Shortly after, the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series race concluded at the Daytona International Speedway road course. It was the NASCAR Cup Series turn to close out the weekend on the 3.56-mile road course in the Go Bowling 235.
The big story going into this race was Austin Dillon testing positive for COVID-19, and taking his place was Kaz Grala. Because of the change, Grala would start the race in the rear of the field. Other drivers that would start the race at the rear of the field were Stanton Barrett (driver change), Corey LaJoie (inspection issues), and Timmy Hill (unapproved adjustments).
Kevin Harvick was the pole-sitter after winning it via a new formula combining owner point standings, fastest lap, and finish. Denny Hamlin started in the second position making up the front row.
History in the making! For the first time in NASCAR Cup Series history, we're green on the @DISUpdates Road Course! (📺: NBC) pic.twitter.com/U9yTIaZACJ — NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 16, 2020
Kevin Harvick led the field to the green flag to start the race. Denny Hamlin passed Harvick on the inside of turn three to take the lead on the first lap. A lap later, Kyle Busch would take the lead from Hamlin on the front chicane in turns 13 and 14. Busch’s lead was short-lived as Hamlin would take it right back at turn one.
On the fourth lap, Kyle Busch would come to pit road with a flat tire. On the tenth lap, Martin Truex Jr. would take the lead away from his teammate Denny Hamlin at turn five. Hamlin and Truex rubbed fenders causing damage to Hamlin’s left front, he would come to pit road a lap later.
Side-by-side for the lead! @MartinTruex_Jr and @dennyhamlin are battling hard for the top spot! pic.twitter.com/eGvaEZQkgY — NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 16, 2020
Within the next couple of laps, Kevin Harvick, Ryan Blaney, Brad Keselowski, Martin Truex Jr., and seven others pitted before the end of stage one. This left Chase Elliott as the new leader.
Alex Bowman would have to come to pit road with a flat left rear tire. Part of Bowman’s tire came off but stayed off of the racetrack keeping the race green. Chase Elliott would win stage one, his sixth stage win of the season. He has won four of the last five road course stages.
During the caution, Chase Elliott, Clint Bowyer, Jimmie Johnson, and eleven others pitted while everyone else stayed out. Joey Logano took a gamble and stayed out to be the new leader. Logano led the field to the restart on lap 18 to start stage two. Denny Hamlin took over the lead on turn three, Kevin Harvick took second. Logano would come to pit road on lap 21.
Martin Truex Jr. passed Harvick for second and began to chase down Hamlin for the lead. On lap 25, Kyle Busch, who was running seventh, was hitting the brakes when he got loose and spun at turn six. He would spin the car around and get back on track but was now sitting in the 13th position.
"Dad, I think we missed the turn." "We didn’t miss the turn, son." "𝙔𝙚𝙖𝙝, 𝙬𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙩." 😐 pic.twitter.com/zjhNE5lPnj — NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 16, 2020
As stage two was nearing an end, drivers began to come to pit road before it closed. Chase Elliott, Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski, and thirteen others pitted. Truex Jr. would pit on lap 28, giving up the lead to Denny Hamlin. Truex Jr. was issued a speeding penalty and had to do a drive-through; however, pit road was closed. He ended up going to the longest line. Denny Hamlin would go on to win stage two with Alex Bowman getting the free pass.
PENALTY: @MartinTruex_Jr pits from the lead, but he's too fast on pit road and must serve a penalty. 📺: NBC | 🖥: https://t.co/BHXvTwJmNc pic.twitter.com/ySw7XCM4zV — NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 16, 2020
During the caution, Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, and eighteen others came to pit road while others stayed out. Chase Elliott led the field to start the final stage on lap 33. Christopher Bell made contact with Kevin Harvick, sending him across the grass at turn three. Harvick had to wait for the field to clear before going again.
The weather was hot and humid, over ninety degrees, drivers were having trouble getting enough air to cool them off. JJ Yeley announced over the radio he felt exhausted and sick and was able to maneuver his car off the track. Medics took him to the incare center. Bayley Currey, a NASCAR truck driver, was still at the track and was able to substitute for him.
