| Race details | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 12 of 23 of the2020 NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series | |||
| Date | August 16, 2020 | ||
| Official name | Sunoco 159 | ||
| Location | Daytona Beach, Florida,Daytona International Speedway road course | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||
| Course length | 3.57 miles (5.75 km) | ||
| Distance | 46 laps, 166.06 mi (267.47 km) | ||
| Scheduled distance | 44 laps, 158.840 mi (255.628201 km) | ||
| Average speed | 81.435 miles per hour (131.057 km/h) | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | GMS Racing | ||
| Grid positions set by competition-based formula | |||
| Most laps led | |||
| Driver | Sheldon Creed | GMS Racing | |
| Laps | 19 | ||
| Winner | |||
| No. 2 | Sheldon Creed | GMS Racing | |
| Television in the United States | |||
| Network | Fox Sports 1 | ||
| Announcers | Vince Welch,Michael Waltrip,Jamie McMurray | ||
| Radio in the United States | |||
| Radio | Motor Racing Network | ||
The2020 Sunoco 159 was the 12thstock car race of the2020 NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series season and the inaugural running of the event, after the scheduled race, theM&M's 200 atIowa Speedway, had to be replaced due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[1] The race was held on Sunday, August 16, 2020 inDaytona Beach, Florida at theDaytona International Speedway road course, a 3.57 miles (5.75 km) permanent road course. The race was extended from the scheduled 44 laps to 46 laps due to aNASCAR overtime finish. At race's end,Sheldon Creed ofGMS Racing would pull away on the final restart to win the race, the 2ndNASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series win of his career and the 2nd of the season.[2] To fill the podium,Brett Moffitt ofGMS Racing andAustin Hill ofHattori Racing Enterprises would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
On July 30, it was revealed after simulation testing revealed concerns of high speeds entering turn 1 (a turn already considered to be difficult among road racers), a temporary chicane was added in between the 4th turn of the oval and the entrance to pit road (similar to theCharlotte ROVAL). NASCAR further announced that it would use the high-downforce aero package used for the road course races in 2019 (in 2020, road courses were scheduled to use a low-downforce package similar to what was used in 2018 and what is used on ovals 1-mile or shorter in 2020). 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.
A new metric qualifying system was placed starting for the Daytona Road Course weekend. To determine the spots, new performance metrics would be weighted and averaged to determine a score. The metrics would be 50% on the finishing position from last race, 35% on team owner's points, and 15% on the fastest lap.[3] As a result,Zane Smith ofGMS Racing would win the pole.[4]
Stage 1 Laps: 12
Stage 2 Laps: 13
Stage 3 Laps: 21
| Previous race: 2020 Henry Ford Health System 200 | NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series 2020 season | Next race: 2020 KDI Office Technology 200 |