Kevin Harvick wins Cup Series Playoff opener after leaders wreck late: Kevin Harvick was in the right place at the right time to take the lead, then put on an impressive show of tenacity to hold off a hard-charging Austin Dillon to earn his second career Cook Out Southern 500 win at Darlington Raceway in Sunday night’s NASCAR Cup Series Playoff opener. It may have been his series best eighth victory of the season, but the veteran Harvick was emotional on the team radio, letting out a loud congratulatory yell as he crossed the finish line a mere .343-seconds in front of Dillon and the field. Then, instead of taking the checkered flag after parking at the finish line, Harvick allowed an appreciative young fan – dressed in a brightly-colored Harvick t-shirt – to keep the flag himself. [Read More](9-6-2020)
Paint Schemes
#4-Kevin Harvick won the Cook Out Southern 500 NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway. The win is his 8th win of the year, 3rd at Darlington, and 57th career win.
#3-Dillon finished 2nd followed by #22-Logano, #20-Jones, #24-Byron, #88-Bowman, #18-Busch, #1-Busch, #10-Almirola, and #14-Bowyer.
Pole sitter #9-Elliott led the first 71 laps of the race, fell back through the middle portion, but then retook the lead under final pit stops. He was leading the race with 14 to go when #19-Truex, Jr made a move to pass him for the lead. Truex, Jr was not clear and came up on track into the front of Elliott. Truex cut a tire and had to pit. Elliott remained on track but fell back to 20th at the finish. Harvick took the lead after the contact between Truex, Jr. and Elliott and held off a late charge by Austin Dillon to grab the win and lock himself into the Round of 12 for the Playoffs.
Stages 1 & 2 were both won by #19-Truex, Jr.
There were 18 lead changes among 6 drivers and 7 cautions for 34 yellow flag laps.
The average speed of the race was: 132.256mph.
See race details at: Race Results, Drivers Points Standings, Owners Points Standings, Cumulative Report, Penalty Report.
Where the 2020 Cup Series Playoff drivers finished at Darlington:
#4-Kevin Harvick, 1st
#3-Austin Dillon, 2nd
#22-Joey Logano, 3rd
#24-William Byron, 5th
#88-Alex Bowman, 6th
#18-Kyle Busch, 7th
#1-Kurt Busch, 8th
#10-Aric Almirola, 9th
#14-Clint Bowyer, 10th
#2-Brad Keselowski, 11th
#41-Cole Custer, 12th
#11-Denny Hamlin, 13th
#9-Chase Elliott, 20th
#21-Matt DiBenedetto, 21st
#19-Martin Truex, Jr., 22nd
#12-Ryan Blaney, 24th
Race Fast Facts – Darlington:
Kevin Harvick (P) won the 71st Annual Cook Out Southern 500, his 57th victory in 710 Cup Series races.
This is his eighth victory and 22nd top-10 finish in 2020.
This is his third victory and 15th top-10 finish in 27 races at Darlington Raceway.
Austin Dillon (P) (second) posted his third top-10 finish in ten races at Darlington Raceway. It is his eighth top-10 finish in 2020.
Joey Logano (P) (third) posted his seventh top-10 finish in 15 races at Darlington Raceway.
Cole Custer (P) (12th) was the highest finishing rookie.
Kevin Harvick (P) leads the point standings by 19 points over Denny Hamlin (P).
(NASCAR)(9-6-2020)
Cup Series Playoff Standings after Darlington (race 27):
(9 races remaining in the season, 2 races remaining in the round of 16)
Drivers in GREEN are locked into the next round.
| Pos |
Driver |
Points
|
Ahead of 13th
|
| 1) |
#4-Kevin Harvick (8 wins) |
2106
|
73
|
| 2) |
#11-Denny Hamlin (6 wins) |
2087
|
54
|
| 3) |
#22-Joey Logano (2 wins) |
2060
|
27
|
| 4) |
#2-Brad Keselowski (3 wins) |
2055
|
22
|
| 5) |
#88-Alex Bowman (1 win) |
2052
|
19
|
| 6) |
#19-Martin Truex, Jr. (1 win) |
2049
|
16
|
| 7) |
#9-Chase Elliott (2 wins) |
2045
|
12
|
| 8) |
#3-Austin Dillon (1 win) |
2043
|
10
|
| 9) |
#24-William Byron (1 win) |
2042
|
9
|
| 10) |
#18-Kyle Busch |
2040
|
7
|
| 11) |
#1-Kurt Busch |
2037
|
4
|
| 12) |
#10-Aric Almirola |
2033
|
0
|
| Bottom 4 eliminated after Bristol |
Behind 12th
|
| 13) |
#14-Clint Bowyer |
2033
|
0
|
| 14) |
#41-Cole Custer (1 win) |
2030
|
-3
|
| 15) |
#12-Ryan Blaney (1 win) |
2016
|
-17
|
| 16) |
#21-Matt DiBenedetto |
2016
|
-17
|
| See the Drivers Points Standings and Owners Points Standings. |
Cars to the rear: #77-Chastain (driver change), #12-Blaney (improperly mounted ballast), #3-Dillon (unapproved adjustments), #51-Gase (unapproved adjustments)
Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the Cook Out Southern 500 NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway have been made. Selections were made based on the starting lineup process.
Pole sitter #9-Elliott chose pit stall 1.
2nd place starter #11-Hamlin took the 8th stall, with an opening in front of it.
See all pit choices on the Pit Stall chart.(9-2-2020)
#9-Chase Elliott will start from the pole for the Cook Out Southern 500 NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway.
#11-Hamlin will start second, followed by #24-Byron, #88-Bowman, #2-Keselowski, #19-Truex, Jr., #12-Blaney, #4-Harvick, #14-Bowyer, and #10-Almirola.
The lineup was set by the new qualifying procedure, based on race finish, points position, and fastest race lap.
See the complete Cook Out Southern 500 Starting Lineup.(9-2-2020)
Crew Rosters
Goodyear Tire Notes
The Entry List for the Cook Out Southern 500 NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway is posted, 39 teams/drivers [for 40 spots] are listed.
Some of the drivers entered include: #7-Bilicki, #27-Yeley, #51-Gase, #53-Davison, #77-Chastain.
See the full entry list on the Entry List (pdf).
Announced Darlington Paint Schemes
