BROOKLYN, Mich. – For the second consecutive week, Chase Elliott led laps down the stretch and a win looked within reach.
And on Sunday at Michigan International Speedway, while the trip to Victory Lane eluded him, he took home his best career finish of second place.
"The guys gave me a fantastic car today," Elliott said. "This whole NAPA group has been working so hard these past few weeks."
Still, the rookie was hard on himself for losing the lead on a late-race restart.
"That one was on me," he said. "You can't do dumb stuff and win these things, and I did today."
Kasey Kahne was the next Hendrick Motorsports teammate to take the checkered flag in 13th and Jimmie Johnson was just behind him in 16th.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s day ended prematurely due to an incident on Lap 62 and he was scored 39th.
Joey Logano took home the win.
Below is an in-depth look at how all four teammates fared Sunday at Michigan.
KASEY KAHNE, NO. 5 FARMERS INSURANCE CHEVROLET SS
FINISHED: 13th
STANDINGS: 17th
RECAP: Kahne rolled off the grid 23rd, finding the top 20 just 30 laps into the event. After a green-flag pit stop on Lap 41, Kahne was briefly trapped a lap down when a caution flag waved as the leader had yet to pit. However, he took a wave-around and restarted back in 20th on the lead lap. He moved all the way up to 15th for a restart on Lap 61, though he fell back outside of the top 20 just past the midway point of the race. With 65 laps remaining, he was back up to 19th, and he kept racing his way back through the field for the remainder of the race. He ultimately took the checkered flag in 13th.
CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 24 NAPA AUTO PARTS CHEVROLET SS
FINISHED: 2nd
STANDINGS: 6th
RECAP: Leading his teammates to the green flag in 10th, Elliott briefly fell outside of the top 10 before jumping back in by Lap 30. Following a speedy green-flag pit stop 10 laps later, Elliott was all the way up to sixth for a restart following a Lap 46 caution. He was up to third by the next restart of the race, and jumped to the runner-up position before another caution was called on Lap 62. Following another round of green-flag pit stops just before the midway point of the race, Elliott regained his second-place spot as the field cycled through. On a restart with 83 laps remaining, Elliott raced out to the lead. He led 35 laps before losing the lead on a restart, though he moved back to second on another restart with 40 laps remaining. He was able to maintain that position to earn his career-best finish of second when the checkered flag waved.
JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S/KOBALT TOOLS CHEVROLET SS
FINISHED: 16th
STANDINGS: 7th
RECAP: Starting Sunday’s race from the 16th position, Johnson pushed toward the top 10 before making a green-flag pit stop on Lap 39. He finally found the top 10 for a restart following a caution on Lap 62. And though he briefly lost the position, he found it again on Lap 85 before pushing even further up the standings. As competitors began making green-flag pit stops just before the midway point of the race, Johnson stayed on the track, eventually taking over the race lead. When a caution flag waved, Johnson was able to head to pit road from the lead and return to the track still inside the top 10. He moved up to sixth with 75 laps remaining, and 10 laps later moved into the top five. On a restart with 40 to go, however, Johnson began to fall back in the pack until he was outside of the top 15, and when a competitor made contact with the No. 48 Lowe’s/Kobalt Tools Chevrolet SS, it sent the car toward the wall. Johnson headed to pit road for repairs during the ensuing caution and returned to the track in 30th. Thanks to quick work by the No. 48 team, he remained on the lead lap. When a caution flag flew with 12 laps to go, Johnson elected to head to pit road and on fresh tires he raced his way to a 16th-place finish.
DALE EARNHARDT JR., NO. 88 AXALTA CHEVROLET SS
FINISHED: 39th
STANDINGS: 11th
RECAP: Earnhardt began Sunday’s race 27th, and early in the event he began working his way through the field. He had entered the top 25 before making a green-flag pit stop on Lap 41, and as the field cycled through he was on the doorstep of the top 20. On Lap 62, however, Earnhardt was involved in an incident during three-wide racing, and contact with a competitor forced the No. 88 Axalta Chevrolet SS into the wall. Earnhardt drove to the garage for repairs, but the incident ultimately ended his day. “The car was great – it’s a shame,” he said. He was scored 39th.