DOVER, Del. – Sunday afternoon at Dover International Speedway, Alex Bowman led the way for the organization with his top-three finish.
Bowman’s third-place result in the Round of 12 opener gave him three top-10s in the four playoff races so far this season.
Following him to the checkered flag was Jimmie Johnson, who finished eighth. It marked his third consecutive top-10 finish, his best streak of the season.
William Byron was the next Hendrick Motorsports teammate to cross the finish line in 13th.
A mechanical issue early in the race ended Chase Elliott’s day prematurely, and he was scored with a 38th-place result.
Kyle Larson won the race.
Take a closer look below at how the Hendrick Motorsports drivers fared Sunday at Dover.
CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 9 HOOTERS CHEVROLET CAMARO ZL1
FINISHED: 38th
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Elliott rolled off fifth for Sunday’s 400-mile race. Shortly after the green flag waved, however, the No. 9 Hooters Give A Hoot Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 experienced a mechanical issue that left the driver off the pace. He headed to the garage as the No. 9 team worked to diagnose the issue, but ultimately Elliott was unable to return to the race and he was scored with a 38th-place result.
WILLIAM BYRON, NO. 24 AXALTA CHEVROLET CAMARO ZL1
FINISHED: 13th
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Byron took Sunday’s green flag in sixth and quickly made his way to fourth as he looked to chase down the leaders. By Lap 68 he advanced into the top three. On Lap 77, cars began to make green-flag stops and Byron joined in, bringing his No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 to pit road for fresh tires and fuel. When he returned to the track, he was back in fourth, and he held that position through the end of Stage 1, earning seven extra points.
- During the stage break, Byron headed to pit road for four tires, fuel and adjustment to his No. 24 Axalta Chevy. He began Stage 2 in fifth. On Lap 186 Byron made a green-flag stop but received a penalty for speeding, putting him back on pit road for a pass-through penalty. When he returned to the track, he was a lap down in 15th. As the leaders began to advance, Byron no longer remained in the free pass position due to other cars being lapped. When Stage 2 came to a close, he was scored 15th, one lap down.
- After the No. 24 team elected for four tires and fuel under the stage break, Byron restarted the final segment in 15th. With lots of traffic on the track, Byron held his position and was in free-pass contention. Unfortunately, the leaders lapped more cars, putting Byron out of contention for the free pass. Still, the driver advanced to 10th before a round of green-flag stops began. The No. 24 Chevy headed to pit road on Lap 324 for tires and fuel. On Lap 367 the driver was 13th and now two laps down. At the end of the race he was scored with a 13th-place result.
JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 ALLY CHEVROLET CAMARO ZL1
FINISHED: 8th
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- After starting 11th, Johnson quickly made his way to sixth Sunday at Dover. When cars began to make green-flag stops, Johnson headed to pit road for new tires and fuel on Lap 78. Once he returned to the track, he settled into seventh on Lap 101. When the green-checkered flag waved to close Stage 1, Johnson was running seventh, earning four extra points.
- When Stage 2 began, Johnson made his way to sixth. On Lap 158 he raced into the top five. When cars began to head to pit road for green-flag stops, the No. 48 driver followed on Lap 186 for fresh tires and fuel. Johnson was able to stay near the front of the pack, running fifth on Lap 200, marking the halfway point of the race. He was able to hold his position for the remainder of the second segment, putting him fifth to end Stage 2 and earn six points.
- After the stage break the driver was looking to advance within the top 10. He made his way to eighth by Lap 277 but dropped to ninth after battling traffic on Lap 300. Just 21 laps later he headed to pit road for tires and fuel during a green-flag stop. He returned to the track still inside the top 10 and held on to finish Sunday’s 400-lap event in eighth.
ALEX BOWMAN, NO. 88 CINCINATTI CHEVROLET CAMARO ZL1
FINISHED: 3rd
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Bowman began Sunday’s 400-mile event in 12th. After making his way through traffic, he broke the top 10 into ninth by Lap 39. When cars headed to pit road for green-flag stops on Lap 77, Bowman received four tires and fuel before claiming seventh on Lap 88. He then advanced to sixth place on Lap 100. At the end of Stage 1 Bowman remained in sixth, earning five extra points.
- After starting Stage 2 in eighth, Bowman remained in that position until green-flag pit stops began to cycle through. On Lap 185 the No. 88 Cincinnati Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 headed to pit road for tires and fuel under green-flag conditions then returned in seventh. Just 10 laps remained in Stage 2 and the driver was on the move, looking to crack the top five. When the stage came to a close, Bowman was scored with a sixth-place result, earning him five extra points.
- After taking four tires and fuel on pit road, Bowman restarted fifth when the field went back to green to begin the final segment. He was in and out of the top five as the laps wound down, settling into the fifth spot on Lap 288. Running fourth, Lap 320 brought the No. 88 machine to pit road and Bowman regained his fourth-place spot after his green-flag stop. Just 40 laps remained in Sunday’s event and the No. 88 driver was up to third, searching for the lead. Bowman crossed the finish line in third.