Darlington Race Results: May 17, 2020 (NASCAR Cup Series)

NASCAR results as the season resumes at Darlington Raceway

Today, NASCAR returns via Darlington Raceway. The 1.366-mile oval in Darlington, South Carolina hosts the restart of the 2020 season.

View full 2020 Darlington Raceway results below.

Darlington Menu: NCS
Info/TV | May 17 Lineup | May 17 Race | May 20 Lineup | May 20 Race

It’s been 71 days since NASCAR was at the track. That all changes today. Fans are absent from the stands but the cars are set to roll.

Drivers and crews alike have rolled through multiple health checkpoints. Temperature checks are in place and drivers have been quarantined. Masks and gloves are required. The safety is in place as the sports resume amid a pandemic.

NASCAR driver Ryan Preece in a tempurature checkpoint at Darlington Raceway - NASCAR
DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – MAY 17: An attendee has their temperature checked by NASCAR Security prior to the NASCAR Cup Series The Real Heroes 400 at Darlington Raceway on May 17, 2020 in Darlington, South Carolina. NASCAR resumes the season after the nationwide lockdown due to the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19). (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Matt Kenseth was retired back in March. Now, he’ll return as he takes over the No. 42 machine as Kyle Larson was fired over the break.

Ryan Newman makes his return to the sport. He’s been out following a brain injury at Daytona back in February.

There’s been no practice or qualifying leading into today’s event. The lineup was set via a random draw of numbers. As the green flag drops, drivers will see turn one for the first time in ten weeks.

Brad Keselowski and Alex Bowman set the front row and lead the field to the starting line. Race five of the NASCAR Cup Series is rolling…

NASCAR race at Darlington Raceway without fans in the grandstands
DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – MAY 17: NASCAR resumes the season after the nationwide lockdown due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19). (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Darlington Race
Stage 1 – Report

Laps: 90 (1-90)

Green flag, Keselowski leads the field into turn one. Several cars are visably taking it easy into turn one. Others are three wide into turn one.

Trouble off turn two! Ricky Stenhouse Jr came off the corner in a four wide situation. The track narrows off that corner, as his front end pushed up the hill he clipped another car. Stenhouse spins to the infield wall, makes heavy contact and the caution is out on lap 1.

Green, Keselowski leads as Harvick takes over 2nd. Kyle Busch has already passed 10 cars as he started at the back due to an inspection failure.

Lap 31, the competition caution is out. The field is now frozen until the restart. Drivers will head to the pit lane for extended adjustments with a unique set of pit stops. They’ll have extended time to make adjustments due to the lack of practice.

Green flag, Brad Keselowski leads on the outside with a push from Jimmie Johnson. Harvick falls to 3rd.

Lap 41

Lap 41, Johnson is on the bumper of Keselowski for the lead! He works to his inside off turn two. Keselowski rolls the top on turn three and Johnson can’t complete the pass on the bottom.

Johnson loses momentum and Alex Bowman takes over 2nd.

Lap 45, Alex Bowman has a run on Keselowski. He dives to the inside and completes the pass. Johnson follows him through as Keselowski falls to 3rd.

10 to go, Alex Bowman is being held up by lap cars. Johnson looks to the inside off turn two. Johnson clears him into turn three. Bowman is challenging him back off turn four. Johnson pulls to the inside and throws a block. Johnson holds the lead into turn one!

Bowman is dropping fast. He might have abused his tires in this run.

Final lap in stage one, Jimmie Johnson is crashed off turn two! He made contact with the left rear of Chris Buescher off turn two as he was trying to put him a lap down. Buescher got loose and checked up, Johnson ran right into the back of him.

Related: Jimmie Johnson crash (Video)

The caution is out. William Byron inherits the win in stage 1 at Darlington Raceway!

