LOUDON, N.H. – The first 75 laps of Sunday’s race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway are complete and Jimmie Johnson led his teammates to the green-checkered flag at the conclusion of Stage 1.
Starting 12th, Johnson and the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet SS team broke into the top 10 at Lap 32 and continued to push to finish Stage 1 in eighth.
Chase Elliott took the green-checkered flag in 17th.
Teammate Kasey Kahne started the race in ninth and pushed his way up to sixth by Lap 10. However, with reports of a loose car, Kahne started to slip and ultimately took the green-checkered flag to end Stage 1 in 18th.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished the stage in 21st.
Martin Truex Jr. won the segment.
Stage 2 will consist of another 75 laps before a final 150-lap segment.