DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – In just 75 laps Saturday night, the Sprint Unlimited fit in plenty of excitement – and just a bit of chaos.
Two Hendrick Motorsports drivers were caught up in the first big incident of the evening, causing Kasey Kahne and Jimmie Johnson to head to the garage early.
Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr., meanwhile, avoided a number of large incidents -- two of which caused red flags -- to make it to the finish line in the top 10.
"All-in-all a fun race," Gordon said, noting that he was fortunate to avoid an accident. "This thing's wild."
By the end of the evening, Gordon finished seventh, Earnhardt finished ninth, Johnson was scored 22nd and Kahne was scored 23rd.
Below is a detailed look at how the Sprint Unlimited played out for all four Hendrick Motorsports drivers.
KASEY KAHNE, NO. 5 GREAT CLIPS CHEVROLET SS
Started: 2nd
Finished: 23rd
Recap: After starting the Sprint Unlimited in second place, Kahne raced in the top five for the first two laps. But by Lap 6, he had fallen back outside the top 15. It was an up-and-down evening for the first segment of the race, as on Lap 11 Kahne was in 19th, but just five laps later he found himself back in the top five. When the first caution flag of the night was thrown, Kahne was in 13th, and he picked up a spot by the time the green flag waved. Kahne fell back outside the top 20 on Lap 35, and 10 laps later Kahne was caught up in an incident that ended the event for numerous competitors, including the No. 5 team. Kahne was ultimately scored 23rd.
JEFF GORDON, NO. 24 DRIVE TO END HUNGER CHEVROLET SS
Started: 11th
Finished: 7th
Recap: Gordon's night began just outside the top 10, and by Lap 3 he was back in 19th. He continued to run outside the top 10 for the first 20 laps of the race, but by the time a caution flag waved at Lap 22, Gordon was in seventh place. He remained in the top 10 when the green flag waved for the second segment of the Sprint Unlimited, and by Lap 44 he was all the way up to second place. Just one lap later, an incident affected double-digit vehicles – though Gordon was able to avoid it. After a red flag, Gordon returned to the track in second but fell back as far as 10th before another caution flag waved. He narrowly avoided that incident, as well, announcing over the radio, "We're still in it!" He took four fresh tires in pit road and took the green flag with nine laps to go in 11th. Yet another incident narrowly missed Gordon once again, though the driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet SS said he was worried that he had nose damage. Crew chief Alan Gustafson confirmed that there was minimal damage, and after a red flag, Gordon returned to the track at the back of the pack due to a penalty for too many men over the wall. Gordon continued to battle toward the front, however, crossing the finish line in seventh.
JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE'S CHEVROLET SS
Started: 17th
Finished: 22nd
Recap: Johnson, who began Saturday night's race in 17th position, fell back to 21st by Lap 3. But that didn't last long, as the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet SS battled its way into the top 10 by Lap 8, and one lap later was as high as sixth position. Johnson was running 19th when a caution flag was thrown for an incident, but he picked up seven spots by the time the green flag waved at Lap 29. Johnson continued to fight toward the front, once again making his way to the sixth position by Lap 35, but he was running eighth when a large incident involved numerous cars including the No. 48 Chevrolet SS and ended Johnson's day. He was ultimately scored 22nd.
DALE EARNHARDT JR., NO. 88 NATIONWIDE CHEVROLET SS
Started: 24th
Finished: 9th
Recap: In just one lap, Earnhardt made his way from his starting position – 24th – up to 14th. That 10-position charge was just the beginning, as the driver of the No. 88 Nationwide Chevrolet SS continued to charge all the way into the top five by Lap 4. He raced to the runner-up position by Lap 15, and after an incident at Lap 22 forced a caution ahead of the planned Lap 25 mark, Earnhardt found himself at the front of the pack. Crew chief Greg Ives made the call to fill up on fuel but not take any tires, and it paid off in the form of the race lead when the green flag waved again at Lap 29. That's where Earnhardt stayed until some debris on the grille of his Chevrolet SS forced him to give up the lead and eventually head to pit road so his crew could remove it. Shortly after he returned to the track, an incident caused a red flag and sent Earnhardt back to pit road, where he received four new tires. He was the beneficiary of a free pass in the process, and when the green flag waved, he found himself in 13th. He quickly moved inside the top 10, and was as high as seventh before another incident caused a caution. Earnhardt once again took four fresh tires and with nine laps to go was in eighth and had moved up to seventh one lap later just before an incident that forced the second red flag of the evening. With just 12 cars remaining on the track, Earnhardt began his push toward the front with four laps to go. He took the checkered flag ninth.