DARLINGTON, S.C. – With four throwback paint schemes aboard their Chevrolets, the four Hendrick Motorsports drivers took on the caution-riddled Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway with Kasey Kahne leading his teammates to the checkered flag.
Running inside the top 15 the majority of the 367-lap race, Kahne regrouped late in the race to come home with a top-10 finish, followed closely by Chase Elliott.
Jeff Gordon, in his fifth race filling in for Dale Earnhardt Jr., battled back from an early setback to bring home a top-15 finish.
While running two laps down, Jimmie Johnson was involved in a Lap 213 incident that sent him to the garage before returning to the track.
Below, see how all four Hendrick Motorsports drivers fared Sunday at Darlington Raceway.
KASEY KAHNE, NO. 5 LIFTMASTER CHEVROLET SS
FINISHED: 7th
STANDINGS: 16th
RECAP: Taking the green flag in 18th, Kahne made quick work of climbing through the field, finding himself just outside the top 10 in 12th within the first several laps of the race. Following two green-flag pit stop cycles, Kahne settled into a 15th running position, which he maintained the majority of the race. With less than 80 laps remaining, the driver of the No. 5 LiftMaster Chevrolet SS drove inside the top 10. With less than 15 laps remaining, Kahne restarted in the sixth position and held steady to take the checkered flag in 7th.
CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 24 NAPA AUTO PARTS ASSURANCE OF QUALITY CHEVROLET SS
FINISHED: 10th
STANDINGS: 10th
RECAP: Rolling off the grid in 11th, Elliott fell back just inside the top 20, running closely with teammate Gordon. However, following the first caution of the race, which caught many competitors on pit road, Elliott found himself in third for the Lap 104 restart. The young rookie, along with his No. 24 NAPA AUTO PARTS team, put together several strong runs, maintaining a solid top-five position. Following a Lap 285 restart from fifth, Elliott made a forward charge, gaining two positions to run third. However, a Lap 280 caution set Elliott back to fifth for the restart and he lost several positions throughout four additional runs to cross the finish line in 10th.
JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S CHEVROLET SS
FINISHED: 33rd
STANDINGS: 11th
RECAP: Leading his teammates to the green flag in ninth, Johnson maintained a top-10 position throughout the first 40 laps of the race. Following the first round of green-flag pit stops, Johnson returned to the track and settled into seventh. A pit road violation during a Lap 96 caution sent Johnson two laps down for the Lap 104 restart. The driver of the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet SS was involved in a Lap 213 caution that forced Johnson to make a trip back to the garage. He returned to the track on Lap 250 and took home a 33rd-place finish.
JEFF GORDON, NO. 88 NATIONWIDE CHEVROLET SS
FINISHED: 14th
STANDINGS: 24th
RECAP: Making his fifth start of the 2016 season, Gordon took the green flag in 15th but fell back outside the top 20 in the beginning stages of the race. Following the first green-flag pit stop and a round of adjustments, Gordon went two laps down. However, following a Lap 96 caution, the No. 88 Nationwide Chevrolet team took the wave around, gaining one lap back and running in 22nd position. The seven-time Darlington victor battled the majority of the race to regain a lead lap position. He crossed the top-20 barrier on Lap 227 and following a Lap 280 caution, restarted in 15th. He gained one position to finish in 14th.