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The week it was announced Michael Waltrip Racing would not field full-time teams in 2016, Clint Bowyer‘s No. 15 and David Ragan ‘s No. 55 MWR Toyotas were running in the top five with 125 laps to go when they wound up with damage at Bristol.
Bowyer had been running as high as second in the Irwin Tools Night Race, needing a win to give him a secure spot in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. He entered the weekend 16th in Chase Grid standings, 32 points behind Jeff Gordon.
The No. 48 of Jimmie Johnson came down on Ragan’s No. 55, spinning his car and sending him into the interior wall, also clipping Bowyer and causing minor damage. Only 12 cars were on the lead lap at the time.
Ragan took his wounded machine to the garage and finished 40th. Bowyer recovered and finished fifth, just behind Johnson.
Bowyer was able to gain ground on Gordon, who finished 20th in the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, and Aric Almirola, who sits behind him in the Chase Grid standings. After Bristol, Bowyer is 17 points behind Gordon and 35 poitns ahead of Almirola.