? Road courses make me anxious. So, I’m a ‘road worrier.'”

6. Martin Truex, Jr.: Truex was a factor all day and came home 3rd at Daytona’s road course. He is 7th in the points standings.

“I really hurt my chances when I got caught speeding on pit lane,” Truex said. “So, I shot myself in the foot. Fortunately, it didn’t do any damage, because I have a lead foot.”

7. Ryan Blaney: Blaney struggled at Daytona’s road course, finishing 31st, his second consecutive finish outside the top 30.

“We raced Daytona’s road course without the benefit of practice,” Blaney said. “That’s all anyone talked about before the race, and it got a little monotonous. Even Allen Iverson couldn’t believe we were talking ’bout practice.”

8. Aric Almirola: Almirola started sixth and finished 24th in the Gobowling.com 235.

“I wasn’t at my best,” Almirola said. “Heck, even a guy named ‘Kaz Grala’ finished 7th at Daytona. I thought ‘Kaz Grala’ was an Israeli self-defense discipline. If I would have known at the start I’d finish 31st, I would have submitted right then.”

9. Kurt Busch: Busch finished 14th at Daytona.

“The bigger story is my brother Kyle,” Busch said. “He finished 37th after brake and tire issues forced him out of the race. That’s called a ‘DNF.’ It’s been a frustrating year for Kyle, so that ‘DNF’ could also signify that he ‘Did Ndeed say ‘F.'”

10. Clint Bowyer: Bowyer finished 6th at Daytona’s road course, posting his first top 10 since Pocono in late June.

“I’m winless this season,” Bowyer said. “But I’m 11th in the points standings. So, as far as making the championship round, I like my chances. As far as winning the Cup championship, I like my chances in hell.”

CORVETTE RACING AT VIR: Pre-Race Media Conference Transcript

By
Official Release
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IMSA WEATHERTECH SPORTSCAR CHAMPIONSHIP
VIRGINIA INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY
MICHELIN GT CHALLENGE AT VIR
PRE-RACE MEDIA AVAILABILITY TRANSCRIPT
AUGUST 17, 2020

Corvette Racing drivers Antonio Garcia and Jordan Taylor (No. 3 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Chevrolet Corvette C8.R), Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner (No. 4 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Chevrolet Corvette C8.R) and Corvette Racing Team Manager Ben Johnson met with members of the media during a Zoom conference call Monday to discuss the upcoming Michelin GT Challenge at VIR, the program’s three-race win streak in the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship’s GT Le Mans (GTLM) category and other topics. FULL TRANSCRIPT:

ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R
THERE IS A LOT OF MOMENTUM FOR THE TEAM COMING INTO A RACE WHERE CORVETTE RACING HAS EXPERIENCED A LOT OF SUCCESS. WHAT’S YOUR OUTLOOK FOR THE WEEKEND?
“VIR has been very good for Corvette Racing. We’re looking forward to getting there with the new C8.R. It’s a track that if the car is good, it’s very fun to drive. We’ve done a few runs in the simulator, and everyone seems to be happy with it. The main thing is how we compare to our competition. Our confidence is as high as it can get after three wins in a row for Corvette Racing. We will try to make it four. Everyone will want to beat us and will push us very hard, but that is racing.”

WHAT YOUR PLANS AS FAR AS STAYING IN THE U.S. OR GOING HOME AFTER VIR?
“The problem in Europe is now country-to-country, all the regulations are changing. So far, Spain is being very flexible with that. I shouldn’t have any problems coming back between VIR and Atlanta, so my plan is to come back in between VIR and Atlanta. As Olly has said, everything changes so fast, so we need to be ready to adapt and don’t get caught out in any situations. With schools starting again, it may get a little trickier. We will see how the situations ago and plan it out race-by-race.”

WE’VE SEEN IN THE PAST WITH THE UNDERCUT, PEOPLE COMING OUT FROM THE PITLANE AND HAVING TO DEFEND ON COLD TIRES. IS VIR DIFFICULT TO DEFEND AGAINST THAT? IF YOU GET TO THE ESSES ARE YOU PRETTY MUCH HOME FREE AT THAT POINT? TALK THROUGH AN OUT-LAP IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE COMING UP FRO BEHIND YOU ON HOT TIRES.
“It depends on who is following you! Last year, it didn’t take (Nick) Tandy long to get through me and one of the Fords. It’s all a very hard situation. Once you are on hot tires, you need to make as much of a gap as you can to have a little more room defend from the other guys. At VIR and once you get to the Esses, maybe you can defend a little longer. Turn One is usually very hard to go fast through on cold tires, and it’s the same as Turns Three and Four. If you can get through that section, you might be able to survive attacks. Turn One and braking into there is key. I almost went straight through there last year. It also depends on track temperature to see if that makes it a little easier. Let’s see how it plays out. I hope we have a decent lead and don’t have to think about that. We need to play our strategy and either defend or attack the rest if we are behind. That’s probably one of the key things about Corvette Racing. When you’re in the lead, you can take a normal strategy but we if we’re behind, we can do different things. Let’s see where we are and how it plays out.”

THIS YEAR, IT SEEMS LIKE IMSA MADE A CONSCIOUS EFFORT TO DROP THE POWER OF GTD CARS TO CREATE LESS CONGESTION IN BRAKING ZONES. HAVE YOU NOTICED THAT DYNAMIC PLAY OUT? COULD IT BE EASIER TO OVERTAKE BEFORE THE ESSES BUT ONCE YOU GET THERE, MAYBE YOU LOSE GROUND IF YOU GET INTO THE ESSES BEHIND A GTD CAR?
“It might change things a little bit. We might have a little bit more time to pass cars between Turn Six and the Esses. That would give him a little more opportunity and a little less risk. But if you are stuck behind them through the Esses, you will be back there longer. I think the situation we have now where we are a little bit faster on the straights is creating a little easier interaction between classes. There haven’t been many contacts between GTD and GTLM cars that I’ve seen. VIR is one of the toughest tracks for that situation because there is a very long combination of corners. The level of drivers and knowing everyone should make it a clean race.”

