Denny Hamlin cruises past teammate Martin Truex Jr. with less than 10 laps to go and wins the first of two Cup races this weekend at Dover International Speedway.
DOVER – August 22, 2020 – ANTHONY HOLBROOK
NASCAR Cup Series travels to Dover International Speedway to challenge a Double Header showdown at the Monster Mile. In continuation with Pandemic restrictions, only essential personnel allowed to event.
Drydene 311 – Stage 1 recap:
Laps : 70 (1-70)
Observing no qualifying procedures, Chase Elliott drew Pole Position and took advantage leading the field within 5 car length on prevailing race winner Deny Hamlin.
Mandated Competition Caution on lap 26 will allow many teams to pit for service.
Joey Logano opted for 2 Goodyear’s and track position during caution leading out of the pits.
Hendrick Driver –Austin Dillion assumes the race point as Denny Hamlin utilized a 4 tire Completion Caution pit service to aid tracking down race leader Dillon. Hamlin complete the pass on Dillon for the Stage 1 win.
Drydene 311 – Stage 1 Results
- Denny Hamlin
- Austin Dillion
- Brad Keselowski
- Clint Bowyer
- Martin Truex, Jr.
- Joey Logano
- Kevin Harvick
- Jimmy Johnson
- Chris Buescher
- Aric Almirola
Drydene 311 – Stage 2 recap:
Laps: 115 (71-185 / 311)
Denny Hamlin grabs the lead after Stage 2 restart and will control the pace of the field until Green Flag pit stops on Lap 136. By staying out, William Byron takes the race lead only to forfeit the point for pit service with 12 Laps remaining. Denny Hamlin regains the lead and Stage 2 win.
Drydene 311 – Stage 2 Results
- Denny Hamlin
- Martin Truex Jr.
- Clint Bowyer
- Kyle Bush
- Brad Keselowski
- Kevin Harvick
- Jimmie Johnson
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr,
- Chase Elliott
Drydene 311 – Final recap:
Laps: 126 (186-311 / 311)
Stage Winner Denny Hamlin brings the field for Stage pit service and lines up second in front of teammate Martin Truex Jr. , out of the pits.
Kyle Bush will battle his JGR teammate Truex for the top position and settles for second after green flag restart.
Controlling the lead, Martin Truex Jr. pits on Lap 251 bringing along Denny Hamlin for service also.
AustIin Dillon retakes the lead after staying out. Martin Truex Jr. and Denny Hamlin work their way to the front passing Dillon on older tires.
As the closing laps diminish, Denny Hamlin secures the bottom passing race leader Matin Truex Jr. for the lead and Stage/Race win.
Drydene 311 – Race Results
1st – Denny Hamlin
2nd – Martin Truex Jr.
3rd – Kyle Busch
4th – Kevin Harvick
5th – Chase Elliott
6th – Clint Bowyer
7th – Jimmie Johnson
8th – Joey Logano
9th – Brad Keselowski
10th – Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
11th – Cole Custer
12th – Erik Jones
13th – Tyler Reddick
14th – Ryan Blaney
15th – Austin Dillon
16th – Chris Buescher
17th – Aric Almirola
18th – Ty Dillon
19th – Ryan Newman
20th – Matt DiBenedetto
21st – Alex Bowman
22nd – Christopher Bell
23rd – Matt Kenseth
24th – John Hunter Nemechek
25th – Ryan Preece
26th – Michael McDowell
27th – Bubba Wallace
28th – William Byron
29th – Corey LaJoie
30th – Daniel Suarez
31st – J.J Yeley
32nd – Josh Bilicki
33rd – Quin Houff
34th – Timmy Hill
35th – Joey Gase
36th – Brennan Poole
37th – Garrett Smithley
38th – B.J. McLeod
39th – Reed Sorenson
40th – Kurt Busch
Hamlin, who started the race in second place, marks the team’s first 1-2-3 finish since the race at Pocono Raceway last July led a 1-2-3 finish for Joe Gibbs Racing as Kyle Busch finished in third.
Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott, who started from the pole position, led all of the Chevrolet drivers in fifth place finish.
Today’s race featured 15 lead changes among 10 drivers, with Hamlin leading the most laps (115).
2020 NASCAR CUP Series Playoff Points as of Dover Delaware (Race1) Drydene 311
NOTE: * = drivers who have locked themselves into the playoffs via wins.
Rank – Driver: Points (Behind), (Wins/Playoff Points OR +/- cut line)
1st* – Kevin Harvick: 981 (0), (6 WINS/35 PP)
2nd* – Denny Hamlin: 881 (-100), (6 WINS/37 PP)
3rd* – Brad Keselowski: 845 (-136), (3 WINS/21 PP)
4th* – Chase Elliott: 808 (-173), (2 WINS/16 PP)
5th* – Martin Truex Jr.: 803 (-178), (1 WIN/7 PP)
6th* – Joey Logano: 791 (-190), (2 WINS/14 PP)
7th* – Ryan Blaney: 778 (-203), (1 WIN/8 PP)
8th – Aric Almirola: 703 (-278), (+117)
9th – Kyle Busch: 693 (-288), (+107)
10th – Kurt Busch: 674 (-307), (+88)
11th – Clint Bowyer: 664 (-317), (+78)
12th* – Alex Bowman: 626 (-355), (1 WIN/9 PP)
13th – Matt DiBenedetto: 613 (-368), (+27)
14th – Jimmie Johnson: 589 (-392), (+3)
————PLAYOFF CUT LINE————
15th – William Byron: 586 (-395), (-3)
16th – Erik Jones: 567 (-414), (-22)
17th – Tyler Reddick: 544 (-437), (-45)
18th* – Austin Dillon: 532 (-449), (1 WIN/5 PP)
19th – Christopher Bell: 446 (-535), (-143)
20th* – Cole Custer: 439 (-542), (1 WIN/5 PP)
21st – Chris Buescher: 426 (-555), (-163)
22nd – Ricky Stenhouse Jr.: 425 (-556), (-164)
23rd – Bubba Wallace: 422 (-559), (-167)
24th – Michael McDowell: 414 (-567), (-175)
25th – Ryan Newman: 374 (-607), (-215)
26th – Ty Dillon: 361 (-620), (-228)
27th – John Hunter Nemechek: 356 (-625), (-233)
28th – Matt Kenseth: 341 (-640), (-248)
29th – Corey LaJoie: 295 (-686), (-294)
30th – Ryan Preece: 281 (-700), (-308)
31st – Daniel Suarez: 255 (-726), (-334)
32nd – Brennan Poole: 164 (-817), (-425)
33rd – Quin Houff: 129 (-852), (-460)
Cup Champion Jimmie Johnson finished seventh and drove his way into the playoff Bubble at 16th and final playoff spot with two races left before the field is set.
NASCAR Cup Series completes a Doubleheader weekend hosted by Dover International Speedway Sunday August 23 4:00 p.m. E.T. for the Drydene 311 – NBC Sports SXM NASCAR 90
