2020 Go Bowling 235

The 2020 Go Bowling 235 was a NASCAR Cup Series raced on 16 August 2020, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. Contested over 65 laps on the 3.61 mi road course, it was the 23rd race of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season, which was a replacement race for the Watkins Glen round because of government restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The race had three stages: the first two stages at 15 laps each, and 35 for the final.

On July 30, it was revealed after simulation testing revealed concerns of high speeds entering the opening Turn 1/2 chicane, a temporary chicane was added in between the 4th turn of the oval and the entrance to pit road (similar to the Charlotte ROVAL). The next day, it was announced that the sponsorship of the Cup event at Watkins Glen International, Go Bowling, would become the sponsor of the event. The addition of the chicane increased the length of the course from 3.56 to 3.61 miles and added a 13th and 14th turn to the original 12-turn layout.

Entry list

 * (R) denotes rookie driver.
 * (i) denotes driver who are ineligible for series driver points.

Qualifying
Kevin Harvick was awarded the pole for the race as determined by a new formula that NASCAR officials announced on August 6. The formula will use three performance metrics, which will be weighted and averaged to determine the lineup and pit selection order. They metrics are Finishing position from the previous race (weighted 50%), Ranking in team owner points standings (35%), and Fastest lap from the previous race (15%).

Stage 1
Kevin Harvick and Denny Hamlin led the field to green. Everyone was a little cautious, not knowing exactly what to expect. Hamlin took the lead on Lap 1. Kyle Busch, who drove a sports car on the course during this year’s 24 Hours of Daytona, quickly moved past Harvick into 2nd and passed Hamlin for the top spot to lead Lap 2.

The part of the course that is different for the NASCAR drivers from the sports car drivers is the front chicane added just for this race. Busch flat-spotted his left front tire, carrying too much speed into the corner, allowing Hamlin to regain the lead. Kyle Busch had to come to the pits and change tires, not knowing how much damage was done when he locked up the brakes in Turns 13 & 14.

On Lap 10, Martin Truex Jr. passed his teammate for the lead. Initially, Hamlin let him go while navigating the infield portion of the track. Then he closed on Truex just before they headed back onto the high banks of the oval and the pair made contact. Damage to the left front of Hamlin’s car caused a tire rub and he had come to the pits for repair and new Goodyear racing tires.

Most of the field pitted three laps to go before the end of the Stage. Chase Elliott inherited the top spot and chose to stay out for the Stage win. Drivers needing points also opted to take advantage of the leader’s pit stop strategy and moved up the leaderboard.

Stage 2
Joey Logano and Hamlin sit on the front row for the start of Stage 2. Logano did not pit during the Stage ending caution. He was quickly passed by most of the Top 10 who had fresher tires. Hamlin, Truex, and Harvick led early in Stage 2.

On Lap 22 Truex passed Hamlin, this time on the oval. The Joe Gibbs Racing cars have all run near the front early. Kyle Busch runs 7th and Erik Jones 15th.

Pit stops before the end of the Stage were again the norm for most of the teams. Truex was too fast leaving pit road and will serve the penalty, to the rear of the field, on the Final Stage restart.

Hamlin stayed out to take the Stage 2 win.

The Final Stage
Elliott and Harvick are the front row for the start of the final Stage. Elliott surges ahead, Harvick enters the infield portion of the course in a pack of cars and gets tapped by Christopher Bell. Harvick spins around and sits on the track facing oncoming traffic, he has to wait for the field to go past before he can straighten out his car and rejoin the race at the back of the pack.

With 30 laps to go, Hamlin is in 11th and rain is threatening. A lightning strike within 8 miles of the track brings the cars to pit road and the race is stopped for safety reasons. The area must remain lightning free for 30 minutes for race activities to resume.

J.J. Yeley pitted a lap prior to the red flag and climbed out of his car. He immediately collapsed and was attended to by track medical personnel. The imminent rain may provide a welcome break from the oppressive heat in the cars generated by the summer Florida sun.

After a 31 minute red flag, cars were back on the track. Remarkably, the rain that looked certain bypassed the speedway.

Elliott continued to lead and Hamlin continued to move forward, he was 4th with 20 laps to go. Green flag pit stops also began with 20 to go. Elliott, Hamlin, and Kyle Busch pitted with 17 to go. Elliott exited before Hamlin and Kyle Busch went to the garage with a rear brake issue.

After pit stops cycled through, Elliott was back in front with 12 laps to go. He held a 10 second lead over Hamlin in 2nd. Kyle Busch’s crew replaced the right rear brake rotor on his car and he returned to the race with 11 laps to go, six laps down.

With five laps to go Kyle Busch blew both rear tires on the backstretch of the oval and hit the wall. The caution wiped away Elliott's big lead and set up a sprint to the finish. The leaders choose not to pit, the cars that did come in took four tires in the hopes of improving their positions. Erik Jones pitted giving up 9th place and returning to the track in 18th place.

The race restarted with three laps to go, Elliott and Hamlin on the front row, Jimmie Johnson and Clint Bowyer on row two. Bower got passed by Truex and Chris Buescher, the Top 3 pulled away.

Hamlin could close almost to Elliott’s bumper in the braking zones, Elliott would pull away in the acceleration lanes. Although Hamlin pulled up to less than a car length, he could not get to Elliott’s bumper as they crossed under the checkered flag.

Kaz Grala, subbing for Austin Dillon finished 7th. Kyle Busch came in 37th place. Kevin Harvick could only manage 17th place after finding trouble on more than one occasion during the afternoon.

Playoff Point Standings
Despite earning only four points for his 37th place finish, Kyle Busch still sits 100 points above the cut line. With three races left that should be enough of a buffer to easily qualify. Clint Bowyer with a strong 6th place finish padded his buffer to 66 points. Matt DiBenedetto slipped 13 points closer to the bubble and is just 44 points clear.

William Byron remained in the 16th and Final playoff spot. He has to hope no first-time winner comes out of the Dover doubleheader or the regular-season final back at Daytona. Jimmie Johnson shaved one point off Byron’s lead and remains one spot out. Erik Jones late pit stop cost him as he dropped out of a tie with Johnson and now sits 35 points back.

Tyler Reddick dropped into the ranks of those needing a win to qualify, he is 57 points below the cut line. Ford Performance still holds eight of the 16 playoff spots available.

Stage Results
Stage One Laps: 15

Stage Two Laps: 15

Final Stage Results
Stage Three Laps: 35

Race statistics

 * Lead changes: 13 among 6 different drivers
 * Cautions/Laps: 4 for 7
 * Red flags: 1 for 31 minutes and 14 seconds
 * Time of race: 2 hours, 37 minutes and 30 seconds
 * Average speed: 89.39 mph

Television
NBC Sports covered the race on the television side. Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and four-time Daytona winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. covered the race from the booth at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Dave Burns, Parker Kligerman and Dillon Welch handled the pit road duties on site, and Rutledge Wood handled the features from his home during the race.

Radio
MRN had the radio call for the race, which was also simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio.

Standings after the race

 * Drivers' Championship standings


 * Manufacturers' Championship standings


 * Note: Only the first 16 positions are included for the driver standings.
 * . – Driver has clinched a position in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.