JORDAN TAYLOR, NO. 3 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R
YOU’VE HAD SOME SUCCESS AT VIR AS WELL IN THE PAST. HOW IS THIS WEEKEND SHAPING UP?
“I’m looking forward to it. VIR is one my favorite tracks. I was upset that the prototypes never got go there when we did the split. I think the last time I raced there was 2017 when I raced the Cadillac ATS-V.R. It’s been a few years but I really enjoy it. It’s where I got my first pole in GT in 2010 and my first win in 2011 in a Camaro. I think Olly (Gavin) was on the podium that race, too. So there is some good history there. Going back with Corvette Racing, they’ve had a really strong history too with three wins and lots of front-row starts. It bodes well. Having had the new car at a number of different tracks – Daytona, Sebring and Road America – and seeing how well it ran at those circuits, VIR should the C8.R very well.”

TALK ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS ON THE CHEVROLET SIMULATOR AHEAD OF THE DAYTONA ROAD COURSE EVENT HOW SATISFYING IT WAS SEEING ONE OF THEIR DRIVERS TAKE THE WIN.
“It was cool. I got a call from Jeff Gordon a few weeks ago to see if I’d be up for working their guys on the road course. We figured out some days and I worked with Chase (Elliott, race-winner), Alex (Bowman) and William (Byron); I think Jimmie (Johnson) was on vacation. We did about three hours with each guy, and I had about an hour of seat-time myself to drive it, see what I thought and give some feedback. We worked a little bit with the crew chiefs about priorities that we usually focus on at Daytona.. what’s important and what to focus on over a race distance. It was cool to see how they work, and it’s different to how we operate at the simulator. It was fun to watch the race. All the guys are professionals and were going to figure it out on their own. But it was cool to be a part of it and see Chase really dominate the whole day.”

YOU’VE ACCOMPLISHED A LOT IN YOUR SPORTS CAR CAREER. ARE THERE ANY OTHER RACES OR SERIES WHERE YOU’D LIKE TO WIN AND CHECK OFF YOUR BUCKET LIST?
“Watkins Glen is on that list. I’ve never won there. Road America was on it, but we checked off that box this year. As far as sports car racing, I’ve accomplished a lot of things I wanted to. Going to the Nürburgring or Spa would be fun. But Watkins Glen… it was one of my dad’s favorite tracks and is one of his favorite events, and he never won that as a driver either. I think Ricky (Taylor, Jordan’s brother) is the only one in our family who has won that one. So it’s been on our list for the past few years.”

HOW DIFFICULT HAS IT BEEN NOT TO HAVE THE USUAL INTERACTION WITH THE FANS?
“It’s been weird. We’re used to autograph sessions and the Corvette Corral, where you have tons of fans that are so passionate for the team and the fans. It’s a weird feeling showing up to the track and basically going from the pitlane to your truck and not mingling with fans and other drivers like you would have in the past. It’s a different feel. The best part is that we have social media where we can interact with fans. The TV package is really good this year for people to follow us along.”

OLIVER GAVIN, NO. 4 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R
YOU AND TOMMY HAVE MADE A BIG JUMP IN POINTS OVER THE LAST TWO EVENTS. WE’RE NOT QUITE HALFWAY THROUGH THE SEASON, BUT ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS AT THIS POINT?
“We’re going race-by-race. It’s been an excellent restart for everyone at Corvette Racing. We’ve won each race and have two one-two finishes. The C8.R has really come out the gate very fast after the lockdown period. We’re very positive and hopeful, and our confidence can’t get much higher. VIR is a good track and should be very good for us. Tommy and Jordan were on the simulator last week, and I think there were some bits and pieces that we’ll try to put in play for when we get on track Friday. It’s a good, fun track. The people that run the facility are fantastic and go out of their way to make it a welcoming environment for the teams, the crews and the drivers. It’s a shame we can’t have spectators there this year, although we understand and fully respect that. We’re all excited to get back to racing after seemingly have those three races almost one after the other. It should be fun.”

YOU SPENT A LONG TIME IN THE U.S. AND GOT TO GO HOME. THE NEXT COUPLE OF RACES ARE PRETTY CLOSE TOGETHER. IS THERE THOUGHT ABOUT STAYING OVER AGAIN?
“It was great to come home, see the family and spend some good quality time with them. I’ll come over for VIR, stay over through Atlanta and reassess the situation then. That is my plan, but situations are changing and moving.”

TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R
THIS IS AS CLOSE TO HOME AS IT GETS FOR YOU ON THE SCHEDULE. WHAT IS IT ABOUT VIR THAT SEEMS TO MAKE IT A FAVORITE OF THE DRIVERS?
“For lots of reasons, VIR is one of the best tracks we go to. The people there – Connie (Nyholm) and her group – do a fantastic job with the teams, with the drivers and with fans. Unfortunately fans won’t be there this year, obviously. It’s a great racetrack – one that’s fun to drive by yourself. It’s a big challenge to get it all right with the uphill Esses being a huge challenge in our GTLM cars. Then you add in 25 more cars and it becomes that much more difficult to go racing and making passes happen. If you make a mistake, there’s typically big punishment. It’s a lot of fun and great for us to be the headline class in GTLM. Being from Virginia, I usually have friends and family there, but unfortunately they can’t be there this year but they’re excited to watch on TV and online. I’m excited to get going and seeing how this new Corvette performs at VIR.”

BEN JOHNSON, CORVETTE RACING TEAM MANAGER
ARE YOU SURPRISED WITH HOW QUICKLY THE C8.R PROGRAM HAS COME ON SO STRONG?
“Certainly we had expectations with a new car and all the development effort we put into it that we would be competitive straight out of the gate. At the Rolex 24 at the Roar, we learned quite a bit but were also happy with the performance of the C8.R. The downtime gave us the opportunity to address things we had seen from Daytona and the WEC race at Austin to bring a more developed car back down to Daytona for the restart of the season. We had high confidence but at the same time we have very tough competition. To have the success we have had to date is really motivational for the team and justifies a lot of the effort that has gone into it. You hope for success but you also know there are a lot of really good teams that are trying accomplish the same task.”

