LAS VEGAS – Weather proved to be a big factor in Sunday’s race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, which saw three of the Hendrick Motorsports teammates bring home top-10 finishes.
Throughout the course of the Kobalt 400, the drivers had to weather all the elements, including rain, wind, and even a sandstorm.
The green flag was delayed by rain due to several passing storm cells, with the 400.5-mile race beginning at 4:10 p.m. ET. However, once racing action did begin, the four Hendrick Motorsports drivers didn’t let the 50 mph wind gusts keep them from running up front all afternoon.
Jimmie Johnson led his teammates to the checkered in third place, with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kasey Kahne following him in eighth and 10th, respectively.
After his first top-10 finish last week in Atlanta, Chase Elliott looked strong, running in the top 10 the majority of the race. However, his night ended early in the garage after he was caught in an incident with 44 laps remaining. He was scored with a 38th-place finish.
“Just disappointed,” Elliott said. “What a fast race car. I appreciate everybody working hard. I feel like we made a lot of gains this weekend, just a terrible job on my behalf. I ought to know better to miss a wreck like that.”
Brad Keselowski took home the win.
For a detailed look at how all four Hendrick Motorsports drivers fared Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, see below.
KASEY KAHNE, NO. 5 FARMERS INSURANCE CHEVROLET SS
FINISHED: 10th
STANDINGS: 13th
RECAP: Kahne rolled off the grid inside the top 10 and maintained that position through the Lap 30 competition caution. Returning to green-flag conditions, Kahne fell back, still holding a top-10 position. After green-flag pit stops, Kahne returned to the track in 12th position. He raced just on either side of the top 10 behind his three teammates for the majority of the first half of the race, finding himself in 11th on Lap 162. Kahne remained just outside the top 10 through three additional yellow flag breaks, climbing back inside the top 10 after the sixth caution of the event on Lap 232. The driver of the No. 5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet SS ultimately gained one more position, taking home his first top-10 finish of the season.
CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 24 NAPA AUTO PARTS CHEVROLET SS
FINISHED: 38th
STANDINGS: 28th
RECAP: Taking the green flag in 13th, Elliott made quick work of climbing his way into the top 10 before the competition caution came out. Restarting ninth, Elliott maintained a top-10 position through the first round of green-flag pit stops and a Lap 98 caution for debris. After falling back within the top 10 after the Lap 105 restart, Elliott made up the positions lost and broke inside the top five at the halfway point. The rookie continued to run up front for the majority of the second half of the race, trailing teammate Johnson. After the fifth caution of the race, Elliott restarted in 18th but his day ended early after he was involved in an incident with 44 laps to go. He was scored 38th.
JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S/KOBALT TOOLS CHEVROLET SS
FINISHED: 3rd
STANDINGS: 2nd
RECAP: Johnson began the race just outside the top 10 but quickly drove his way inside the top five. Looking for a second consecutive win, the driver of the No. 48 Lowe’s/Kobalt Tools Chevrolet SS held steady behind the leaders, working his way up to third position by Lap 64. While running second, a Lap 98 caution came out and a speedy pit stop by the No. 48 team allowed Johnson to win the race off pit road, taking the green flag again in first. Johnson raced up front until losing the lead on Lap 177. However, he did not let that faze him and continued to battle through two more cautions, regaining the lead with 57 laps to go. After pitting during a Lap 214 caution, Johnson returned to the track in fourth and gained one position before taking the checkered flag in third.
DALE EARNHARDT JR., NO. 88 NATIONWIDE CHEVROLET SS
FINISHED: 8th
STANDINGS: 12th
RECAP: Lining up 20th for the start, Earnhardt made it inside the top 15 by Lap 16. After pitting under caution for tires, fuel and adjustments, Earnhardt returned to the track and climbed through the field, entering the top 10 before taking a green-flag pit stop on Lap 84. Battling the handling of his car, the driver of the No. 88 Nationwide Chevrolet SS restarted in 12th after the second caution of the 267-lap race on Lap 98 and drove back inside the top 10 just before the halfway mark. With 100 laps remaining, Earnhardt fell back a few positions and continued to race on the cusp of the top 10 until Lap 205 when he broke that barrier once again. He held on for the remainder of the race to drive home in 8th place.