WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. – The first 20 laps are complete at Watkins Glen International and Chase Elliott is inside the top five.
Elliott took the green flag in fourth and picked up one position for a third-place finish in Stage 1. He received eight bonus points for the result.
Kasey Kahne rolled off the grid in 19th and worked his way through the field in Stage 1. He raced into the top 10 and took the green-checkered flag in ninth.
Jimmie Johnson finished Stage 1 in 23rd after making a pit stop three laps prior to the end of the segment, setting himself up for Stage 2.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. reported that he was losing power in his No. 88 Axalta Chevrolet SS with one lap to go in the stage. He finished 28th.
Kyle Busch won the stage.
Stage 2 will consist of another 20 laps before a final 50-lap segment.