The guy, Johnson, and you may Ryan Newman was basically really the only around three drivers in order to sweep the new Top 10 both in Daytona races
The second week regarding the Race All-Superstar Battle, Earnhardt struggled a rigorous handling vehicle a lot of you to night just before finishing seventh. The second times toward Coca-Soda 600, Earnhardt lost an engine and you can complete 39th, providing your 1st DNF given that 2011. Within Quicken Funds 400, Earnhardt contributed 23 laps however, sustained a system failure, and you will finished 37th with what is actually a low point of one’s year on the Hendrick Motorsports organizations general (Kasey Kahne and you may Jeff Gordon one another had DNFs on account of accidents, and Jimmie Johnson reduce an effective tire having 5 laps to visit). Following the low regarding Michigan, Earnhardt had a 12th-place end at the Sonoma.
From the Kentucky, Earnhardt won the latest pole and set another type of song qualifying rates number which have lap time of mere seconds and a speed away from kilometers each hour ( km/h). Although he been for the pole, the guy shed the lead to Carl Edwards very early. However, if you are Earnhardt try best after the restart regarding a rival alerting (on account of a rainfall delay), Denny Hamlin cut a good tire and carcass came up the fresh new song and you may is actually hit from the Earnhardt’s splitter and by Jimmie Johnson’s car, leading to significant wreck. Earnhardt had to make numerous charge from community to help you rescue a twelfth-set end. Then grabbed an eighth-place end on Coke No eight hundred.
The next day during the Texas, he previously a very good night, finishing second so you’re able to Johnson into the 3rd amount of time in the year (once Daytona and Dover)
Earnhardt after that struggled a distressed vehicles from the The fresh new Hampshire, where he accomplished 14th. Following finally away from few days, the guy receive certain feel having concludes of sixth at Indianapolis and 5th at the Pocono, when you are troubled reduce tires and you may vibration inside a span of one or two months.
The latest No. 88 people next got a couple of crappy months, which have an effective 30th-place wind up from the Watkins Glen due to a late battle freeze with Kasey Kahne. The next times, Earnhardt blew a right side tire if you find yourself running regarding the Better 10. The destruction was sufficient he done 26 laps off, from inside the 36th lay. This evaporated their Pursue support, however with ends off 10th during the Bristol and eighth at the Atlanta, he was capable reconstruct which cushion. Within Richmond, the past race of the typical season, Earnhardt simply had a need to find yourself 32nd otherwise better to result in the Pursue. Good 13th-lay find yourself did which, and he inserted the newest Chase seeded inside the ninth place. It was the very first time in Earnhardt’s community he had generated about three straight Pursue styles. In the first Pursue competition on Chicagoland Speedway, Earnhardt sustained a motor incapacity, setting him last in Pursue battle. He bounced back during the The brand new Hampshire Engine Speedway, best 17 laps and you can doing 6th. The result try good enough to maneuver Earnhardt up to 11th inside the Chase on the Race Cup standings having eight racing left throughout the 12 months.
Within Dover, Earnhardt claimed his 2nd rod of the season, setting a different sort of qualifying rates number out-of mph. It was the 1st time due to the fact 2002 which he had recorded more than one pole throughout the a season. dating a ghana man Within the competition, Earnhardt would lead 80 laps, however, do end up 2nd in order to Jimmie Johnson. Next day from the Kansas, the guy accomplished 8th. And make their 500th Mug start during the Charlotte, Earnhardt provided 19 laps early, but completed 15th if you are striving a rigorous race automobile. The second day from the Talladega, Earnhardt contributed 38 laps and was about for a hit away from Austin Dillon to overtake Jamie McMurray towards the history lap when Ricky Stenhouse Jr. tapped Dillon, causing one driver to spin aside then score struck by Casey Mears, leaving Earnhardt that have a second-lay find yourself. The next few days in the Martinville, Earnhardt acquired a keen eighth-place find yourself. Another day within Phoenix, Earnhardt become when you’re forced to pit with a loose wheel early, putting your a great lap off. But not, an alert greeting your to utilize this new 100 % free violation discover back toward head lap and rescue a 4th-lay find yourself.