2020 FireKeepers Casino 400

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2020 FireKeepers Casino 400
Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Race 21 of 36 in the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series
2020 FireKeepers Casino 400 program cover
2020 FireKeepers Casino 400 program cover
Date August 8, 2020 (2020-08-08)
Location Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan
Course Permanent racing facility
2.0 mi (3.2 km)
Distance 161 laps, 322 mi (518.098 km)
Scheduled Distance 156 laps, 312 mi (502.008 km)
Average speed 124.712 miles per hour (200.705 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Team Penske
Grid positions set by ballot
Most laps led
Driver Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing
Laps 92
Winner
No. 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing
Television in the United States
Network NBCSN
Announcers Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Nielsen Ratings 1.649 million[7]
Radio in the United States
Radio MRN
Booth Announcers Alex Hayden and Jeff Striegle
Turn Announcers Dave Moody (1–2) and Kyle Rickey (3–4)

The 2020 FireKeepers Casino 400 is a NASCAR Cup Series race that was originally scheduled to be held on June 7, 2020, at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan, but moved to August 8, 2020, and to be held over 500 kilometers (312 miles), shortened by 44 laps from the original distance because of modified NASCAR rules for doubleheader races, one of three Cup Series events to be run under the doubleheader format.[8] It was the 21st race of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season.

During both Michigan races that season Reed Sorenson ran a special #74 Fake Steak sponsored car fielded by Spire Motorsports that was used to gather footage that was used in the 2021 Netflix sitcom The Crew. Despite being used for filming he was officially classified as being in the race and finished 30th.[9]

Report[edit]

Background[edit]

Layout of Michigan International Speedway, the track where the race is held.

The race was held at Michigan International Speedway, a two-mile (3.2 km) moderate-banked D-shaped speedway located in Brooklyn, Michigan. The track is used primarily for NASCAR events. It is sometimes known as a "sister track" to Texas World Speedway, and was used as the basis of Auto Club Speedway. The track is owned by International Speedway Corporation. Michigan International Speedway is recognized as one of motorsports' premier facilities because of its wide racing surface and high banking (by open-wheel standards; the 18-degree banking is modest by stock car standards).

Entry list[edit]

  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
  • (i) denotes driver who are ineligible for series driver points.
No. Driver Team Manufacturer
00 Quin Houff (R) StarCom Racing Chevrolet
1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford
3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford
7 Joey Gase (i) Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet
8 Tyler Reddick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford
13 Ty Dillon Germain Racing Chevrolet
14 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
15 Brennan Poole (R) Premium Motorsports Chevrolet
17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford
18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
20 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford
22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford
24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
27 J. J. Yeley (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford
32 Corey LaJoie Go Fas Racing Ford
34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford
37 Ryan Preece JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
38 John Hunter Nemechek (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford
41 Cole Custer (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
42 Matt Kenseth Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
43 Bubba Wallace Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet
47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
51 James Davison Petty Ware Racing Ford
53 Garrett Smithley (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford
66 Timmy Hill (i) MBM Motorsports Toyota
74 Reed Sorenson Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
88 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
95 Christopher Bell (R) Leavine Family Racing Toyota
96 Daniel Suárez Gaunt Brothers Racing Toyota
Official entry list

Qualifying[edit]

Joey Logano was awarded the pole for the race as determined by a random draw.

Starting Lineup[edit]

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer
1 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford
2 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
3 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
4 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
5 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford
6 88 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
7 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
8 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
9 14 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
10 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
11 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford
12 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
13 6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford
14 8 Tyler Reddick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
15 21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford
16 41 Cole Custer (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
17 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
18 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
19 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
20 42 Matt Kenseth Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
21 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford
22 17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford
23 20 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
24 43 Bubba Wallace Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet
25 00 Quin Houff (R) StarCom Racing Chevrolet
26 27 J. J. Yeley (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford
27 15 Brennan Poole (R) Premium Motorsports Chevrolet
28 51 James Davison Petty Ware Racing Ford
29 95 Christopher Bell (R) Leavine Family Racing Toyota
30 74 Reed Sorenson Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
31 38 John Hunter Nemechek (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford
32 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
33 53 Garrett Smithley (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford
34 13 Ty Dillon Germain Racing Chevrolet
35 37 Ryan Preece JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
36 32 Corey LaJoie Go Fas Racing Ford
37 96 Daniel Suárez Gaunt Brothers Racing Toyota
38 66 Timmy Hill (i) MBM Motorsports Toyota
39 7 Joey Gase (i) Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet
Official starting lineup

Race[edit]

Kevin Harvick won the race.

