By John Schutt
NASCAR Cup Series, Cook Out Southern 500, Darlington Raceway, Darlington S.C., Sunday, Sept. 6.
The race was the first of the playoffs for the 2020 NASCAR championship, a throw back weekend with some cars receiving a paint scheme from the past.
In the last 10 laps, race leader, Austin Dillon, and Martin Truex, Jr. traded places and hit the wall. Both drivers slowed down and allowed Kevin Harvick to pass by and finish in first place. Following in second place was Dillon, Joe Logano in third place, Eric Jones in fourth, and William Byron in fifth.
Stage 1 and Stage 2 were won by Truex, Jr.. Dillon was in a Chevy, which looked just like Junior Johnson’s Old Holly Farms-sponsored car, came on late as the car to beat.
Harvick took his eighth victory this season with, in his words, “a third-place car” and won the regular season championship.
Eric Jones does not have a job yet for next season.
NASCAR Cup Series, The Coke Zero Sugar 400, Daytona International Speedway, Daytona, Fla., Sunday Aug. 29.
William Byron won his first NASCAR race at Daytona Speedway.
Two multi-wrecks occurred in the last eight laps of the race. The wrecks were caused by Denny Hamlin and Tyler Reddick. The wrecks set up a green white checker finish for William Byron. Following IN second place was Chase Elliot, Denny Hamlin was in third, Truex, Jr. in fourth, and Bubba Wallace in fifth.