NASCAR 2020: Under Pressure

Following an electrifying Daytona 500, the 2020 NASCAR season gets into full swing with a string of West Coast races. But in early March the COVID-19 pandemic causes shutdowns across the sports landscape and NASCAR makes the decision to press pause on its season. The industry rallies together to find a way to safely return to racing and to be the first American sport back in action.

Bubba Wallace, NASCAR’s lone Black driver, leads the sport through the national conversation about racial justice brought on by George Floyd’s death. NASCAR has a reckoning with its past and makes the seismic decision to ban the Confederate flag at its events. Wallace’s advocacy brings new fans to the sport and inspires NASCAR to acts of solidarity and a commitment to cultural change.

After a whirlwind summer, NASCAR reaches the final race of the regular season: 400 miles at Daytona. This is the last chance to make the playoffs. Ryan Newman returns to the site of his horrific crash in this year’s Daytona 500 with a new outlook on life and racing.

The first round of the NASCAR playoffs kick off with the Southern 500 at Darlington. Matt DiBenedetto begins his first career playoff appearance with the legendary Wood Brothers Racing team, facing post-season pressure and an uncertain future for his career. As the Round of 16 continues, Austin Dillon breaks out with a surprising set of performances that raise his championship hopes.

The Round of 12 presents drivers and teams with wild card races at Las Vegas, Talladega, and the Charlotte Roval. Kurt Busch brings veteran leadership to Chip Ganassi Racing and looks to make some noise as a playoff underdog. Bubba Wallace returns to Talladega for the first time since an emotional weekend at the track in June, this time with the knowledge that his career is on a unique upswing.

There’s just three races left to qualify for the championship race: Kansas, Texas, Martinsville. The pressure is on as the window closes for eight teams trying to position themselves for the title. Four drivers will move on while the other four are left to wonder what might have been.