LOUDON, N.H. – On a hot Sunday afternoon at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, William Byron led the way for Hendrick Motorsports by crossing the finish line in 12th.
He was followed to the checkered flag by teammate Alex Bowman in 14th. After experiencing issues with their race cars, Chase Elliott finished in 29th with Jimmie Johnson in 30th.
Kevin Harvick took home the win.
Below is a closer look at how the four Hendrick Motorsports teams fared Sunday in the 301-lap New Hampshire race.
CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 9 KELLEY BLUE BOOK CHEVROLET CAMARO ZL1
FINISHED: 29th
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- After starting the race in 12th, Chase Elliott maintained his position throughout Stage 1. The first caution on Lap 48 had the No. 9 car receiving four tires, fuel and chassis adjustments. Ultimately, Elliott finished the first stage in 12th.
- At the beginning of Stage 2, Elliott fought to move inside the top 10 before the driver reported his race car had no water pressure. He headed to pit road as the No. 9 crew worked to address the issue. Elliott returned to the track in 36th and 11 laps down. He finished the stage in 34th.
- Still 11 laps down, Elliott fought to make up positions throughout the final segment. Ultimately, he finished Sunday’s event in 29th.
WILLIAM BYRON, NO. 24 LIBERTY UNIVERSITY CHEVROLET CAMARO ZL1
FINISHED: 12th
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- William Byron rolled off the grid 22nd. After a pit stop under caution, the No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 received four new tires and fuel, returning to the track in 20th where he finished the first stage.
- When Stage 2 started, Byron picked up three spots thanks to quick work on pit road by the No. 24 crew. When the caution waved on Lap 109, the sophomore driver took to pit road for tires. Shortly after, he radioed that he was experiencing right-front tire issues. Crew chief Chad Knaus opted to stay out when cars cycled through pit stops, as the team hoped the issues were not serious. The No. 24 team looked to gain stage points and stayed out when the leader went to pit road on Lap 136. Byron finished Stage 2 in fourth, earning seven extra points.
- Opting to pit at the stage break, the No. 24 car restarted in 19th. Byron quickly gained positions to 15th and fought his way through traffic. He continued to run inside the top 15, and with 25 laps left knocked on the door of the top 10. When the race came to a close, Byron was scored with a finish of 12th.
JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 ALLY CHEVROLET CAMARO ZL1
FINISHED: 30th
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Jimmie Johnson began the race in 10th. When the first yellow flag waved, the seven-time champion headed to pit road for four tires and fuel, restarting in 13th. He was 11th by the close of the stage, just shy of earning extra points
- When the second stage began Johnson was able to pick up one spot on pit road to restart 10th. On the final lap of the second stage, he was running just outside the top five until he reported the No. 48 car lost its power steering. He finished Stage 2 in 24th.
- The team was able to diagnose and fix a broken water belt before the No. 48 car headed back to the track in 34th with 120 laps remaining in Sunday’s event. Johnson was 13 laps down in 32nd with 50 laps left and was scored with a 30th-place finish when the checkered flag waved.
ALEX BOWMAN, NO. 88 AXALTA CHEVROLET CAMARO ZL1
FINISHED: 14th
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- After experiencing damage to both his primary and backup No. 88 cars prior to Sunday’s race, Alex Bowman took the wheel of his third car of the New Hampshire weekend – a backup Chevrolet from teammate Jimmie Johnson.
- Bowman quickly made his way through the field, climbing from 37th to 26th early in the race. On his first trip to pit road, the No. 88 team opted for four fires, fuel and a track-bar adjustment. He finished the first stage in 19th.
- When Stage 2 began, Bowman looked to gain positions until a caution on Lap 109. During a pit stop, he missed his stall due to contact with another driver, which forced him to make another lap before coming back for service. Bowman received fuel and chassis adjustments as the crew fixed damage from the contact. Crew chief Greg Ives radioed his driver to stay out and save fuel when another caution flag flew, leading the No. 88 car to finish the stage 14th.
- Bowman stayed out at the stage break and moved to sixth by Lap 167. After he reported a tight condition in his race car, a caution flag waved and the driver headed to pit road for new tires, fuel and adjustments. With just 70 laps to go, the No. 88 car was running 12th and looking to break into the top 10.
- Bowman battled to get inside the top 10 during the final laps of the race. When the checkered flag waved, the 26-year-old driver finished Sunday’s race in 14th.