BROOKLYN, Mich. – Sunday at Michigan International Speedway, Chase Elliott followed up his first career NASCAR Cup Series win with a top-10 finish in his 100th career Cup Series start.
Elliott led his Hendrick Motorsports teammates to the checkered flag in ninth.
He was followed to the finish line by Alex Bowman in 19th, Jimmie Johnson in 28th and William Byron in 36th.
Kevin Harvick earned the win.
Below is a closer look at how the four Hendrick Motorsports teammates fared Sunday at Michigan.
CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS CHEVROLET CAMARO ZL1
FINISHED: 9th
HOW IT HAPPENED:
· Elliott took the green flag Sunday in 21st and began working his way toward the top 10 before a competition caution on Lap 25. Entering pit road in 12th, the No. 9 team was penalized for an uncontrolled tire and Elliott was sent to the tail end of the lead lap.
· Shortly thereafter, the driver reported a vibration and headed back to pit road, putting him one lap behind the leader in 37th. He moved up to 34th before taking the green-checkered flag to finish Stage 1 down one lap.
· Elliott regained the lap during the caution prior to the second segment, and began Stage 2 in 29th. He proceeded to climb through the field up to 13th by the end of Stage 2.
· Restarting 14th to begin the final segment, Elliott quickly jumped inside the top 10 as soon as the green flag waved. Following a cycle of green-flag pit stops, he was back in 10th as the laps wound down. He took the checkered flag ninth, picking up a top-10 finish in his 100th career NASCAR Cup Series start.
WILLIAM BYRON, NO. 24 LIBERTY UNIVERSITY CHEVROLET CAMARO ZL1
FINISHED: 36th
HOW IT HAPPENED:
· Starting Sunday’s race in the 20th position, Byron made contact with a competitor and the wall early in Stage 1. After the No. 24 team repaired the damage, Byron returned to the track down two laps in 40th. He moved up to 38th before the end of Stage 1, though he took the green-checkered flag down three laps.
· In Stage 2, the No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 experienced a mechanical issue that required the team to work on the car on pit road. The team was penalized for too many men over the wall, and during the pass-through penalty, Byron was penalized again for speeding, requiring a second pass-through. He finished Stage 2 in 38th down 13 laps.
· That is where he would begin the final segment as well, and he remained steady throughout the final portion of the race, picking up two more positions to finish 36th.
JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S FOR PROS CHEVROLET CAMARO ZL1
FINISHED: 28th
HOW IT HAPPENED:
· Rolling off the grid 19th, Johnson knocked on the door of the top 15 for the majority of the first segment of Sunday’s race. He finished Stage 1 in 17th.
· On pit road following Stage 1, the No. 48 team elected to take a two-tire stop, allowing Johnson gain 16 positions on pit road to start Stage 2 as the race leader. Johnson held the lead briefly when the green flag waved before falling back but remaining inside the top 10. When a caution flag waved, Johnson stayed on the track to regain the lead as the Stage 2 laps wound down. During the next caution, however, Johnson headed to pit road, giving up his position. He moved back up to 14th before the end of the segment.
· Johnson started the final segment in 11th, and as competitors headed to pit road for green-flag stops midway through the segment, he moved into the top three before visiting pit road himself. Just as the field cycled through, Johnson headed to pit road from inside the top 15 when he suspected a loose wheel. He returned to the track in 28th, and took the checkered flag in that position.
ALEX BOWMAN, NO. 88 AXALTA CHEVROLET CAMARO ZL1
FINISHED: 19th
HOW IT HAPPENED:
· Starting 10th, Bowman utilized several restarts through the early portion of Sunday’s race to jump up to third place before a Lap 25 competition caution. He lost multiple positions on pit road, but maintained his top-10 position as the first stage continued. He finished Stage 1 in 10th, gaining one extra point.
· Bowman gained four positions on pit road prior to the start of Stage 2, which he began in the fifth position. After jumping up to fourth, Bowman began to fall back in the pack. Midway through the segment he was outside of the top 10, and he finished Stage 2 in 17th.
· Bowman started 15th to begin the final segment, and he was the first car to head to pit road for a green-flag stop inside his fuel window with fewer than 40 laps remaining. When the full field cycled through, the No. 88 Axalta Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 was running inside the top 20. He crossed the finish line in 19th.