On Kentucky, Earnhardt acquired the fresh new pole and set an alternate song qualifying price listing with lap time of seconds and you may a speed out-of kilometers each hour ( km/h)
The following day regarding Sprint The-Superstar Battle, Earnhardt struggled a tight addressing auto much of that nights prior to doing seventh. Guelph sugar daddies Next week to the Coca-Cola 600, Earnhardt lost an engine and accomplished 39th, offering him 1st DNF given that 2011. In the Quicken Funds 400, Earnhardt contributed 23 laps however, sustained an engine inability, and complete 37th as to what are a decreased point of year with the Hendrick Motorsports organizations as a whole (Kasey Kahne and you may Jeff Gordon one another had DNFs due to injuries, and you may Jimmie Johnson slashed a great tire with 5 laps going).[35] Following reduced of Michigan, Earnhardt had a 12th-place become within Sonoma.
When you look at the competition, Earnhardt manage direct 80 laps, however, manage end second to help you Jimmie Johnson
[36] Although he been into pole, he forgotten the lead to Carl Edwards early. Yet not, if you find yourself Earnhardt try top following the resume off a rival warning (due to a rainfall slow down), Denny Hamlin slashed good tire and carcass emerged new song and you may is strike from the Earnhardt’s splitter by Jimmie Johnson’s auto, ultimately causing extreme damage. Earnhardt had to generate multiple fees from community to help you rescue a twelfth-put become. Then got an 8th-place end on Coke No 400. He, Johnson, and you will Ryan Newman was truly the only about three motorists to brush the Top 10 in both Daytona races.
Earnhardt next battled a difficult vehicles on The brand new Hampshire, in which the guy finished 14th. Pursuing the final from few days, the guy discover certain consistency having comes to an end away from sixth at the Indianapolis and you can fifth in the Pocono, while struggling shed rims and vibrations from inside the a span of a couple months.
The latest No. 88 party upcoming got a few crappy weeks, having a beneficial 30th-lay become in the Watkins Glen on account of a late race freeze having Kasey Kahne. The second day, Earnhardt blew a right front side tire whenever you are running regarding the Best 10. The damage are adequate he completed twenty six laps off, from inside the 36th set. This evaporated his Pursue support, but with stops away from tenth at the Bristol and you can eighth during the Atlanta, he had been capable rebuild that it cushion. From the Richmond, the past battle of the regular 12 months, Earnhardt only necessary to become 32nd or best to result in the Pursue. A good 13th-set wind up did it, in which he entered the new Pursue seeded inside the ninth put. This is the 1st time within the Earnhardt’s community he had made around three straight Chase styles. In the 1st Chase competition from the Chicagoland Speedway, Earnhardt suffered a system failure, place him last in Chase race. He bounced back from the This new Hampshire Motor Speedway, best 17 laps and doing sixth. The result is actually sufficient to move Earnhardt up to 11th in Chase for the Dash Glass standings having eight races kept in the seasons.
On Dover, Earnhardt obtained his 2nd pole of the season, mode a different sort of qualifying rate listing out of miles per hour. It was the first time since 2002 that he had recorded multiple pole through the a month. The following few days at Ohio, the guy accomplished 8th. And make their 500th Cup begin at Charlotte, Earnhardt added 19 laps very early, however, done 15th when you’re struggling a rigid race auto. The second day within Talladega, Earnhardt added 38 laps and you will involved for a press away from Austin Dillon so you’re able to overtake Jamie McMurray towards past lap whenever Ricky Stenhouse Jr. tapped Dillon, leading to one driver so you’re able to twist aside after which get strike of the Casey Mears, making Earnhardt having a second-lay find yourself. Another day within Martinville, Earnhardt acquired an 8th-lay wind up. The second few days on Texas, he previously a stronger nights, completing 2nd so you’re able to Johnson for the 3rd amount of time in the entire year (after Daytona and you may Dover). The next week on Phoenix, Earnhardt come when it is forced to gap having a free wheel very early, putting your a lap off. However, a caution allowed your to utilize the brand new 100 % free admission to get back on lead lap and rescue a 4th-lay end.