CONCORD, N.C. – A thrilling day at Charlotte Motor Speedway ended with a wild night.
The NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race got underway just after 10 p.m. ET following a brief rain delay, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. was the first of the Hendrick Motorsports teammates to take the checkered flag just before midnight.
Earnhardt finished third, and Chase Elliott nearly joined him in the top five, finishing sixth. Jimmie Johnson took the checkered flag 12th.
Kasey Kahne, who was involved in a multiple-car incident in the second segment that ended his night, was scored 19th.
Joey Logano earned the win and the $1 million prize.
Below is a look at how all four Hendrick Motorsports drivers fared in the exhibition event.
KASEY KAHNE, NO. 5 DRIVE HOME A WINNER SWEEPS CHEVROLET SS
FINISHED: 19th
RECAP: Kahne started Saturday night just outside the top 15 in 16th, and after making his mandatory green-flag pit stop on Lap 28, that is the same position he found himself with four laps to go in the first segment. That’s when a caution flag waved, and since all of the leaders hadn’t headed to pit road, Kahne found himself trapped a lap down. He won the race off of pit road between the segments, but a penalty for an uncontrolled tire sent him to the rear of the field in 19th. On Lap 23 of the second segment, Kahne got caught up in a multiple-car incident, and the damage ultimately ended the night for the No. 5 Drive Home a Winner Sweeps Chevrolet SS. He was scored 19th.
CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 24 3M CHEVROLET SS
FINISHED: 6th
RECAP: Elliott earned his spot in the All-Star Race via fan vote, and he rolled off the grid seventh for the first segment. After making his mandatory green-flag pit stop on Lap 28, he found himself in seventh once again with four laps remaining in the segment, when a caution flag waved. The first segment ended on a yellow, and after pitting under caution, he restarted the second segment inside the top 10. On Lap 23 of the second 50-lap segment, Elliott took some right-rear damage as he was attempting to head to pit road for his mandatory green-flag stop, and a multiple-car incident ensued. The No. 24 team repaired the damage and Elliott remained on the lead lap, finishing the first segment in 10th. He was required to head to pit road before the final 13-lap segment, and restarted 12th. He battled his way toward the top five and ultimately finished sixth.
JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S CHEVROLET SS
FINISHED: 12th
RECAP: Johnson began Saturday night’s race from the fifth position, which is where he remained when he headed to pit road for his mandatory green-flag stop on Lap 35. He made it back to 10th when a caution flag flew with four laps remaining in the segment. After a pit stop between segments, he restarted the second segment inside the top five. By the end of the segment, he found himself in 12th, which proved to be the right spot – when honorary pace car driver Greg Olsen drew the number 11 to signify the top 11 cars heading to pit road and the remainder of the field staying on the track, Johnson found himself in the race lead for the final 13-lap segment. The cars on fresher tires were able to overtake him on the restart, however, and he ultimately finished 12th.
DALE EARNHARDT JR., NO. 88 MOUNTAIN DEW CHEVROLET SS
FINISHED: 3rd
RECAP: Starting 10th, Earnhardt elected to make his mandatory green-flag pit stop on Lap 25. Not all of the leaders had made their green-flag stops when a caution flag flew with four laps remaining in the segment. That left Earnhardt a lap down, but he received the free pass as the first car a lap down to get back on the lead lap. After a pit stop between the segments, he restarted the second segment still in 11th. But he got to work in the second frame, finding his way all the way to third by the end of the 50 laps. He was required to head to pit road before the final 13-lap segment, and restarted fourth. He was able to gain one more position, finishing third.