IN REGARD TO THE BOP FOR THIS WEEKEND, THERE HAVE BEEN WEIGHT ADJUSTMENTS FOR THE CARS IN GTLM. HOW WILL IT AFFECT THE CORVETTE?
“I think we were a bit surprised by the changes. Ultimately we have to rely on what IMSA has at its disposal for data and the metrics to make the right decisions. Certainly the cars are getting heavier and the tire degradation and the ability to make the car last over a stint will be that much more challenging, particularly with the elevated temperatures. How it changes the complexion of the competition and how it affects the different cars is something we will have to see when we get to the race.”

THERE HAVE BEEN QUESTIONS REGARDING WHAT GTLM COULD LOOK LIKE NEXT YEAR. IS THERE SOMETHING YOU CAN SAY ABOUT THE CORVETTE’S BUILD AND IS IT EASILY CONVERTIBLE TO A GT3 SPECIFICATION IF THERE WAS A DECISION TO BE MADE ABOUT THAT?
“It’s a relatively large task to make sure you’re changing the car – if we were to do that – to the GT3 rulebook. It’s not something simple that can be done in a relatively short amount of time. The future of GT racing is critical to Corvette. We’re committed to it and find a lot of value in professional-level GT racing to market the Corvette product. We’ll continue to work with IMSA, the FIA and the ACO to build the future of GT racing. But to change a car from GTE to GT3 isn’t simple as changing homologation stickers. There’s quite a bit of work to make sure you are meeting all the technical regulations for the GT3 platform.”

HAVE YOU DONE FEASABILITY STUDIES AND WHATNOT FOR THIS POSSIBILITY?
“Primarily just reviewing regulations. There is the updated regulations set for GT3 in the future, but that’s as far as it gone at this point until we can build a long-term roadmap with all the sanctioning bodies.”

WHAT WERE THE AREAS THAT YOU FOCUSED ON DURING THE LOCKDOWN TIME THAT REALLY SEEM TO BE PAYING OFF WITH BENEFITS NOW?
“From a car standpoint, there was really nothing at Daytona that was an acute failure. So we focused on small items that we had on the back burner that were going to be difficult to fit in to either development or manufacturing given the initial timeline of the races. The lockdown allowed us to at least plan those such that after we got off of the lockdown we could execute the high-priority ones. With a younger car that we have at the moment, there are things that after you accumulate mileage will show up – small chassis items, some suspension items that you fix before you get to the next race. What gained us more performance was the ability to look back at all the data from Daytona and the restart of the simulator program once IMSA lifted the testing ban on that and provide us some additional time to have all the drivers come and participate in that to learn from the Rolex 24 to prepare for the July race.
“We also put quite a bit into the operations part of the team. With a new car come new challenges on pit stops, driver changes and even doing quick adjustments on the car. When we had time between the end of the lockdown and the Daytona 240 race, we spent quite a bit of time homing in on those items as well.”

ONCE THE BAN WAS LIFTED AND YOU WERE ABLE TO DO SIMULATOR WORK, WHAT KIND OF TIME DID YOU ACCUMULATE ONCE YOU WERE ABLE TO ADDRESS ALL THOSE THINGS?
“The simulator is shared resource within Chevrolet, so you have to book time on it. Ahead of the first race, I think we had three or four days on the simulator between the end of lockdown and the Daytona July race. Those three or four days is enough time to generate quite a bit of content and information to review. That worked out well to have enough time to stage two tests and use the additional time then go back through that data to understand what was a positive and apply that to the car.”

WITH THE 20 EXTRA KILOGRAMS THAT YOU’RE DEALING WITH AT VIR, CAN YOU PUT BALLAST WHERE YOU WANT?
“The GT regulations enforce that you have to homologate the locations where you’re putting weight. That’s more for a safety perspective so the car is designed to have weight put in different places. But that is up to the manufacturer to select where those areas of the car will be built up to accept balance. We have five places on the C8.R where we can put weight. While it is a performance detriment to have 20 kilograms added, like everyone else we try to use it to the best we can to achieve a weight balance that best suits the car at the upcoming track.”

WITH THE NEW CAR, HOW MUCH UNTAPPED POTENTIAL DO YOU FEEL YOU HAVE? AND AT ROAD AMERICA, IT LOOKED LIKE YOU HAD SOME TIRE DEGRADATION ISSUES, PARTICULARLY ON THE 3 CAR. IS THAT A CONSEQUENCE OF SHORT WEEKEND AND LEARNING ABOUT A NEW CAR AT THIS STAGE OF THE SEASON?
“In terms of how much capacity is left in the C8.R, in any new car you always are trying to find the next step. With the Corvette C7.R, we still found things. The tire typically changes every year so that kind of restarts some portion of the development process. The C8.R probably has a larger learning curve than some, but with the mileage we have accumulated from the test program, the races and our Driver-In-The-Loop (simulator) program, I think we are fairly far along. We hope to continue polish it and find time at the upcoming events.
“At Road America, tire degradation for us was high. We’ve done as much as we can to address that. Unfortunately without more time on the track, you can’t employ every change that you’d like to. We hope going forward that we’ve made a good step in that direction to make it a bit better. Some of that is the car being new and us continuing to learn it with, and the other part is a combination of tires, ambient conditions and BoP. Hopefully we’ll have a better stint performance at VIR given what we know now following Road America.”

WITH THE BOP CHANGE, IS THERE A BALLPARK NUMBER OF WHAT A CERTAIN WEIGHT ADDED OR TAKEN AWAY MEANS IN TERMS OF LAP TIME AT A TRACK LIKE VIR?
“Typically it’s somewhere between 1- or 1.5-tenths of a second per 10 kilograms as a general rule. I would expect that sort of change for us going forward.”

