2020 NASCAR season in pictures

As the 2020 NASCAR season approached, much of the talk focused on 2021. A robust free agent market led to questions of if there would be a dramatic shift in where drivers raced after 2020. And they would do so with the Next Gen car, which was scheduled to make its debut in 2021 before it was pushed back a year.

No one could have known that as Erik Jones won the wreck-filled Busch Clash, in a car that was involved in three accidents, that the world was changing and would impact all of society, including NASCAR.

More than 100,000 fans and President Donald Trump gathered in February at Daytona International Speedway to watch the Daytona 500, only to see the race delayed a day by rain and Denny Hamlin’s dramatic win muted by Ryan Newman’s horrific accident that hospitalized him for two days.

There was no better sight all year than the image of Newman walking out of the Daytona Beach hospital with his daughters.

This will be a year we’ll never forget for many reasons.

Ryan Newman leaves a Daytona Beach, Florida hospital with his daughters after his Daytona 500 crash. Photo: Roush Fenway Racing

The scene before the driver/crew chief meeting at Phoenix, the last time this season there would be such a gathering. COVID protocols led to virtual driver/crew chief meetings and social distancing in the garage area. Photo: Dustin Long

TALLADEGA, ALABAMA - APRIL 26: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) (Editors note: This image was computer generated in-game) Jeff Gordon, driver of the #24 Pepsi/Axalta Chevrolet, flips in the air during a crash in the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series Geico 70 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2020 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

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DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA - MAY 17: Drivers walk down the grid during the NASCAR Cup Series The Real Heroes 400 at Darlington Raceway on May 17, 2020 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

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DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA - MAY 21: Chase Briscoe, driver of the #98 HighPoint.com Ford, reacts after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Toyota 200 at Darlington Raceway on May 21, 2020 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

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TALLADEGA, ALABAMA - JUNE 22: NASCAR drivers stand in solidarity with Bubba Wallace, driver of the #43 Victory Junction Chevrolet, during pre-race ceremonies prior to the NASCAR Cup Series GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on June 22, 2020 in Talladega, Alabama. A noose was found in the garage stall of NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace at Talladega Superspeedway a week after the organization banned the Confederate flag at its facilities. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

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BRISTOL, TENNESSEE - JULY 15: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Discount Tire Ford, races Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 UniFirst Chevrolet, and Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Busch Light Apple Ford, during the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on July 15, 2020 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

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Josh Williams takes a moment to reflect on his career-high sixth-place finish at Kansas Speedway on Oct. 17, 2020, and mourning the loss of a friend. Photo: Parker Kligerman

FORT WORTH, TEXAS - OCTOBER 28: Matt Kenseth, driver of the #42 McDonald’s Chevrolet, spins into the infield grass after an on-track incident during the NASCAR Cup Series Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on October 28, 2020 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)

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