FORT WORTH, Texas – Stage 1 at Texas Motor Speedway is in the books and three Hendrick Motorsports teammates are inside the top 15.
After starting near the rear of the field in 34th, Chase Elliott battled through the pack to finish Stage 1 just outside of the top 10 in 11th.
Kasey Kahne rolled off the grid in 19th and drove his “Justice League” themed No. 5 Great Clips Chevrolet SS to a 12th-place Stage 1 finish.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. followed closely behind Kahne to finish in 14th at the conclusion of the first stage.
Jimmie Johnson experienced tire rub and a small vibration, causing him to make an unscheduled pit stop on Lap 68. He finished the stage down two laps in 28th.
Kevin Harvick won the stage.
Stage 2 will consist of another 85 laps before a final 164-lap segment.