CONCORD, N.C. – Tied for second as the track where the organization has seen the most success, Charlotte Motor Speedway proved to be a challenge for the four Hendrick Motorsports drivers this past weekend.
Kasey Kahne and Chase Elliott both experienced early-race issues that set them back in the beginning laps of the 600-mile race.
Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. both battled with tight, “harsh” rides at points during the event but were able to dial in their Chevrolets with the help of their teams.
Take a look at some of the lessons learned from this past weekend’s race at Charlotte.
CONQUERING TIRE ISSUES
Rolling off the grid just inside the top 30, Kasey Kahne quickly started advancing positions before a cut right-front tire forced the No. 5 Liftmaster team to work early on pit road.
With four fresh tires, the driver returned to the track two laps down in 40th. He took it easy on his fresh Goodyears for the next 60 or so laps before a scheduled green-flag pit stop on Lap 77.
No. 5 team crew chief Keith Rodden and the team closely inspected each used set of tires, with Rodden informing the team that the “tires look good.”
Kahne maneuvered his Chevy around the 1.5-mile oval and was running 29th when he scrubbed the wall on Lap 285. He immediately pitted for four new tires and fuel before returning to the track.
Despite the tire issues, Kahne rebounded for a 22nd-place finish.
BOUNCING BACK
Prior to the Lap 25 competition caution, Chase Elliott had charged from his 12th-place starting position to inside the top 10 in eighth.
However, it wouldn’t be an easy race for Elliott and the No. 24 NAPA AUTO PARTS team.
Following his pit stop during the early caution, the rookie was served a speeding penalty as he exited pit road that sent him to the rear of the field for the restart.
Elliott didn’t let that small speedbump slow him down, although, as he rallied throughout the 600-miler to climb through the field of competitors.
He broke the top-10 barrier once again on Lap 224 and stayed within that limit for the remaining laps of the event, taking home an eighth-place finish, his ninth top-10 of the year.
“Definitely a long one, very difficult,” Elliott said. “We fought hard and we are trying to get that next little bit.”
LATE-RACE BATTLE
A seventh-place starting position allowed Johnson to quickly climb toward the front of the field in Sunday’s race at Charlotte. He took over second with 61 laps down and held steady behind the leader for the majority of the 600-mile event.
Johnson’s No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet SS was strong on the long runs, allowing him to close the gap that was present between his car and the leader, Martin Truex Jr.
“I thought we had a chance at them a few times, a couple of times on the long run we would get close,” Johnson said. “A couple times on the restarts we would get close, but all-in-all a very strong performance for this Lowe’s Chevrolet.”
Due to a speedy pit stop by the No. 48 Lowe’s team during a caution with 61 laps remaining, Johnson earned the outside front row position for the restart. The green flag waved on what would be a showdown between the two front-runners.
“I kind of felt like he (Truex Jr.) was playing with us,” Johnson laughed. “He was so fast. I would flatfoot (Turns) 1 and 2, and have a nose on him, and he would drive right back by me into Turn 3. So, it was so fast. It was very impressive.”
Although he fell short of the win, Johnson said he was proud of the effort his No. 48 Lowe’s team put into Sunday’s event, finishing third.