FORT WORTH, Texas – Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway, William Byron led his Hendrick Motorsports teammates to the checkered flag with his first career NASCAR Cup Series top-10 finish.
Byron took home a 10th-place result after starting at the rear of the field.
Chase Elliott finished right behind his teammate in 11th.
Jimmie Johnson was involved in a multiple-car incident that ended his race early. He was scored 35th.
"Unfortunate circumstances, but a lot to build on from this weekend," Johnson said. "A strong Friday, a fantastic Saturday and then not the best Sunday. We had a lot of different things work against us today, but we are getting closer each and every week and I’m really proud of everybody at Hendrick Motorsports. We will get back to our winning ways soon.”
Alex Bowman took home a 28th-place finish after starting the day 16th. His progress was derailed when he reported an issue and was forced to take his car to the garage midway through Stage 1.
Kyle Busch took the checkered flag as the winner.
Below is a detailed look at how all four Hendrick Motorsports drivers performed Sunday.
CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS CHEVROLET CAMARO ZL1
FINISHED: 11th
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Starting 20th, Elliott got to work early in Sunday's race and was running 14th by Lap 31. The driver of the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 continued to gain positions and was inside the top 10 by Lap 63. Elliott finished the first segment in ninth and earned two points for the result.
- Elliott continued to race inside the top 10 at the beginning Stage 2 and moved up four positions into sixth on Lap 136 out of a caution. He held his position and finished the middle segment in sixth, earning five points for the result.
- Thanks to quick work on pit road, Elliott jumped up to second to begin the final stage. Running third with 120 laps to go, Elliott made an unscheduled pit stop under green after reporting a vibration. He returned to the track in 13th down a lap.
- As competitors headed to pit road for their own green-flag stops later in the final segment, Elliott remained on the track, moving back onto the lead lap and up to third before a caution flag was thrown on Lap 235. He restarted inside the top 10 when the green flag waved once again.
- Late in the race, after pitting too early, Elliott fell a lap behind the leader outside of the top 10. He battled to regain position and ultimately finished 11th.
WILLIAM BYRON, NO. 24 LIBERTY UNIVERSITY CHEVROLET CAMARO ZL1
FINISHED: 10th
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Starting at the rear of the field, Byron moved up seven positions out of an early caution on Lap 3. He continued to gain ground and moved into the top 20 toward the end of Stage 1. Byron briefly cracked the top 15 and finished the opening segment in 16th.
- Byron initially lost seven spots out of the caution between stages, but the driver of the No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 battled back and was running 18th by Lap 118.
- After falling a lap down, he earned a free pass back onto to the lead lap on Lap 126 and jumped back up to 15th. He stayed in the top 15 for the rest of the stage and gained two additional spots to finish the middle segment 13th.
- Out of the caution between stages, Byron picked up four spots to break inside the top 10 to start the final segment. He continued to battle and held his top-10 position for most of the stage to take home a 10th-place result.
JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S FOR PROS CHEVROLET CAMARO ZL1
FINISHED: 35th
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Leading his teammates to the green flag in ninth, Johnson raced inside the top 10 for much of the first stage and was as high as seventh. However, on Lap 54, Johnson was forced to make an extra pit stop after having a front wheel issue and dropped to 28th. He gained some spots back and finished Stage 1 in 25th.
- Johnson started Stage 2 in 24th and kept fighting to gain positions. He gained two positions toward the end of the segment to finish the middle stage 22nd.
- Johnson’s day was cut short when he was involved in a multiple-car incident on the first lap of the final segment. He was scored 35th.
ALEX BOWMAN, NO. 88 NATIONWIDE CHEVROLET CAMARO ZL1
FINISHED: 28th
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Rolling off the grid 16th, Bowman was involved in an incident on Lap 2 and was pushed back to the rear of the field. Later in the stage, he reported an issue and was forced to take his Nationwide Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 to the garage. Hard work by the No. 88 team allowed him to return to the track and Bowman finished Stage 1 in 36th.
- Bowman continued to battle to gain as many positions as possible and finished Stage 2 in 34th.
- He gained six positions in the final segment and finished the day 28th, 40 laps behind the leader.