RICHMOND, Va. -- In a race he needs to win in order to clinch a spot in the playoffs, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has moved from a 21st-place starting position all the way to a seventh-place finish in Stage 2 at Richmond Raceway.
Earnhardt led his teammates to the green-checkered flag as the only Hendrick Motorsports driver inside the top 10 at the end of the second segment.
He picked up four extra points for the result.
Chase Elliott was next to the finish line in 12th. Immediately behind Elliott was Jimmie Johnson, who finished Stage 2 in 13th, and Kasey Kahne, who crossed the finish line 14th.
The race will conclude with a final, 200-lap segment.