The top two 2020 NASCAR drivers of 2020 take turns dominating the NASCAR Doubleheader weekend at the track nicknamed the “Monster Mile.”
Saturday (8/22) at Dover International Speedway was the Drydene 311 (1). Denny Hamlin quickly made it known that he was the car to beat. He scored the win in both the first and second stages of the race.
Denny had a poor restart on lap 193 of the race. His Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) teammate was able to take over the lead of the race as a result. Denny spent the rest of the race slowing running him down. Denny was able to take the lead back with just eight laps remaining in the race. He held that lead to score his sixth win of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season.
Martin Truex Jr. claimed the runner-up finish with Kyle Busch in third place. That gave JGR a 1-2-3 finish for the night. Kevin Harvick was able to take home a fourth place finish with Chase Elliott completing the top five. See the complete race results from the Drydene 311 (1) here.
Sunday (8/23) was round two at Dover International Speedway with the Drydene 311 (2). This time it would be Kevin Harvick flexing his domination muscle. Although he had to start mid-pack after the finishing order of the top 20 from Saturday was inverted to start Sunday’s race, Kevin was able to race forward and win both stages one and two of the race Sunday.
While there were six different drivers that lead the race at some point Sunday, it was really obvious Kevin had the dominant car. He led a race high 223 laps in the 311 lap race. The next on the list of laps led was Ryan Blaney with 37 laps out front.
A strategy play of taking two tires following a late race caution gave Jimmie Johnson the lead with just 20 laps remaining. Just three laps later Kevin was able to take the lead back. Kevin held the lead for the last 17 laps giving Ford their 700th NASCAR Cup Series win of all-time.
The win was also Kevin’s seventh of the 2020 Cup Series season. It clinched the NASCAR Cup Series Regular Season title for him. It also helped solidify his claim as the favorite to win the championship when the Playoffs begin in two weeks.
Martin Truex Jr. was again able to claim a runner-up finish as he did the day before. Jimmie Johnson took home third place with William Byron and Alex Bowman rounding out the top five in fourth and fifth places respectively. See the complete race results from the Drydene 311 (2) here.
Following the Dover Doubleheader weekend Kevin Harvick clinched the top spot in the regular season point standings. Denny Hamlin sits in second place. Brad Keselowski holds third place. Martin Truex Jr. is in fourth place with Joey Logano in firth place.
Ranking for the top three heading to the post-season copies the point standings with Kevin Harvick at #1, Denny Hamlin at #2 and Brad Keselowski at #3. Because of the Playoff Points Chase Elliott ranks at #4 in the post-season outlook and Joey Logano is ranked #5. See the complete NASCAR Cup Series point standings here.
There is one race remaining in the regular season. Ten drivers have clinched their spots in the Playoffs by winning at least one race. There more drivers have clinched their spots based on the number of points they have earned. That leaves three spots up for grabs in the final race of the regular season.
That final race of the regular season is one that no driver can be certain of how they will finish. The race will take place on the super speedway of Daytona International Speedway. The high speeds and pack racing can give any driver the chance at winning or losing. The Coke Zero Sugar 400 will take place Saturday night, August 29th.
By: Buck Stevens