FROM CORVETTE’S PERSPECTIVE, ARE YOU IN FAVOR OF A HAVING CONVERGENCE OF GT REGULATIONS, OR ARE YOU TAKING A WAIT-AND-SEE APPROACH?
“The road map and plan isn’t formalized to that point yet. There are quite a few discussions that need to happen to understand what the future of GT racing looks like – is it a continuation of GTE or is it some level of convergence? Our priority is to make sure we can continue to showcase Corvette at the highest level. That requires factory efforts that display the car and demonstrates its potential. That’s what Corvette has been built on – the track-to-street connection. That’s the main priority… to continue that level of connection between the production car and the race car.”

IF YOU WERE TO HAVE TWO DIFFERENT SPECIFICATIONS – LIKE ONE FOR IMSA AND ONE FOR LE MANS – WOULD THAT RULE YOU OUT OF DOING SOMETHING LIKE THAT?
“It all depends on the difference is. Right now, there is a bodywork difference between the sprint package and Le Mans. If something like that were to take place, it needs to be something that is achievable and doesn’t completely change the car otherwise you’re in the situation where you have a GTE car and a GT3 car.”
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.

USAF Thunderbirds To Perform Flyover on Indianapolis 500 Race Day

By
Official Release
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INDIANAPOLIS, Monday, Aug. 17, 2020 – The world-renowned U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds will perform the pre-race flyover for the 104th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, Aug. 23 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Pre-race coverage for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” starts at 1 p.m. (ET) on NBC, with the green flag scheduled for 2:30 p.m.

“America’s Ambassadors in Blue” – officially known as the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron – will fly in their signature “Delta” formation over IMS in an impressive display of their skill and their precision.

“It’s a great privilege for IMS to welcome the United States Air Force Thunderbirds for the pre-race flyover for the 104th Indianapolis 500,” IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “The race always has paid tribute to the dedicated service and sacrifice of men and women of America’s Armed Forces and is a celebration of patriotic pride, and the precision and skill of these elite Thunderbirds pilots will be appreciated by the worldwide television audience and also by the residents of Indianapolis and Central Indiana as they look to the skies.”

The Thunderbirds feature six F-16 Fighting Falcons, the Air Force’s premier multi-role fighter aircraft. Assigned to Air Combat Command, the squadron is composed of 12 officers and more than 120 enlisted personnel serving in nearly 30 Air Force job specialties. The Thunderbirds typically perform hour-long aerial demonstrations at air shows across the United States from March to November but most of their performances are canceled this year due to the coronavirus. In lieu of air shows, the team collaborated with the United States Navy Blue Angels to conduct multi-city flyovers as a salute to frontline coronavirus responders in April and May.

“Supporting the Indy 500 is a great honor for the team and Air Force,” said. Lt. Col. John Caldwell, Thunderbirds commander and leader. “This spectacular event provides an amazing opportunity to showcase the pride, precision and professionalism of the 693,000 total force Airmen to race fans viewing from around the world.”

Since the unit’s inception in 1953, more than 350 million people in all 50 states and more than 60 countries have witnessed the distinctive red, white and blue jets in thousands of official aerial demonstrations.

The flight demonstration team is made up of Lieutenant Colonel John Caldwell, Thunderbird No. 1, Thunderbird commander and lead pilot; Major Trevor Aldridge, Thunderbird No. 2, Left Wing pilot; Major Michael Brewer, Thunderbird No. 3, Right Wing pilot; Major Zane Taylor, Thunderbird No. 4, Slot Pilot; Major Michelle Curran, Thunderbird No. 5, Lead Solo; and Major Kyle Oliver, Thunderbird No. 6, Opposing Solo.

SUNNYD launches ‘Chat With Chris’ Contest ahead of Dover Doubleheader

By
Official Release
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SUNNYD Invites Fans to submit questions for Chris Buescher and Luke Lambert for a chance for a private virtual meet and greet.

CONCORD, N.C. (Aug. 17, 2020) – If you could ask Chris Buescher anything, what would it be? SUNNYD is inviting fans to submit questions for a chance to virtually ask the driver and his crew chief their question, in a pre-race VIP experience before Saturday’s race at Dover International Speedway.

From August 17th through the 21st, fans can submit questions using #ChatWithChris for a chance to participate in a private video call on August 22 before the race at Dover. Five winners will enjoy a pre-race VIP experience to pick the brains of Buescher and his crew chief before the green flag waves in Delaware. See official contest rules here.

Buescher will make his ninth Cup series start at Dover on Saturday, a track where he has an average finish of 24.8. The driver scored his second top-five of the season and his first ever at a road course in the Cup series on Sunday at Daytona. The team currently holds five top-10 finishes and two top-five’s this season.

Coverage for Saturday’s race is set for 4 p.m. EST on NBCSN, MRN and SiriusXM Channel 90.

About Sunny Delight Beverage Company:

The Sunny Delight Beverage Company is a division of Harvest Hill Beverage Company based in Stamford, CT. Harvest Hill is owned by private equity firm Brynwood Partners, who acquired Sunny Delight Beverage Company from J.W. Childs in February 2016. Harvest Hill markets some of America’s most beloved beverage brands, including SUNNYD, JUICY JUICE, LITTLE HUG, and DAILY’S Cocktails. SUNNYD products are widely distributed through leading retailers in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. For complete nutrition facts, recipe and activity ideas, and other helpful information, visit SunnyD.com. For more information on Harvest Hill, please visit www.HarvestHill.com.

About Roush Fenway Racing
Roush Fenway Racing is one of the most successful teams in NASCAR history, fielding multiple teams in NASCAR Cup Series. In its 33rd season, Roush Fenway is a leader in driver development, having launched the careers for many of the top drivers in the sport. Off-track, Roush Fenway is a leader in NASCAR marketing solutions, having produced multiple award-winning Social Media, digital content and experiential marketing campaigns. Roush Fenway is co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Fame team owner Jack Roush and Fenway Sports Group, parent company of Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox and English Premier League’s Liverpool F.C. Visit RoushFenway.com, become a fan on Facebook and Instagram, and follow on Twitter at @roushfenway.

