Back again to Daytona, Earnhardt are working in a young 16-vehicle pileup into the side straightaway towards lap 20, however, were able to salvage a great 14th-put wind up once the competition is called for rain immediately after 112 regarding 160 laps.
To the finish, the guy clinched an effective Pursue berth, with your are adequate inside Most readily useful 30 and achieving two wins
The questions referring to the brand new replacement off Steve Letarte have been ultimately replied with the July 29, for this is actually launched you to Greg Ives http://www.datingranking.net/gay-chat-room, Pursue Elliott’s All over the country Series team master during the JR Motorsports, create come back to Hendrick Motorsports, and take more than Earnhardt’s gap field to own 2015.
Within Dover, the guy completed 17th to arrive at the next round
Back to Pocono, Earnhardt started 9th. The guy ran for the Top 10 for the majority of your own battle, and you can took the lead of Greg Biffle having 14 laps to help you go. Earnhardt got collected a lead-in overabundance around three mere seconds when the warning showed up getting Kurt Busch’s slashed tire to your lap 154, erasing his lead. He then sweated aside a several lap shootout on past restart when deciding to take their third profit of the year, one to a motorist swept each other Pocono events (Denny Hamlin was the very last rider). So it winnings tied up Earnhardt which have Jimmie Johnson and you may Brad Keselowski to own most wins of the season to that time.
At Watkins Glen, Earnhardt completed 11th, and you may because of Jeff Gordon struggling, assumed new activities lead, for the first time since Martinsville when you look at the April. Another few days at the Michigan, he produced contact with Kyle Larson on gap road, but due to time and effort out-of his gap staff, were able to direct five laps and you will salvage a fifth-set find yourself.
Another day in the Bristol, when you are running fifth, commander Denny Hamlin are ruined from the Kevin Harvick while you are racing having the lead, which in turn delivered Hamlin’s vehicles for the into the wall. Hamlin’s car after that slid back right up in front of the Zero. 88 and you may criticized on the left-side-door of vehicle, while the contact are bad adequate to upload Earnhardt behind brand new wall structure, and you may sustain an effective 39th-place wind up. This was his second DNF of the year, adopting the early get-off from the springtime Colorado race.
Regarding finally race away from NASCAR’s regular seasons at Richmond, Earnhardt produced 1st debut that have a nationwide-paid No. 88. He raced so you’re able to a twelfth-set wind up, immediately after what was a lengthy, difficult evening on cluster. Even with striving during the step three/4-mile tune, Earnhardt seeded third regarding Chase grid, behind show commander Brad Keselowski, and fastened having Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, and you can Joey Logano to have second lay. The guy already been the newest Challenger Bullet of Pursue which have an 11th-lay end within the il. Another month in the Brand new Hampshire, Earnhardt done a strong 9th-set find yourself, giving him a comfortable advantage to make the Contender Bullet once Dover.
During the Kansas, shortly after a 5th-put run in new springtime, Earnhardt is trying try this task to start off the new contender which have a strong end up to help his possibilities to continue his manage for the title. Just after leading forty five laps in identical vehicle he familiar with earn each other Pocono races before on season, a cut best front side tire contributed to a good 39th-put wind up. One to end up brought about your to fall so you can 11th added affairs, twenty five products about eighth put. The guy involved Charlotte trying to find a victory or a wind up. He added very early however, as much as lap 133, his shifter bankrupt because of an excellent vibration (an equivalent disease got befallen Jimmie Johnson within Michigan in the August). He had and make several gap finishes to solve the trouble and never recovered, ending up 20th. He dropped to last in the latest Pursue standings, 26 issues behind eighth.