BROOKLYN, Mich. – Rain played a major role Sunday at Michigan International Speedway. It caused a two-and-a-half hour delay at the start of Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race, and ultimately, it ended it.
Chase Elliott was leading his Hendrick Motorsports teammates at the end of the rain-shortened event, taking home a ninth-place result.
William Byron was next, scored 13th, followed by Alex Bowman in 16th and Jimmie Johnson in 20th.
Clint Bowyer won the race.
Below is a closer look at how the four Hendrick Motorsports teammates fared Sunday afternoon.
CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 9 MOUNTAIN DEW LITTLE CAESAR’S CHEVROLET CAMARO ZL1
FINISHED: 9th
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Rolling off the grid 13th, Elliott ran inside the top 10 for a large portion of the first stage of the race. As the field came to the green flag with one lap to go in the stage following a caution, however, the No. 9 Mountain Dew Little Caesar’s Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 suffered a flat left-rear tire and Elliott was forced to head to pit road. That dropped him from the top 10 to a 32nd-place finish to Stage 1.
- Because Elliott headed to pit road when it was closed for the end of Stage 1, he had to start Stage 2 from the rear of the field. But within 15 laps, he was already back inside the top 15. He continued climbing to finish Stage 2 in 12th.
- In the final segment, with rain on the horizon, Elliott jumped inside the top 10 on the restart to begin the stage. When a caution flag waved 10 laps into the segment, he was running ninth – and that is where he would be scored when the red flag was brought out and the race was called due to rain.
WILLIAM BYRON, NO. 24 LIBERTY UNIVERSITY CHEVROLET CAMARO ZL1
FINISHED: 13th
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Byron began Sunday’s race 14th, but within three laps he was already up to eighth. He remained consistent throughout the opening segment, finishing Stage 1 in eighth to pick up three extra points.
- In Stage 2, Byron continued to maintain his top-10 position until late in the segment when he settled into 11th. He reported that he was battling the handling of the No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 after the team took two tires during a caution. Still, just taking the green-checkered flag, he inched ahead into 10th place to earn another extra point at the end of Stage 2.
- As the final segment got underway, Byron fell to 13th before a caution flag waved with rain looming. Shortly thereafter, a red flag was displayed and the race was called due to rain, giving Byron a 13th-place result.
JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S FOR PROS CHEVROLET CAMARO ZL1
FINISHED: 20th
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Johnson took the green flag in 20th, and he battled the handling of the No. 48 Lowe’s for Pros Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 early in the race. Following a caution midway through the opening segment, Johnson headed to pit road in order to attempt to correct the car’s handling when many other competitors stayed on the track. Ultimately, he finished Stage 1 in 23rd.
- In the second segment, Johnson teetered in and out of the top 20, falling back to 23rd once again after 25 laps. But he bounced back to settle into 18th with 10 laps to go in the segment, and he held onto that position through the end of Stage 2.
- On pit road prior to the start of the final segment, the No. 48 team was penalized for an uncontrolled tire, sending Johnson to the rear for the ensuing restart.
- Johnson was running 20th when a caution flag waved early in the final segment with rain on the horizon. When a red flag was brought out shortly thereafter due to rain, the race was called and Johnson was scored 20th.
ALEX BOWMAN, NO. 88 NATIONWIDE CHEVROLET CAMARO ZL1
FINISHED: 16th
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Starting 21st, Bowman gradually worked his way past competitors throughout the first segment of Sunday’s race. By the time the green-checkered flag waved to conclude Stage 1, Bowman was running 14th.
- In Stage 2, Bowman climbed near the top 10, finding 12th with 30 laps remaining in the segment after taking two tires during a pit stop under caution. He dropped a few positions but remained inside the top 20, finishing Stage 2 in 16th.
- As the final segment got underway, Bowman remained in 16th when a caution flag waved after 10 laps. A red flag was displayed shortly thereafter as rain reached the track, and the race was ultimately called, giving Bowman a 16th-place finish.