Cindric Wins Inaugural Xfinity Daytona Road Course Race

By
Official Release
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DAYTONA BEACH, FL – August 17, 2020 – Austin Cindric won his fifth race of the season in the historic first race on the Daytona International Speedway Road Course. This marked the 10th NASCAR Xfinity Series win of the season for Ford Performance and Roush Yates Engines.

“Congratulations to Austin, Brian and the No. 22 crew,” said Doug Yates, President and CEO of Roush Yates Engines. “Austin is an accomplished road racer and drove a great race on Saturday. Our team at Roush Yates Engines is proud to partner with and build world-class engines for all the Ford Performance teams.”

The inaugural running of the Daytona Road Course was fast and furious, starting from the first lap. Ford Performance teammates, Cindric and Chase Briscoe, led the Xfinity field to the green flag and it was game on from the first lap. It was Cindric that mastered the course layout and track conditions to take control of the race to win the first Stage and secure 10 additional stage points.

The Ford Performance teammates would continue to battle each other throughout Stage 2, and it was Briscoe that would come out on top, winning Stage 2 and leading 26 laps.

In the final stage, Cindric perfectly managed a chaotic late race restart to stay in contention for the win. He passed leader Brandon Jones with five laps to go and built a sizable lead to take the checkered flag 7.108-second ahead of Jones. This was his fifth win out of the last six races and second road course win in a row.

When asked how he would describe the race, Cindric commented, “I’m not sure anyone was really happy with their race car. Unfortunately, I have a tough perspective of driving really fast high-grip race cars at this track, but great credit to my team, the MoneyLion guys and everyone that puts this together Ford Performance, Roush Yates Engines, obviously everyone at Team Penske for working hard. That’s five wins on the year and back-to-back now. I’m really proud of that. I didn’t feel like I drove my best today, but we executed there at the end where it counts and that’s what makes these races so difficult to win.”

Chris Buescher of Roush Fenway Racing led the Ford Performance teams to a top-5 finish, finishing P5 in the NASCAR Cup Series race in the Go Bowling 235 on Sunday, followed by Stewart-Haas Racing driver Clint Bowyer in P6, Team-Penske’s Joey Logano P9 and Front Row Motorsports driver Michael McDowell in P10.

With the playoffs fast approaching, NASCAR heads to Delaware for a double-header weekend. Both series will run back-to-back races, on Saturday and Sunday at Dover International Speedway.

27 CHAMPIONSHIPS – 402 WINS – 358 POLES!

*Photos courtesy of NASCAR Media & Getty Images

About Roush Yates Engines
Roush Yates Engines is a leading-edge engine development company based in Mooresville, NC consisting of two state-of-the-art facilities – Roush Yates Engines and Roush Yates Manufacturing Solutions, a world class ISO 9001 / AS9100 certified CNC manufacturing facility. The company’s core business includes designing, building and testing purpose-built race engines.

Ford Performance in partnership with Roush Yates Engines is the exclusive engine builder of the NASCAR FR9 Ford V8 engine and Ford Mustang 5.2L V8 engine, used in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge series.

With an unparalleled culture of winning and steeped in rich racing history, Roush Yates Engines continues to follow the company’s vision to lead performance engine innovation and staying true to the company’s mission, provide race winning engines through demonstrated power and performance.

3 Series – 22 Teams – 81 Races

McDowell Claims 3rd Top-10 Finish of 2020 with Chicago Pneumatic Compressors at Daytona

By
Official Release
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Track: Daytona International Speedway Road Course
Race: 23 of 36
Event: Go Bowling 235 (234.65 miles, 65 laps)

Michael McDowell
No. 34 Chicago Pneumatic Compressors Ford Mustang

Started: 30th
Finished: 10th

Stage One: 19th
Stage Two: 13th
Stage Three: 10th

The No. 34 CP (Chicago Pneumatic) Compressors Ford Mustang took the green flag from the 30th position for Sunday’s road course race at Daytona International Speedway after a new formula determined the starting lineup. In the first 4 laps of the race, McDowell would make an early charge through the field and find himself running in the 18th position. With less than 10 laps remaining in Stage 1, McDowell would radio to his team to say that he needed to be able to put more “power down.” Shortly after, Crew Chief Drew Blickensderfer would call the No. 34 Ford Mustang to pit road under green for 4 tires, an air pressure adjustment and fuel, and McDowell would go on to take the Stage 1 green- and white-checkered flag from the 19th position.

The No. 34 CP Compressors Ford Mustang would stay out during the Stage Break Caution and take the Stage 2 green flag from the 9th position. The second stage would run caution-less as Blickensderfer would call McDowell to pit road with only a handful of laps remaining for 4 tires and fuel. Before pitting, McDowell noted that he still needed “more drive” and would go on to finish Stage 2 in 13th place.

Blickensderfer would make the call for the No. 34 to “stay out” during the Stage 2 caution and McDowell would line up 5th to start the final stage of Sunday’s 65-lap NASCAR Cup Series race on the Daytona Road Course. Under green, the No. 34 CP Compressors Ford Mustang would advance to 3rd with less than 30 laps go before lightning within 10 miles of the race track would bring out the caution, followed by the red flag. After returning to green, McDowell would continue his strong run as he raced inside of the top-10 before another caution would occur, this time with less than 5 laps remaining. Blickensderfer called McDowell to pit road for 4 tires and fuel in hopes that fresher tires would prevail in the closing laps and the No. 34 CP Compressors Ford Mustang would cross the finish line in 10th.

McDowell on the Daytona Road Course:

“Well it was an exciting day on the Daytona Road Course. We had a pretty good Chicago Pneumatic Compressors Ford Mustang, but obviously we wanted more. We were running pretty good there at the end and decided to pit under the last caution, which I thought was a good idea to try and get tires on our car and then hope for a couple more cautions, but that didn’t really work out since it stayed green until the end. We made up a lot of spots in the last few laps as I think we restarted around 19th and came home 10th, so an overall great day for everybody on our No. 34 team. I just really want to thank Chicago Pneumatic Compressors for coming on board for their second race; hopefully we got them a lot of TV exposure out there and a few more customers as well. We have a couple of big races coming up and a few more chances to make it into the playoffs, so we’ll see what we can do.”