Stage 1 Results – Darlington Raceway: 1. William Byron; 2. Denny Hamlin; 3. Alex Bowman; 4. Kevin Harvick; 5. Brad Keselowski; 6. Aric Almirola; 7. Clint Bowyer; 8. Tyler Reddick; 9. Ryan Newman; 10. Chase Elliott;

Darlington Race
Stage 2 – Report

Laps: 95 (91-185)

The field heads for the pit lane and the first round of LIVE pit stops. Kevin Harvick wins the race of the pit lane!

Penalties: Chase Elliott and Ryan Newman have been caught speeding on pit lane. They’ll both go to the tail.

Green flag on stage two, Harvick noses ahead at the line. Harvick forces Bowman to the apron into turn one as Bowman was looking to his inside.

Lap 109, big problems for William Byron! He’s fighting a loose machine. Byron looses the back end, the car snaps and he smacks the outside wall from 3rd place.

Heavy contact for Byron. His car is now junk and he spins in the next corner to bring out the caution.

Pit stops

The field returns to the pit lane. Harvick is first in and first off.

Green, Harvick leads. Kurt Busch and Alex Bowman run side by side for 2nd. Kurt Busch takes that spot on the outside lane.

Lap 150, a piece of the wall banners have become trapped on the nose of Hamlin. He uses the rear bumper of Bowyer to remove it.

Lap 154, the caution is out. Track workers are coming out to remove the adhesive banner on the wall.

Brad Keselowski and Kevin Harvick at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina - NASCAR Cup Series
DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – MAY 17: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Discount Tire Ford, leads Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Busch Light YOURFACEHERE Ford, during the NASCAR Cup Series The Real Heroes 400 at Darlington Raceway on May 17, 2020 in Darlington, South Carolina. NASCAR resumes the season after the nationwide lockdown due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19). (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Pit stops

The field is back on pit road. Harvick is first in and first off. Keselowski is off 2nd.

Green, Harvick is clear into turn one. Keselowski holds 2nd as he drives it deep into turn three, defending the spot from Truex Jr.

13 to go in stage two, Christopher Bell is around off turn fourand the caution is out. He makes minor contact with the inside wall.

Pit stops

Back to the pits they roll. Slow stop for Harvick! He’ll restart 8th as Keselowski wins the race to the pit exit.

Green, Keselowski and Truex run even into turn one. Keselowski has the momentum off the top in turn two. Keselowski leads into turn three.

Brad Keselowski takes the win in stage two!

Stage 2 Results – Darlington Raceway: 1. Brad Keselowski; 2. Alex Bowman; 3. Martin Truex Jr; 4. Kevin Harvick; 5. Clint Bowyer; 6. Kurt Busch; 7. Ryan Preece; 8. Joey Logano; 9. Denny Hamlin; 10. Erik Jones;

Darlington Race
Stage 3 – Report

Laps: 110 (186-293)

The field returns to the pit lane. Alex Bowman wins the race to the pit exit.

Green flag on stage three, Keselowski leads on the bottom.

Lap 212, the caution is out. Christopher Bell clips the rear bumper of Chris Buescher at the flag stand. Buescher spins and the caution is out.

Pit stops

Keselowski leads the field to the pit entry. Kevin Harvick wins the race to the pit exit.

Kevin Harvick and Brad Keselowski at Darlington Raceway - NASCAR Cup Series
DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – MAY 17: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Busch Light YOURFACEHERE Ford, leads Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Discount Tire Ford, during the NASCAR Cup Series The Real Heroes 400 at Darlington Raceway on May 17, 2020 in Darlington, South Carolina. NASCAR resumes the season after the nationwide lockdown due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19). (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Green, Keselowski and Harvick run even into turn one. Harvick noses ahead with high side momentum off turn two.

41 to go, Ryan Newman is slow with a possible tire issue off turn four. Newman spins, likely on purpose in turn one and the caution is out.

Pit stops

The field returns to the pit lane for what could be the final time. Harvick is out first with the first pit stall advantage.

NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington Raceway
DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – MAY 17: Alex Bowman, driver of the #88 ChevyGoods.com NOCO Chevrolet, and Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Busch Light YOURFACEHERE Ford, lead during the NASCAR Cup Series The Real Heroes 400 at Darlington Raceway on May 17, 2020 in Darlington, South Carolina. NASCAR resumes the season after the nationwide lockdown due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19). (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Green, Harvick and Bowman run even into turn one. They remain side by side for a whole lap. Bowman cuts the apron heavily into turn one to try and cut the corner. But, he can’t clear him. Harvick brushes the wall but he holds the lead on the outside.

27 to go, Kyle Busch heads to the pit lane under green! Four tires for him and he’ll go a lap down.

20 to go, Harvick leads Bowman by 1.4 seconds.

10 to go, Harvick leads Bowman by 2.4 seconds.

Kevin Harvick takes his first win of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season!

View full 2020 Darlington results below.

Kevin Harvick in victory lane with a mask - Darlington Raceway
DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – MAY 17: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Busch Light YOURFACEHERE Ford, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series The Real Heroes 400 at Darlington Raceway on May 17, 2020 in Darlington, South Carolina. NASCAR resumes the season after the nationwide lockdown due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19). (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Darlington Raceway
Race Results
May 17, 2020
NASCAR Cup Series

Pos | Driver

1. Kevin Harvick
2. Alex Bowman
3. Kurt Busch
4. Chase Elliott
5. Denny Hamlin
6. Martin Truex Jr
7. Tyler Reddick
8. Erik Jones
9. John Hunter Nemechek
10. Matt Kenseth
11. Austin Dillon
12. Aric Almirola
13. Brad Keselowski
14. Matt DiBenedetto
15. Ryan Newman
16. Ryan Blaney
17. Clint Bowyer
18. Joey Logano
19. Ty Dillon
20. Ryan Preece
21. Bubba Wallace
22. Cole Custer
23. Michael McDowell
24. Christopher Bell
25. Daniel Suarez
26. Kyle Busch
27. Brennan Poole
28. JJ Yeley
29. Reed Sorenson
30. Joey Gase
31. Corey laJoie
32. Chris Buescher
33. Timmy Hill
34. Josh Bilicki
35. William Byron
36. Quin Houff
37. Garrett Smithley
38. Jimmie Johnson
39. BJ McLeod
40. Ricky Stenhouse Jr

Kevin Harvick at Darlington Raceway - NASCAR Cup Series
DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – MAY 17: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Busch Light YOURFACEHERE Ford, drives during the NASCAR Cup Series The Real Heroes 400 at Darlington Raceway on May 17, 2020 in Darlington, South Carolina. NASCAR resumes the season after the nationwide lockdown due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19). (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

NASCAR Cup Series
Point Standings

After: Darlington Raceway (May 17, 2020)

Pos | Driver | Wins | Points

1. Kevin Harvick (1 Win)
218

2. Alex Bowman (1 Win)
190

3. Joey Logano (2 Wins)
185

4. Chase Elliott
178

5. Brad Keselowski
158

6. Denny Hamlin (1 Win)
154

7. Aric Almirola
151

8. Ryan Blaney
144

9. Matt DiBenedetto
141

10. Clint Bowyer
135

11. Martin Truex Jr
135

12. Jimmie Johnson
132

13. Kurt Busch
129

14. Kyle Busch
122

15. Kyle Larson
121

16. Chris Buescher
107

17. Erik Jones
107

18. Austin Dillon
103

19. Bubba Wallace
103

20. Tyler Reddick
101

21. William Byron
99

22. John Hunter Nemechek
91

23. Ricky Stenhouse Jr
89

24. Cole Custer
88

25. Ty Dillon
86

26. Corey LaJoie
74

27. Michael McDowell
74

28. Ryan Newman
60

29. Brennan Poole
50

30. Ryan Preece
46

31. Daniel Suarez
44

32. Christopher Bell
39

33. David Ragan
33

34. Matt Kenseth
27

35. Reed Sorenson
25

36. Quin Houff
12

37. Garrett Smithley
8

Darlington Raceway
Video Highlights
May 17, 2020
NASCAR Cup Series
Links

NASCAR | Darlington Raceway

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