HAMPTON, Ga. – Sunday’s race at Atlanta Motor Speedway has 85 laps in the books at the conclusion of Stage 1.
And Chase Elliott found himself near the front of the pack all stage long. After starting just outside the top 10, Elliott finished Stage 1 in third place, and he felt good about the capability of his No. 24 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet SS.
With the top 10 at the end of Stages 1 and 2 earning points, Elliott picked up eight extra race points, and after moving inside the top 10 with just two laps remaining in Stage 1, Jimmie Johnson earned one extra point, too, as the 10th-place Stage 1 finisher.
Kasey Kahne took the green checkered flag at the end of Stage 1 down one lap in 18th place, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. found himself down two laps in 28th after a pit road penalty in addition to a tire going down.
Stage 2 also consists of 85 laps before a 155-lap final stage.