Back to Daytona, Earnhardt was doing work in an early 16-vehicle pileup towards the top immediately for the lap 20, but been able to salvage an excellent 14th-place end once the brand new race try requisite rain once 112 out-of 160 laps.
Toward wind up, he clinched a good Pursue berth, which have your becoming adequate inside the Top 31 and achieving several wins
All the questions making reference to the fresh new substitute for from Steve Letarte were fundamentally answered on the July 30, because of it was established you to definitely Greg Ives, Chase Elliott’s Across the country Series team head in the JR Motorsports, do return to Hendrick Motorsports, and take more Earnhardt’s pit container to own 2015.
At Dover, the guy finished seventeenth to get at another bullet
Back once again to Pocono, Earnhardt started 9th. He went during the Top for almost all of one’s race, and took the lead out-of Greg Biffle having 14 laps in order to wade. Earnhardt got accumulated a lead-in overabundance about three mere seconds if warning showed up to own Kurt Busch’s reduce tire towards the lap 154, removing his head. Then sweated aside a several lap shootout to your past resume when deciding to take their 3rd earn of the year, that a drivers swept both Pocono events (Denny Hamlin are the last rider). It victory tied Earnhardt having Jimmie Johnson and you can Brad Keselowski having most gains of the year to that point.
From the Watkins Glen, Earnhardt accomplished 11th, and you may due to Jeff Gordon having difficulties, assumed the newest factors lead, the very first time given that Martinsville in April. The following few days in the Michigan, the guy generated exposure to Kyle Larson on the pit highway, however, through efforts out of their gap team, been able to head five laps and you can salvage a fifth-lay wind up.
Another few days at the Bristol, if you find yourself powering 5th, leader Denny Hamlin are destroyed by Kevin Harvick when you find yourself rushing to have top honors, which then delivered Hamlin’s auto on the in to the wall. Hamlin’s automobile following slid right back up in front of the Zero. 88 and you may slammed to your remaining-side door of auto, together with contact try bad sufficient to send Earnhardt trailing the new wall, and endure a beneficial 39th-set become. This is his 2nd DNF of the season, following the very early get-off regarding the spring Colorado race.
From the final battle of NASCAR’s normal seasons from the Richmond, Earnhardt generated his first debut with a nationwide-sponsored Zero. 88. He raced so you can a twelfth-place become, immediately after what was an extended, difficult evening to your cluster. Despite troubled on step three/4-kilometer track, Earnhardt seeded third on Chase grid, about collection chief Brad Keselowski horse lovers dating site, and tied up that have Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, and you can Joey Logano to own 2nd put. The guy been the newest Opponent Round of your own Pursue having an enthusiastic 11th-set finish in the Chi town. The following few days from the The new Hampshire, Earnhardt complete a strong 9th-place find yourself, offering him a gentle advantage to result in the Competitor Round once Dover.
At the Ohio, immediately following a fifth-lay run-in new springtime, Earnhardt is looking to try this task to start off the newest competitor which have a stronger become to help their possibilities to extend his focus on toward tournament. Shortly after leading forty-five laps in identical vehicle the guy regularly victory one another Pocono racing prior to on the year, a cut right out proper front side tire contributed to an effective 39th-put end. One to find yourself brought about him to fall so you can 11th place in factors, twenty five issues at the rear of 8th lay. He involved Charlotte in need of an earn or good finish. The guy provided very early but around lap 133, their shifter bankrupt due to a beneficial vibration (a similar situation had befallen Jimmie Johnson within Michigan during the August). He had and make several pit finishes to solve the challenge and not retrieved, ending up 20th. The guy dropped in order to last in the newest Pursue standings, twenty six products behind eighth.