Stage Results[edit]

Stage One Laps: 40

Pos No Driver Team Manufacturer Points
1 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 10
2 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 9
3 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 8
4 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 7
5 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 6
6 20 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 5
7 88 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 4
8 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 3
9 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 2
10 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 1
Official stage one results

Stage Two Laps: 45

Pos No Driver Team Manufacturer Points
1 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 10
2 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 9
3 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 8
4 20 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 7
5 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 6
6 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 5
7 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 4
8 88 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 3
9 14 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 2
10 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1
Official stage two results

Final Stage Results[edit]

Stage Three Laps: 71

Pos Grid No Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points
1 3 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 161 60
2 5 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 161 47
3 12 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 161 34
4 11 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 161 50
5 7 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 161 39
6 2 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 161 48
7 8 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 161 33
8 1 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 161 29
9 24 43 Bubba Wallace Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet 161 28
10 10 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 161 38
11 23 20 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 161 38
12 17 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 161 26
13 29 95 Christopher Bell (R) Leavine Family Racing Toyota 161 24
14 19 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 161 23
15 15 21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford 161 22
16 4 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 161 21
17 20 42 Matt Kenseth Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 161 20
18 14 8 Tyler Reddick (R) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 161 19
19 9 14 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 161 20
20 22 17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford 161 17
21 6 88 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 161 23
22 36 32 Corey LaJoie Go Fas Racing Ford 161 15
23 34 13 Ty Dillon Germain Racing Chevrolet 161 14
24 37 96 Daniel Suárez Gaunt Brothers Racing Toyota 161 13
25 35 37 Ryan Preece JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 161 12
26 26 27 J. J. Yeley (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford 161 0
27 25 00 Quin Houff (R) StarCom Racing Chevrolet 161 10
28 13 6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford 161 9
29 21 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 161 8
30 30 74 Reed Sorenson Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 161 7
31 18 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 161 6
32 32 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 161 6
33 38 66 Timmy Hill (i) MBM Motorsports Toyota 159 0
34 16 41 Cole Custer (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 148 3
35 33 53 Garrett Smithley (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford 141 0
36 31 38 John Hunter Nemechek (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford 127 1
37 27 15 Brennan Poole (R) Premium Motorsports Chevrolet 125 1
38 28 51 James Davison Petty Ware Racing Ford 103 1
39 39 7 Joey Gase (i) Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet 68 0
Official race results

Race statistics[edit]

  • Lead changes: 12 among 7 different drivers
  • Cautions/Laps: 9 for 43
  • Red flags: 1 for 5 minutes and 45 seconds
  • Time of race: 2 hours, 34 minutes and 55 seconds
  • Average speed: 124.712 miles per hour (200.705 km/h)

Media[edit]

Television[edit]

NBC Sports covered the race on the television side. Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and two-time Michigan winner, Dale Earnhardt Jr. covered the race from the booth at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Marty Snider and Kelli Stavast handled the pit road duties on site.

NBCSN
Booth announcers Pit reporters
Lap-by-lap: Rick Allen
Color-commentator: Jeff Burton
Color-commentator: Steve Letarte
Color-commentator: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Marty Snider
Kelli Stavast

Radio[edit]

Radio coverage of the race was broadcast by Motor Racing Network (MRN) and simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Alex Hayden and Jeff Striegle called the race in the booth while the field is racing on the front stretch. Dave Moody called the race from a billboard outside of turn 2 when the field is racing through turns 1 and 2. Kyle Rickey called the race from a platform outside of turn 3 when the field races through turns 3 and 4. Winston Kelley and Kim Coon worked pit road for the radio side.

MRN
Booth announcers Turn announcers Pit reporters
Lead announcer: Alex Hayden
Announcer: Jeff Striegle
Turns 1 & 2: Dave Moody
Turns 3 & 4: Kyle Rickey
Winston Kelley
Kim Coon

Standings after the race[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "2020 schedule". Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. January 17, 2020. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  2. ^ "Michigan International Speedway". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. January 3, 2013. Archived from the original on April 7, 2017. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
  3. ^ "Entry List" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. August 4, 2020. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  4. ^ "Starting Lineup". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. August 6, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  5. ^ "FireKeepers Casino 400 Results". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. August 8, 2020. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  6. ^ "Points standings" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. August 8, 2020. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  7. ^ "FireKeepers Casino 400 ratings". ShowBuzzDaily. Mitch Metcalf. Archived from the original on August 12, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  8. ^ "NASCAR OEMs to battle this weekend for coveted Michigan Heritage Trophy". Michigan International Speedway. August 4, 2020. Archived from the original on September 15, 2020. Retrieved August 4, 2020. The NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 will be held on Saturday, August 8 at 4:00 pm (NBCSN), while the Consumers Energy 400 will take place the following day at 4:30 pm (NBCSN). [...] The distance for each race will be 312 miles.
  9. ^ DesOrmeau, Taylor (2020-08-09). "Kevin James 2021 Netflix sitcom inspires fake-sponsored car at MIS, race footage to be used in show". mlive. Retrieved 2023-11-13.


Previous race:
2020 Foxwoods Resort Casino 301
NASCAR Cup Series
2020 season
Next race:
2020 Consumers Energy 400