DiBenedetto Finishes 15th At Daytona

By
Official Release
-

A caution flag near the end of Sunday’s Go Bowling 235 on the road course at Daytona International Speedway gave Matt DiBenedetto and the No. 21 Menards/Dutch Boy team the break they needed to finish 15th and head to Dover International Speedway with a 44-point cushion in the Playoff standings.

DiBenedetto, who added six points to his total by finishing fifth in the race’s first Stage, remains 15th in the Playoff standings with three races left in the regular season – two at Dover and one on the oval track at Daytona. After that, the top 16 drivers in the Playoff standings will start the 10-race, season-ending run for the Cup Series championship.

On a steamy hot Sunday afternoon at Daytona, DiBenedetto and the Menards/Dutch Boy Mustang lined up ninth for the start of the inaugural Cup race on the 3.6-mile road course.

He moved up to sixth place by Lap Six and to fifth place by Lap 12 and remained there until the end of the first 15-lap Stage.

Because he made his pit stop after at the end of the first Stage, while others gained track position by making their stops before the end of Stage One, DiBenedetto and the Menards/Dutch Boy team were playing catch-up for most of the second Stage and wound up 21st at the finish.

In the third and final segment of the race, DiBenedetto and the team struggled to find the rear grip he needed, and were running 18th when the caution flag flew with five laps remaining for a spin by Kyle Busch.

DiBenedetto and the Menards/Dutch Boy team opted to head to pit road for fresh tires and one final adjustment, which put him 23rd in line for a three-lap dash to the checkered flag.

As he often does on restarts, DiBenedetto made the most of the moment and gained eight spots before he crossed the finish line.

DiBenedetto said the Menards/Dutch Boy Mustang just didn’t have the speed he needed to stay among the leaders.

“We struggled all day and had to play defense the whole race,” he said.

DiBenedetto had no complaints about the race course itself. “It was fun, and I would love to do it again,” he said.

Eddie Wood said that while he and the team had hoped for a better finish at Daytona he’s pleased to have some breathing room headed into the Dover double-header. DiBenedetto and the team were 57 points ahead of the 17th place driver headed into Daytona and saw that margin shrink by 13 points.

“We lost some points to the cutline, but we’re still in a decent spot,” he said. “With two races at Dover and one at Daytona, all of the teams competing for those final Playoff spots won’t feel really safe until the checkered flag flies at Daytona in two weeks.”

Menards

A family owned company started in 1958, Menards is headquartered in Eau Claire, WI. Menards has more than 300 retail stores located throughout the Midwest in the states of IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, MI, MN, MO, NE, ND, OH, SD, WI and WY. Menards is known throughout the home improvement industry as the low price leader. It’s famous slogan “Save Big Money at Menards” is widely known and easy to remember. For more information, visit Menards.com, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest.

Wood Brothers Racing

Wood Brothers Racing was formed in 1950 in Stuart, Va., by Hall of Famer Glen Wood. Wood Brothers Racing is the oldest active team and one of the winningest teams in NASCAR history. Since its founding, the team won 99 races (including at least one race in every decade for the last seven decades) and 120 poles in NASCAR’s top-tier series. Fielding only Ford products for its entire history, the Wood Brothers own the longest association of any motorsports team with a single manufacturer. Glen’s brother, Leonard, is known for inventing the modern pit stop. The team currently runs the Ford Mustang driven by Matt DiBenedetto in the famous No. 21 racer.

How to Choose College Term Paper Writers

By
SM
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As college students, your busy schedule may leave you with little time to complete your term paper assignments. This situation may cause you to feel stressed and overwhelmed. However, you don’t have to feel that way anymore. All you have to do is to hire an expert essay writing service that will give you a top-quality custom term paper. Here are seven tips to follow when choosing college essay writers. 

Cheaper Doesn’t Mean Better

It is understandable that while in college, you may be operating on a tight budget. That is why it is tempting to use the cheapest writing services in the market. However, you may later regret this choice. The reason being some of these websites which promise high-quality term papers at lower rates offer substandard services. So, avoid using lower prices as a basis for selecting the best website for your academic needs. Instead, take your time to choose a reputable site that has professional paper writers. In this way, you can avoid losing your hard-earned money to cons. You wouldn’t want a writer to mess you up just when the deadline is fast approaching. Paying slightly more for your term paper can be the difference between high and low grades. This is because you can receive an original and premium quality essay that will earn you higher grades in your course. Look for term paper writers that offer quality services at reasonable rates.

Search for Customer Reviews

Client reviews offer a reliable way to prove the credibility of an essay writing service. You can check them to see the type of experience customers had on the website. It is recommended to conduct additional research from external sources because certain websites may fake their reviews to attract more clients. Reports from external sources are also unlikely to be biased and will give you genuine client responses. By going through the customer feedback, you can gain insights about the writing service beforehand. Searching for these reviews will also help you avoid scam websites. The client responses, particularly negative ones, will ensure you get a clear picture of the site. Note that a reliable college paper writing service will have a majority of positive client responses with most of them satisfied with the quality of the work. So, it’s up to you to choose the sites with the highest ratings. 

Try Contact with Customer Support

A reliable site has a 24/7 customer support that will respond to your prompt requests. You can get round the clock updates of your assignments and make any necessary adjustments. In this way, you can be sure that your urgent term paper is being done to your expectations. The best college essay writing services have a team of a professionally trained support team that is quick to address your issues. They also value you as a potential client and are keen to ensure you receive the best service possible. Avoid sites that take too long to respond to your needs. In case of any issues or concerns, you can contact the support team using any of the following platforms:

  • Texts
  • Calls
  • Site App
  • WhatsApp
  • Facebook Messenger

Therefore, the best support team is friendly and offers you a seamless connection between you and the research paper writer.

Choose the topic for your paper

You must have a topic ready before identifying the best site for your assignment. Choosing your subject will ensure you get the best writer to tackle the question. Make sure your topic is specific, and you have all the key requirements for the task. Doing this will help the term paper writer to know the scope of the research. It will also ensure the writer covers all the relevant information required in the term paper. Various sites have teams of writers who are proficient in specific topics. So, by having a precise topic in mind, you can get the most qualified writer for your term paper. 

