SPARTA, Ky. – In a race that saw a record-tying number of cautions at Kentucky Speedway, Dale Earnhardt Jr. avoided the incidents to lead his Hendrick Motorsports teammates to the checkered flag.
Earnhardt took home a 13th-place finish Saturday night, saving fuel down the stretch and running out of gas as he crossed the finish line.
Kasey Kahne was also able to avoid any major incidents and was just behind Earnhardt with a 14th-place result, also saving fuel to make it to the checkered flag.
Teammates Chase Elliott and Jimmie Johnson, however, found themselves heading to the garage early in Saturday night’s race after being involved in incidents. Quick work by the No. 24 and 48 teams, respectively, allowed them to return to the track to pick up as many positions as possible.
Elliott ultimately finished 31st, with Johnson next in 32nd.
Brad Keselowski earned the win.
Below is a detailed look at how the four Hendrick Motorsports drivers fared under the lights at Kentucky.
KASEY KAHNE, NO. 5 GREAT CLIPS CHEVROLET SS
FINISHED: 14th
STANDINGS: 17th
RECAP: Kahne took the green flag for his 450th career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start from the 18th position, and on the restart following a Lap 25 competition caution, he found the top 15. He continued pushing toward the top 10 until a caution flag flew on Lap 81, when the No. 5 team elected for four tires while many competitors took two. That put him back outside of the top 20, but once again he began racing through the field, finding the top 15 once again on Lap 105. Just past the midway point of the race, Kahne entered the top 10 for the first time. Following a cycle of green-flag pit stops, Kahne settled into 13th, maintaining a top-15 running position until Lap 201, when slight contact with a competitor caused him to fall back to 18th. As competitors began to pit for fuel down the stretch, Kahne saved as much as he could and made it to the finish line in 14th.
CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 24 NAPA AUTO PARTS CHEVROLET SS
FINISHED: 31st
STANDINGS: 8th
RECAP: Elliott led his Hendrick Motorsports teammates to the green flag in eighth, and when a competition caution was called after 25 laps, he was knocking on the door of the top five in sixth. He continued battling inside the top 10 through a caution flag on Lap 81, when thanks to a speedy stop by the No. 24 team, Elliott raced off of pit road in fourth. On the restart, however, Elliott and a competitor made contact, sending the No. 24 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet SS into the wall. The damage sent Elliott to the garage. Thanks to the No. 24 team’s work, the rookie was able to return to the track just before a caution flag on Lap 152, when he found himself scored 33rd down 55 laps. He finished off the race, ultimately gaining two positions to finish 31st.
JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S CHEVROLET SS
FINISHED: 32nd
STANDINGS: 9th
RECAP: Johnson began Saturday night’s race inside the top 10 in ninth, and within five laps he had already cracked the top five. When a competition caution was called after 25 laps, Johnson was in fifth. But as the field restarted, Johnson spun out and made contact with the wall. No. 48 team crew chief Chad Knaus informed Johnson that he should take the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet SS to the garage for repairs. Thanks to the hard work of the No. 48 team, Johnson was able to return to the track on Lap 74 in 39th – down 41 laps. He continued picking up positions until Lap 255, when he drove the No. 48 Chevy back to the garage. He was ultimately scored 32nd.
DALE EARNHARDT JR., NO. 88 NATIONWIDE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL CHEVROLET SS
FINISHED: 13th
STANDINGS: 13th
RECAP: Earnhardt rolled off the grid 13th Saturday night, and he maintained a top-15 position through Lap 61, when he entered the top 10 for the first time. During a pit stop following a caution on Lap 81, the No. 88 team elected to take four fresh tires while many competitors took just two, which put him back outside of the top 15. But he got back to work racing through the field, finding the top 10 once again on Lap 145. After a cycle of green-flag pit stops – and a speedy stop by the No. 88 crew during a caution shortly thereafter – Earnhardt restarted 10th with a little more than 100 laps remaining. He found eighth on Lap 201, but got pushed high shortly thereafter and fell back to 14th. He continued battling, however, and was told by No. 88 team crew chief Greg Ives to save fuel down the stretch. It allowed him to move back inside the top 10 with two laps remaining, but Earnhardt reported that he ran out of gas just before the finish line, and he finished 13th.