The No. 4️⃣ spins! @KevinHarvick slides through the grass at the start of the final stage! (📺: NBC) pic.twitter.com/1dkY2qorMb — NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 16, 2020
Three laps later, lightning was spotted at the racetrack bringing out the caution for the third time. The race went into a red flag for 37 minutes before drivers were back in their cars to resume the race. During the caution, Erik Jones, William Byron, and sixteen others pitted while everyone else stayed out. The race got back underway with 26 laps to go. In an update, JJ Yeley was treated and released from the infield care center.
2️⃣6️⃣ TO GO! Strap in for an exciting finish from @DISupdates! (📺: NBC) pic.twitter.com/81rGd6uw54 — NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 16, 2020
UPDATE: @jjyeley1 has been treated and released from the infield care center. — NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 16, 2020
On lap 40, Jimmie Johnson passed Michael McDowell off of turn six for third place. Two laps later, Johnson would lose third place to Kyle Busch. On lap 44, Brad Keselowski missed the back chicane and had to come to a stop. Keselowski would come to pit road for four new tires. Chase Elliott headed to pit road with an eight second lead while Kyle Busch had a problem in the right rear as a brake rotor failed, sending Busch to the garage.
DISASTER FOR THE 18! @KyleBusch suffers a mechanical failure just laps from the finish at Daytona! pic.twitter.com/fjzZ2kAKta — NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 16, 2020
A lap later, Martin Truex Jr., who had not pitted yet, was the new leader. He would pit on lap 50 as Kaz Grala took over the lead. Grala and Alex Bowman had not pitted at this point. Both of those cars would hit pit road on lap 53 to complete the pit cycles with Chase Elliott resuming the lead. Elliott’s lead was over ten seconds over Denny Hamlin. Kyle Bush, who had returned from the garage, had trouble again when he would bring out the fourth caution. He blew both rear tires and spun at turn eight.
HOLD EVERYTHING! @KyleBusch spins, and we're going to have a late-race restart to decide this one! pic.twitter.com/zE4nOppCHQ — NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 16, 2020
During the caution, Joey Logano from the seventh position, and eighteen other drivers pitted. Chase Elliott would lead the field to the restart with three laps to go. Elliott held off a charging Denny Hamlin with two laps to go. Denny Hamlin made one last attempt to get Elliott, but it was not enough as Chase Elliott wins the Go Bowling 235 by .202 seconds over Denny Hamlin. This is Elliott’s second win of the season and third straight win on a road course.
Cue that si-reen! 📢 Retweet to congratulate @chaseelliott on a historic victory on the @DISupdates Road Course! pic.twitter.com/mLphWy0hth — NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 16, 2020
The rest of the top ten finishers were Martin Truex Jr. third, Jimmie Johnson fourth, Chris Buescher fifth, Clint Bowyer sixth, Kaz Grala seventh, William Byron eighth, Joey Logano ninth, and Michael McDowell tenth. There were twelve lead changes from six drivers and four cautions for seven laps.
Kevin Harvick remains in the lead in the playoff point standings with six wins. Denny Hamlin is second (5 wins), Brad Keselowski third (3 wins), Chase Elliott fourth (2 wins), Joey Logano fifth (2 wins), Ryan Blaney sixth (1 win), Martin Truex Jr. seventh (1 win), Alex Bowman eighth (1 win), Austin Dillon ninth (1 win), and Cole Custer tenth (1 win) are locked in the playoffs. In the playoffs right now are Aric Almirola eleventh, Kurt Busch twelfth, Kyle Busch thirteenth, Clint Bowyer fourteenth, Matt DiBenedetto fifteenth, and William Byron sixteenth. Outside looking in are Jimmie Johnson seventeenth, Erik Jones eighteenth, Tyler Reddick nineteenth, and Christopher Bell twentieth.
Next up for the Cup Series is a doubleheader at Dover International Speedway beginning Saturday in the Drydene 311 at 4 pm on NBCSN.
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