Make sure that Writers are Experts

A reputable site has expert paper writers for college. Look for websites that hire professional writers that have the necessary academic qualifications such as masters or undergraduate degrees. You can check out the writers’ credentials, such as experience levels to determine whether the site will meet your expectations. Experienced and well-qualified writers guarantee that you will receive college-level term papers.  They will ensure that you have a well-researched term paper that meets the acceptable grammatical rules. It is recommended you request samples to gauge the expertise of writers within a particular site. This will also help you know whether the company will deliver its promises.

Further, a trustworthy site has writers who can cover a wide range of subjects or topics. They offer you the opportunity to develop a long-term working relationship with these writers. In this way, you can be sure your preferred site will handle any of your academic needs in the future.

Choose Acceptable Deadline for you

You have to choose a deadline that will give a writer sufficient time to complete. Don’t rush the writer to ensure you avoid ending up with half-baked work. The period you set should give the writer ample time to deliver a well-researched paper that follows the instructions. Also, ensure the deadline gives you enough time later for you to identify any corrections. This will allow you to contact the writer for any revisions or modifications in the paper. In this way, you can deliver a clear and well-written essay. You can always request a writer to provide a draft to track your work progress. This guarantees early class submissions of your term papers. 

Check Their Guarantees

To receive the best services, always look for guarantees in writing sites. The money-back guarantees ensure you get top-notch papers from writers. Your work will also be confidential and won’t be resold for any value. Sites with money-back guarantees prove they are legitimate and customer-oriented.  The site’s refund policy should apply in the following circumstances.

  • Delivery of a poor quality paper
  • Late submission of work
  • Cancellation of an order
  • Double payments
  • High level of Plagiarism 

A company offering a money-back guarantee makes sure the writers will give 100% to your term paper. You will also get value for your money since the company is more concerned about your satisfaction. So, choose a site that offers guarantees to ensure the best writing services for your term paper. 

Therefore, don’t always be deceived by the cheapest writing services. Instead, you can do your research by looking out for customer reviews of any specific site. This feedback will help you know whether the website offers the expected writing services. You should also check that the company has a friendly customer support staff and a pool of professional writers. This will guarantee that you receive a high-quality term paper on time.

Elliott wins the GoBowling 235 at the Daytona Int’l Speedway Road Course

By
SM
-

Is Chase Elliott the new road course king? Well, time will tell but he is certainly on his way after collecting his third straight win on a road course this past Sunday in the GoBowling 235 at the Daytona International Speedway Road Course.

“Our guys did a phenomenal job. We just had a phenomenal car. I don’t think I did anything very special today. I think Alan (Gustafson, crew chief) and all our guys did a really good job pitting there at the start. We made a couple of really small adjustments, I felt like, there, at that first stop and I was really kind of able to leave it after that.” Elliott said.

This was Elliott’s fourth career road course win, and his second win and the 13th top-10 finish of the 2020 season. The markets have already started to form, with punters already using a host of sign up offers on bookmakers listed on signupoffers.codes. These offer a list of the top firms, which offer prices on the market in question, on top of some of the best bonuses and promotions for both new and returning players. They are again proving popular ahead of the rest of the season, with a guide to upcoming events also available on the site.

Elliott held off Denny Hamlin over a final three-laps. Hamlin got to Elliott’s bumper on the final lap but never got close enough to bump or to make the pass for the win.

“I just would have liked to have stayed closer to him (Chase Elliott) to put a little pressure on entries. My entries were the strong point against him, but I was giving him four car lengths so he could kind of drive the entries the way he wanted to make sure he got a good exit. I wasn’t quite clean enough the last few laps, but I definitely gave myself a chance. Those last couple of corners, I felt like I did as much as I could to get to him and tried to do it the right way.” Hamlin said.

Hamlin, who won stage 2 finished second, Martin Truex Jr. third after a pit road penalty in stage 3.

“Just a strong run for our Bass Pro Toyota. Thought we had a chance to win, no doubt about it. Just got caught speeding on pit road. Had to go to the rear and then got damage so we had to go to the rear again.” Martin Truex Jr. said.

Elliott’s teammate Jimmie Johnson finished fourth after starting 11th. Johnson now sits in the 15th position in the NASCAR Cup Series standings with 552 points.

“Good job to everyone on my No. 48 Ally Chevy team. I just lacked that rear grip at the end there. That was a really fun and a solid day, that’s what we needed and now we go to my favorite track, Dover. So proud of Chase, what a road racer he is.” Johnson said.

Kaz Grala was substituting for Austin Dillion who tested positive for COVID-19 earlier in the week and made his Cup debut finished in the seventh position.

“I never thought my NASCAR Cup Series debut would come in this nature. I first want to say that I’m thankful that Austin’s symptoms are mild and that his wife Whitney and baby Ace are healthy. I hope to see him back in the car next week at Dover International Speedway. It certainly was an honor to get the call from Richard Childress and drive his iconic No. 3 American Ethanol Chevrolet. I honestly had a blast.” Grala said.

The NASCAR Cup Series season continues with a doubleheader race weekend at Dover International Speedway with the Drydene 311 on Saturday, August 22, at 4:00 p.m. ET and the Drydene 311 on Sunday, August 23, at 4:00 p.m. ET.

2020 Cup Playoff outlook after Daytona RC

By
Andrew Kim
-
Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images.

Three races and two venues are all that remain in the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series regular-season schedule with the Playoffs less than two weeks away from being set and commencing. With the deficit for the final spots to the Playoffs stabilizing and not decreasing, time is running low for many current and future stars to earn themselves and their team a ticket to the 2020 postseason battle for the series championship.

