2020 EchoPark 250


The 2020 EchoPark 250 was a NASCAR Xfinity Series race held on June 6, 2020, at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia. Contested over 163 laps on the asphalt quad-oval intermediate speedway, it was the eighth race of the 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series season and the season's first Dash 4 Cash race. Kaulig Racing part-time driver A. J. Allmendinger won his first ever race on a NASCAR oval.
The race was originally scheduled to be held on March 14, but was rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Report

Background

Atlanta Motor Speedway is a track in Hampton, Georgia, 20 miles south of Atlanta. It is a 1.54-mile quad-oval track with a seating capacity of 111,000. It opened in 1960 as a 1.5-mile standard oval. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track. In 1997, to standardize the track with Speedway Motorsports' other two 1.5-mile ovals, the entire track was almost completely rebuilt. The frontstretch and backstretch were swapped, and the configuration of the track was changed from oval to quad-oval. The project made the track one of the fastest on the NASCAR circuit.
The race was held without fans in attendance due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Dash 4 Cash

The Dash 4 Cash is a series of four races in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, preceded by a qualifying race. The top four points-eligible drivers in the previous race are eligible to win a $100,000 bonus on top of their race winnings if they win the race. Cup Series regulars are not permitted to compete in the races.
The EchoPark 250 was the season's first Dash 4 Cash race. Noah Gragson, Chase Briscoe, Brandon Jones, and rookie Harrison Burton were eligible to win after finishing in the top 4 at the Cheddar's 300 at Bristol.

Entry list

' denotes rookie driver.
  • ' denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.

Qualifying

Noah Gragson was awarded the pole for the race as determined by a random draw.

Starting Lineup

. – Eligible for Dash 4 Cash prize money.
  • The No. 44 of Tommy Joe Martins had to start from the rear due to unapproved adjustments.
  • The No. 61 of Timmy Hill had to start from the rear on pace laps due to pitting before the green flag.

Race

Race results

Stage Results

Stage One
Laps: 40
PosDriverTeamManufacturerPoints
122Austin CindricTeam PenskeFord10
210Ross ChastainKaulig RacingChevrolet9
311Justin HaleyKaulig RacingChevrolet8
47Justin AllgaierJR MotorsportsChevrolet7
58Daniel HemricJR MotorsportsChevrolet6
69Noah GragsonJR MotorsportsChevrolet5
718Riley Herbst 'Joe Gibbs RacingToyota4
898Chase BriscoeStewart-Haas RacingFord3
916A. J. AllmendingerKaulig RacingChevrolet2
1020Harrison Burton 'Joe Gibbs RacingToyota1

Stage Two
Laps: 40
PosDriverTeamManufacturerPoints
122Austin CindricTeam PenskeFord10
298Chase BriscoeStewart-Haas RacingFord9
310Ross ChastainKaulig RacingChevrolet8
48Daniel HemricJR MotorsportsChevrolet7
516A. J. AllmendingerKaulig RacingChevrolet6
69Noah GragsonJR MotorsportsChevrolet5
711Justin HaleyKaulig RacingChevrolet4
87Justin AllgaierJR MotorsportsChevrolet3
91Michael AnnettJR MotorsportsChevrolet2
1020Harrison Burton Joe Gibbs RacingToyota1

Final Stage Results

Laps: 83. – Won the Dash 4 Cash prize money and subsequently qualified for the Dash 4 Cash prize money in the next race.. – Qualified for Dash 4 Cash prize money in the next race.

Race statistics

  • Lead changes: 10 among 7 different drivers
  • Cautions/Laps: 6 for 28
  • Red flags: 0
  • Time of race: 2 hours, 2 minutes, 37 seconds
  • Average speed:

Media

Television

The EchoPark 250 was carried by Fox in the United States. Adam Alexander, Stewart-Haas Racing driver Clint Bowyer, and Jamie McMurray called the race from the Fox Sports Studio in Charlotte, with Jamie Little covering pit road.

Radio

The Performance Racing Network called the race for radio, which was simulcast on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Doug Rice and Mark Garrow anchored the action from the booth. Rob Albright called the race from turns 1 & 2 and Pat Patterson called the action through turns 3 & 4. Brad Gillie, Brett McMillan, and Doug Turnbull provided reports from pit road.

Standings after the race

; Drivers' Championship standingsNote: Only the first 12 positions are included for the driver standings.. – Driver has clinched a position in the NASCAR playoffs.