LAS VEGAS – Chase Elliott led the way for Hendrick Motorsports Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
The driver of the No. 9 Hooters Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 earned a ninth-place finish in the first race of the West Coast swing.
He was joined inside the top 20 by three of his teammates. Alex Bowman finished Sunday’s race just outside the top 10 in 11th, William Byron took the checkered flag in 16th and Jimmie Johnson crossed the finish line in 19th.
Joey Logano captured the win.
Below is a closer look at how the four Hendrick Motorsports drivers fared Sunday at Las Vegas.
CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 9 HOOTERS CHEVROLET CAMARO ZL1
FINISHED: 9th
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Taking the green flag in 12th, Elliott was able to gain positions early in the race to settle into sixth place. The driver of the No. 9 Hooters Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 pitted along with the majority of the field during a green-flag run, battling inside the top 15 for the majority of the first stage. With four laps to go in Stage 1, Elliott passed teammate Johnson to take eighth and gain two extra points.
- In the beginning of Stage 2, Elliott stayed inside the top 10. Midway through the second stage, he continued to hold strong in seventh. He took the green-checkered flag to end Stage 2 in sixth, earning five more points.
- Entering the final stage, Elliott once again battled inside of the top 10. Able to maintain his spot in ninth for a majority of the final stage, the driver battled to gain position. Succeeding in his fight, Elliott jumped to sixth with 30 laps to go. Ultimately, the driver finished Sunday’s race in ninth.
WILLIAM BYRON, NO. 24 HERTZ CHEVROLET CAMARO ZL1
FINISHED: 16th
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Byron rolled off the grid Sunday at Las Vegas inside the top 20. The driver was able to advance quickly to stay near the top 15. After fast work from the No. 24 team on pit road, Byron was able to return to the track inside the top 15. After a green-flag pit stop on Lap 43 for fuel, four tires and adjustments, he took the green-checkered flag to end Stage 1 in 15th.
- The driver of the No. 24 Hertz Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 started the second stage in 14th. When cars pitted during green-flag conditions, Byron elected to stay on the track, pushing him into the lead. After leading 21 laps, Byron headed to pit road for a quick stop and returned to the track inside the top 10. With only a few laps remaining, Byron battled against teammate Johnson for positioning at the end of the stage, ultimately taking the green-checkered flag just shy of the top 10 in 11th.
- The final stage brought the driver inside the top 10 on the restart. Following a green-flag pit stop midway through the segment, Byron made it back to the track inside the top 20. Quickly gaining position, the driver jumped up to 16th before the checkered flag waved.
JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 ALLY CHEVROLET CAMARO ZL1
FINISHED: 19th
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Starting Sunday’s race in ninth place, the driver of the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 was able to jump up and take fifth place. By Lap 59, all four Hendrick Motorsports drivers held a top-20 position with the No. 48 team in 19th after a cycle of green-flag pit stops. By the final laps of Stage 1, Johnson was battling to finish in a points position. He fell just short and finished the first stage in 11th.
- Stage 2 had Hendrick Motorsports drivers throughout the top 15 for majority of laps. Johnson pushed to hold a position among the top 10. After a quick pit stop for tires and fuel, the driver of the No. 48 Ally Chevy made it back to the track to finish 10th and gain one point for the stage.
- The final segment began with Johnson in 13th, and he settled into 20th by Lap 183. When competitors headed to pit road for green-flag stops, Johnson stayed on the track, jumping back up to fifth. After his own stop, Johnson held strong inside the top 20 to take the checkered flag in 19th.
ALEX BOWMAN, NO. 88 AXALTA CHEVROLET CAMARO ZL1
FINISHED: 11th
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Bowman began Sunday’s race in 12th. When the majority of the field elected to pit, Bowman and the No. 88 Axalta Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 team stayed on the track to gain positions. By Lap 58 all Hendrick Motorsport drivers were inside the top 20 with Bowman in sixth. Just after Bowman captured sixth, he elected to pit and returned to the track in 15th. He held that position and maintained Hendrick Motorsports drivers inside the top 15, ultimately finishing the first stage in 14th.
- Stage 2 saw Bowman battling inside the top 20. Halfway through the segment, he had moved inside the top 15. Eager to close the gap in front of him, Bowman climbed in position to end Stage 2 inside the top 10 in ninth, earning two extra points.
- Bowman maintained a top-15 position in the first quarter of the final stage. With 64 laps to go, Bowman made slight contact with the wall, leading him to make a stop on pit road to fix a rear tire, putting him in 22nd on Lap 209 of 267. In the final laps of the race, the driver of the No. 88 Chevy made quick work to gain positions, taking the checkered flag just outside of the top 10 in 11th.