With a win in the inaugural running of the Go Bowling 235 at the Daytona International Speedway Road Course, Chase Elliott joins a handful of competitors that have won multiple Cup races this season, a list that includes regular-season leader Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano. All five, along with Ryan Blaney, Martin Truex Jr., Alex Bowman, Austin Dillon and rookie Cole Custer, remain guaranteed spots in the Playoffs by virtue of winning one or more regular-season races. Though Austin Dillon did not compete at the Daytona Road Course event due to suffering COVID-19 symptoms, he is expected to be granted a waiver to qualify for the postseason.

Currently, six spots continue to remain vacant for the 2020 Cup Playoffs with three spots set to be occupied by competitors that have not win this season thus far.

The first competitor who continues to emerge as the highest winless competitor in points is Aric Almirola. Despite starting in sixth place, the Floridian struggled with maintaining and gaining track position throughout the race. A 24th-place result marked his lowest result since finishing in 33rd place at Martinsville Speedway in June. The good news for Almirola and his No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Mustang team is the fact that he is 130 points above the top-16 cutline to qualify for this year’s Playoffs.

“We started to gain momentum there at the end and thought we could have put the Go Bowling Ford Mustang inside the top 10,” Almirola said. “Unfortunately, that caution came out and we pitted. I was caught behind some cars on the restart with nowhere to go. That’s road course racing. Not the day we wanted, but we kept the car on the track and in one piece. We’ll regroup and go to Dover where we know we can bring speed.”

For the Busch brothers, it was a tale of mixed results. For Kurt Busch, he started in eighth place and was battling for a spot in the top 10 throughout the race before he settled in 14th place when the checkered flag flew. Kyle, on the other hand, had a roller coaster run that ended up with misfortunes. It all started in the opening laps when he locked up his front tires while running inside the top five and made an unscheduled pit stop for fresh tires, a move that sent him to the rear of the field. He rallied his way back into the top 10 during the second stage, but spun in Turn 6 after locking up his front tires. While he appeared poised for a strong result despite his early struggles, his race went away under 20 laps remaining when he took his No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota to the garage due to brake rotor failure. Though he returned to the track, he was involved in a single-car incident with five laps remaining and was unable to complete the race. Through the first 23 races of this season, both Busch brothers remain winless, with Kurt above the cutline by 121 points and Kyle by 100 points.

“I really enjoyed the day today, the track was a fun challenge for us,” Kurt Busch said. “[Crew chief] Matt McCall did a nice job making adjustments on the Monster Energy Camaro, but we burned up the tires on the last longer run and just had to play a little defense in the end. It was a really fun track and I had some fun out there today, I just didn’t have enough in the end.”

Compared to Kyle Busch, Clint Bowyer had a strong performance at Daytona. Starting 12th, Bowyer earned top-five results in both stages and collected a number of stage points towards the Playoffs. Though Bowyer could not keep pace with eventual winner Chase Elliott, he remained inside the top five in the final laps and was poised for more before he crossed the finish line in sixth place. Bowyer’s sixth-place result was his highest since finishing seventh and eighth during the Pocono Raceway doubleheader races in June and it snapped his recent seven-race stretch of finishing no higher than 11th. With his sixth top-10 result of the season, the Kansas veteran is 66 points above the top-16 cutline.

“We did what we needed to do today,” Bowyer said. “We had a great Mobil 1 Ford. I thought it was going to be even better there at the end, but we must have gotten hot. [William Byron] got me on the restart and then another car got by me. If I didn’t have anything to lose there I might have been able to get a few more back. But that was a good points day. I hope we are on a roll and we continue this at Dover.”

Right behind Bowyer in points continues to be Matt DiBenedetto, who started in ninth place and brought the No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford Mustang in 15th place when the race concluded. With his 15th top-15 result of the season, DiBenedetto is 44 points above the cutline and three races away from making his first postseason appearance as a championship contender.

With an eighth-place result at the Daytona Road Course event, William Byron continues to hold sole possession of the 16th and final transfer spot to the Playoffs by 25 points. Starting 13th, the Charlotte native contended inside the top 10 as he earned top-10 results in both stages and collected valuable stage points towards the Playoffs. Restarting in 34th with 26 laps remaining, Byron and his No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE charged his way back towards the front. Following a late pit stop under green and a late caution due to a single-car incident, he was scored in sixth place. During the final three laps, he lost two positions before he crossed the line in eighth place for his seventh top-10 career finish in the Cup Series and to remain in contention for a spot to the 2020 Playoffs.

“It was a good result for us today,” Byron said. “We chose to go for the stage points and had to pass our way through the field a few times because of that strategy. I think we did a nice job of that and getting a lot of those available points. Once we got towards the front top five we kind of stalled out though. Overall, I’m pretty happy with today and getting a good result. We just need to have a couple good weeks with solid races when we go on to Dover for two races and back to Daytona. I’m looking forward to Dover next week for sure though.”

The competitor who trails the top-16 cutline by 25 points is seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson, who rallied from his share of on-track struggles throughout the summer to post his highest-finishing result since finishing in third place at Bristol Motor Speedway in May. With three regular-season races remaining, Johnson has three opportunities remaining in keeping his hopes for a record-setting eighth championship alive.

The next two closest competitors behind Byron and Johnson in points are Erik Jones and rookie Tyler Reddick. Starting in 20th, Jones was able to notch a sixth-place result in the first stage. The remainder of the race, however, did not go as planned for the Michigan native as he settled in 16th in the second stage before finishing 11th in the overall race. For Reddick, who started 18th, he finished outside the top 30 in both stages and he could work his way only up to 18th when the race concluded. As a result, Jones trails the cutline by 35 points while Reddick trails by 57 points.

The remaining competitors who trail the top-16 cutline by 146 points or more are rookie Christopher Bell, Bubba Wallace, Chris Buescher, Michael McDowell, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ryan Newman, rookie John Hunter Nemechek, Ty Dillon, Matt Kenseth, Corey LaJoie, Ryan Preece, Daniel Suarez, rookie Brennan Poole and rookie Quin Houff.

The battle for the final spots to the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs will continue next weekend at Dover International Speedway for a series doubleheader weekend. The first Dover race will commence on Saturday, August 22, at 4 p.m. ET on NBCSN while the second will occur the following day on Sunday, August 23, at 4 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

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