Back again to Daytona, Earnhardt are in an early on 16-vehicle pileup on the side immediately towards the lap 20, but managed to rescue a beneficial 14th-place find yourself by the point the fresh competition was expected rain shortly after 112 https://datingranking.net/finnish-women-dating/ of 160 laps.
For the end up, he clinched an effective Chase berth, that have your being adequate from inside the Most useful 31 and achieving a couple of victories
The questions speaking about brand new replacement for away from Steve Letarte was in fact eventually responded with the July 31, for it is actually announced you to definitely Greg Ives, Chase Elliott’s Across the country Series staff master within JR Motorsports, do go back to Hendrick Motorsports, or take over Earnhardt’s pit container to own 2015.
At Dover, he done seventeenth to reach the following round
Returning to Pocono, Earnhardt already been 9th. The guy ran during the Top for almost all of the competition, and grabbed the lead away from Greg Biffle having 14 laps to help you go. Earnhardt got gathered a lead-in more than around three seconds in the event that warning appeared to have Kurt Busch’s clipped tire with the lap 154, removing his head. Then he sweated out a several lap shootout to the history resume to take their 3rd winnings of the season, one a driver swept one another Pocono racing (Denny Hamlin was the final driver). So it profit tied Earnhardt which have Jimmie Johnson and you can Brad Keselowski to have really victories of the year around that time.
Within Watkins Glen, Earnhardt complete 11th, and due to Jeff Gordon battling, assumed brand new issues direct, the very first time as Martinsville inside April. The next day at the Michigan, the guy produced exposure to Kyle Larson into pit path, however, by way of effort away from their gap crew, was able to direct five laps and salvage a fifth-lay find yourself.
The second week within Bristol, when you’re running fifth, commander Denny Hamlin is damaged from the Kevin Harvick when you are rushing for top honors, which in turn delivered Hamlin’s vehicle into the to the wall structure. Hamlin’s car upcoming slid straight back right up in front of the Zero. 88 and you may criticized on the kept-side door of your vehicle, and get in touch with is actually crappy sufficient to post Earnhardt at the rear of the wall surface, and you will experience a 39th-set end up. This is their 2nd DNF of the year, pursuing the very early leave regarding spring Colorado battle.
Throughout the last race away from NASCAR’s typical seasons at the Richmond, Earnhardt generated his first first having a nationwide-paid No. 88. He raced so you’re able to a 12th-lay become, just after that which was an extended, tough nights towards class. Despite striving during the 3/4-distance tune, Earnhardt seeded 3rd in the Pursue grid, about collection commander Brad Keselowski, and you can fastened with Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, and you may Joey Logano getting second set. He come the newest Adversary Round of your Chase with an enthusiastic 11th-put wind up for the Chicago. The second week from the The fresh new Hampshire, Earnhardt accomplished a powerful 9th-set find yourself, giving him a smooth advantage to result in the Contender Bullet after Dover.
At Kansas, shortly after a 5th-place run in brand new spring, Earnhardt is actually trying try this task to begin brand new competitor which have a solid end up to simply help their chances to offer his work with into the title. Shortly after top 45 laps in identical auto the guy accustomed earn both Pocono events earlier in the season, a cut fully out right front tire resulted in a 39th-place become. That become brought about your to fall to 11th invest items, twenty five factors about 8th lay. He stumbled on Charlotte wanting a victory or a finish. He contributed early however, doing lap 133, his shifter bankrupt on account of good oscillations (a similar situation had befallen Jimmie Johnson on Michigan during the August). He’d while making numerous gap ends to resolve the difficulty and never retrieved, finding yourself 20th. He decrease so you’re able to last-in the Pursue standings, twenty six affairs behind eighth.
