Gordon, Earnhardt finish in the top 14 at Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The NASCAR Sprint Cup event at Daytona International Speedway was full of surprises, delays and plenty of rain, as the already-postponed race was called early on Sunday due to inclement weather. Despite involvement in early incidents, Hendrick Motorsports drivers Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished 12th and 14th, respectively, at the 2.5-mile superspeedway. Teammates Kasey Kahne and Jimmie Johnson weren’t as fortunate, scoring 27th and 42nd-place results, respectively, after being caught up in seperate multi-car incidents.

Here’s a look at how the Hendrick Motorsports drivers fared at the Daytona tri-oval:

KASEY KAHNE, NO. 5 FARMERS INSURANCE/G.I. JOBS CHEVROLET SS
FINISHED: 27th
STANDINGS: 18th
RECAP: Kasey Kahne began Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup event at Daytona International Speedway from the 14th position. With the help of spotter Kevin Hamlin, Kahne avoided a multi-car incident at Lap 20 and continued to advance his position in the field. When the caution flag waved again at Lap 40, Kahne was running seventh. Four laps later, the driver of the No. 5 Farmers Insurance/G.I. Jobs Chevrolet SS had cracked the top four and by Lap 62, he had moved into the runner-up position. At Lap 87, Kahne came down pit road for his green-flag pit stop, taking four tires and fuel. He lined up sixth for the restart at Lap 97 and was running in the top 10 when he was caught up in 26-car incident at Lap 98. He was scored with a 27th-place finish.

JEFF GORDON, NO. 24 PEPSI REAL. BIG. SUMMER. CHEVROLET SS
FINISHED: 12th
STANDINGS: First
RECAP: Jeff Gordon rolled off the grid ninth on Sunday at the 2.5-mile superspeedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. The driver of the No. 24 Pepsi Real. Big. Summer. Chevrolet SS was running seventh when he was involved in a 16-car incident just 20 laps into the race. After making several trips to pit road for repairs, the six-time Daytona race winner was back on the track and on the lead lap for the restart at Lap 28. “This is going to be a race of survival,” Gordon told crew chief Alan Gustafson on the radio. As the race leaders made their green-flag pit stops around Lap 85, Gordon stayed out to lead one lap before coming down pit road for his own service. He continued his run toward the back of the field and was able to avoid a 26-car incident at Lap 98. With only 16 cars on the lead lap, Gordon lined up 13th for the restart at Lap 104. However, his run was halted nine laps later due to rainfall on the track, which ultimately brought out the red flag. NASCAR was forced to call the race early with 47 laps to go, leaving Gordon a 12th-place result.

JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S PATRIOTIC CHEVROLET SS
FINISHED: 42nd
STANDINGS: Third
RECAP: With a top-five qualifying spot and plenty of momentum, Jimmie Johnson was ready to race at the 2.5-mile superspeedway on Sunday. The driver of the No. 48 Lowe’s Patriotic Chevrolet SS wasted no time at the Florida track, moving into third in line of a three-wide pack in the first five laps. After a brief rain delay that halted the race for 20 minutes, Johnson’s drive continued and he cracked the top three within the first three laps after the restart at Lap 12. Unfortunately for the No. 48 team, Johnson’s run was cut short when he was involved in a 16-car incident at Lap 20. He was scored with a 42nd-place finish.

DALE EARNHARDT, JR., NO. 88 NATIONAL GUARD CHEVROLET SS
FINISHED: 14th
STANDINGS: Second
RECAP:  Dale Earnhardt Jr. entered Sunday’s race at Daytona with the goal of sweeping the 2.5-mile superspeedway. After qualifying seventh, Earnhardt’s run was interrupted when he was collected in a 16-car incident at Lap 20. Undaunted, the driver of the No. 88 National Guard Chevrolet SS came down pit road several times for repairs and was back on the track one lap down to the leader for the restart at Lap 28. Earnhardt was the beneficiary of the free pass at Lap 41, which allowed him to get back on the lead lap. On the following restart, the reigning Daytona 500 winner lost the draft and had to work his way back onto the lead lap once more. He received the free pass yet again when the caution flag waved at Lap 94. Earnhardt’s position in the back of the field proved to be beneficial, as he was able to avoid a multi-car incident at Lap 98. With a Daytona sweep in sight again, Earnhardt lined up his camouflaged Chevy SS ninth for the restart at Lap 104. Unfortunately for the No. 88 team, rain began to fall, forcing NASCAR to eventually call the race with 47 laps to go, giving Earnhardt a 14th-place result at the 2.5-mile superspeedway.