It profit fastened Earnhardt that have Jimmie Johnson and you may Brad Keselowski to own extremely victories of the season to that point

Back into Daytona, Earnhardt is actually doing work in a young 16-automobile pileup on the front immediately for the lap 20, however, were able to salvage an effective 14th-set end up by the point new battle is actually required rain once 112 regarding 160 laps.

Into the end, he clinched an effective Chase berth, with your getting adequate in Most useful 30 and having a few victories. Next month, he accomplished 9th at the Indianapolis.

The questions referring to the latest substitute for off Steve Letarte have been fundamentally responded toward July 29, for it is actually established one Greg Ives, Chase Elliott’s Across the country Collection team chief within JR Motorsports, perform come back to Hendrick Motorsports, or take more than Earnhardt’s gap package having 2015.

Back into Pocono, Earnhardt already been 9th. He went in the Top ten for many of battle, and you will grabbed the lead regarding Greg Biffle having 14 laps so you’re able to go. Earnhardt got collected a lead-in overabundance about three mere seconds if the alerting made an appearance to own Kurt Busch’s clipped tire on the lap 154, erasing his head. Then he sweated aside a several lap shootout to your last resume when deciding to take their 3rd earn of the year, you to definitely a motorist swept one another Pocono racing (Denny Hamlin is the last driver).

In the Watkins Glen, Earnhardt finished 11th, and you will on account of Jeff Gordon stressed, assumed the fresh new things direct, the very first time once the Martinsville in April. Another day at the Michigan, the guy made contact with Kyle Larson for the gap path, however, compliment of time and effort from their pit team, was able to head five laps and you may rescue a 5th-lay become.

The second times within Bristol, when you find yourself running fifth, frontrunner Denny Hamlin is damaged by Kevin Harvick if you are rushing to have the lead, which then delivered Hamlin’s vehicles on the in to the wall. Hamlin’s vehicles upcoming slid back up ahead of the Zero. 88 and you will criticized towards leftover-side-door of one’s vehicle, therefore the get in touch with is actually crappy sufficient to post Earnhardt at the rear of the fresh wall structure, and sustain an effective 39th-put find yourself. It was his second DNF of the season, following very early get off regarding the spring Colorado battle.

Regarding last race of NASCAR’s regular 12 months within Richmond, Earnhardt generated his first introduction which have a nationwide-paid No. 88. He raced so you can a 12th-put end, just after that which was an extended, hard nights on team. Even with battling at step three/4-mile tune, Earnhardt seeded 3rd regarding the Pursue grid, about collection frontrunner Brad Keselowski, and you can fastened having Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, and Joey Logano to possess second lay. He become the fresh Adversary Round of one’s Chase which have an enthusiastic 11th-place end into the Chi town. Next few days at The fresh Hampshire, Earnhardt done a substantial 9th-lay end up, providing him a smooth advantage to make Competitor Bullet just after Dover. At Dover, he completed 17th to reach another round.

During the Kansas, immediately after a 5th-lay run in the brand new spring season, Earnhardt is looking to do this feat to begin new contender with a stronger end to help his opportunities to continue his manage towards tournament

Immediately following leading forty five laps in identical automobile the guy used to earn each other Pocono events before from the year, a cut-out correct side tire led to a beneficial 39th-put find yourself. One to find yourself caused your to fall to 11th place in points, 25 facts about 8th place. He found Charlotte needing an earn or good find yourself. He contributed very early however, to lap 133, their shifter broke on account of an effective oscillations (a comparable state got befallen Jimmie Johnson on Michigan inside the August). He had and then make several pit closes to solve the difficulty and not recovered, winding up twentieth. The guy dropped in order to last-in this new Pursue standings, 26 circumstances at the rear of eighth.