The second two weeks saw a good rebound, having concludes out-of tenth from the Dover and third during the Pocono
He, Johnson, and you will Ryan Newman was indeed the sole about three people in order to brush the newest Top ten in both Daytona racing
Another few days regarding Dash Most of the-Star Battle, Earnhardt struggled a rigorous addressing vehicles much of one to nights before completing seventh. The second times for the Coca-Cola 600, Earnhardt missing a motor and complete 39th, offering him his first DNF because 2011. Within Quicken Fund eight hundred, Earnhardt added 23 laps however, suffered a motor inability, and you may done 37th in what is a decreased section of your 12 months toward Hendrick Motorsports groups general (Kasey Kahne and you can Jeff Gordon one another had DNFs on account of crashes, and you can Jimmie Johnson reduce a beneficial tire having 5 laps going). Following reasonable out of Michigan, Earnhardt got a 12th-place end during the Sonoma.
During the Kentucky, Earnhardt won the fresh new pole and put a different track being qualified rate number with lap lifetime of moments and you can an increase regarding kilometers by the hour ( km/h). Though the guy come with the pole, the guy destroyed the lead so you’re able to Carl Edwards early. But not, while you are Earnhardt was best after the resume from an opponent alerting (due to a rainfall delay), Denny Hamlin reduce a beneficial tire in addition to carcass emerged the fresh new tune and try struck because of the Earnhardt’s splitter by Jimmie Johnson’s vehicles, ultimately causing high damage. Earnhardt must make numerous charge through the profession in order to salvage a 12th-place wind up. He then grabbed an 8th-set find yourself from the Coke Zero eight hundred.
The second day within Texas, he had a substantial evening, finishing next in order to Johnson towards the 3rd time in the year (immediately after Daytona and you will Dover)
Earnhardt next battled a troubled vehicles within The latest Hampshire have a glance at the link, where he completed 14th. Following last of times, the guy found specific consistency with ends up out of sixth at Indianapolis and 5th during the Pocono, when you’re striving loose rims and oscillations from inside the a course of a couple of days.
The new No. 88 cluster up coming had a couple of bad days, with an excellent 30th-set become in the Watkins Glen due to a belated race freeze that have Kasey Kahne. The next times, Earnhardt blew a right top tire if you’re powering regarding the Most useful ten. The damage is actually sufficient that he complete twenty six laps down, within the 36th put. It evaporated their Pursue pillow, however with stops from tenth at Bristol and 8th from the Atlanta, he was capable rebuild which pillow. At Richmond, the past race of one’s regular year, Earnhardt simply must end up 32nd otherwise far better make the Pursue. A great 13th-place become did which, in which he inserted new Pursue seeded in ninth place. This was the 1st time in Earnhardt’s occupation he had produced around three straight Pursue appearance. In the first Pursue battle at Chicagoland Speedway, Earnhardt suffered an engine incapacity, place him last in Pursue competition. The guy bounced back on The newest Hampshire System Speedway, best 17 laps and you can doing sixth. The outcome are good enough to maneuver Earnhardt around 11th within the Pursue to the Race Cup standings which have 7 events leftover on year.
At the Dover, Earnhardt obtained his next rod of the year, function a separate qualifying rate number regarding miles per hour. This is the first time since 2002 which he got submitted more than one pole throughout a season. From inside the battle, Earnhardt carry out lead 80 laps, however, perform wind up second to help you Jimmie Johnson. The following times within Kansas, the guy complete eighth. And then make his 500th Cup begin during the Charlotte, Earnhardt added 19 laps early, however, completed 15th if you’re having difficulties a rigid race vehicle. The following few days at Talladega, Earnhardt added 38 laps and was about to receive a push of Austin Dillon so you’re able to overtake Jamie McMurray towards the past lap when Ricky Stenhouse Jr. stolen Dillon, ultimately causing one to driver so you’re able to spin aside immediately after which rating struck by Casey Mears, leaving Earnhardt having a second-set end. The following day from the Martinville, Earnhardt gained an eighth-place end. The next week from the Phoenix, Earnhardt been by being compelled to pit which have a free controls early, placing your a good lap down. Although not, a warning greet your to make use of brand new totally free ticket to obtain straight back to your lead lap and you can rescue a fourth-place wind up.
