On the , Earnhardt acquired the most popular Rider Award on 11th consecutive seasons, cracking Bill Elliott’s list, which scored ten straight awards off 1991 to 2000.
During the Colorado, he damaged into the Lap thirteen and caught on fire
The brand new No. 88 group produced headlines even before the start of the season. In teenage entrepreneur chat room the regular Daytona Winter season attempt for the January, it absolutely was announced one to team head Steve Letarte perform step-down regarding the pit container pursuing the year in order to become an entire-day person in brand new up coming NASCAR into the NBC shown class, next to Jeff Burton and Rick Allen. Earnhardt and you can Letarte confident this particular disperse would not interfere off them successful races and competing for the championship within season’s prevent.
Regarding the Daytona five-hundred, Earnhardt started 9th. His vehicles hung as much as mid-pack for the majority of of one’s first one-fourth of your competition. Immediately following a six-hr and you will 22-second red-flag, Earnhardt’s car arrived alive, using direct having 70 laps kept. The guy contributed 54 of one’s past 70 laps and then he held out-of Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski so you’re able to profit their 2nd Daytona 500, merely a decade after 1st that. The second day at the Phoenix, Earnhardt continued their impetus, doing second in order to Kevin Harvick. At Las vegas, Earnhardt gambled to your strength from the leftover forty laps, however, the guy went away from gas while leading toward last lap, finishing 2nd so you can eventual race winner Brad Keselowski. On Bristol, he had been strong early, along with the opportunity to get to be the earliest rider since the Richard Petty first off a season that have five straight Better dos closes, until tire difficulties pushed your and work out an enthusiastic unscheduled end, leaving your to finish 24th, five laps off.
In the Vehicle Club Speedway, Earnhardt become fifteenth. However, toward lap forty two, their vehicles lost a right top tire and you can hit the external wall surface subsequently 2, bringing out an alert, and also make your among the many victims away from tire downfalls you to definitely affected new race. Immediately following becoming repaired and you can losing on back of one’s direct lap, Earnhardt produced numerous charges from career in order to rescue a 12th-put end up, remaining him at next devote the newest circumstances. Another month during the Martinsville, Earnhardt battled for the Greatest 5 all round the day, leading twenty five laps, and you can accomplished third, providing him his 4th Most readily useful 3 finish of the year, and regained the fresh factors head. The guy complete last and fell 5 ranking inside affairs and decrease so you can 31 things about this new affairs leader Jeff Gordon. The following month from the Darlington, Earnhardt raced among the many Best 5 all day, and you will are leading for the a green-white-checkered end, prior to completing second so you can Kevin Harvick.
During the Richmond, adopting the Easter away from few days, Earnhardt was strong throughout the race, racing one of many Most readily useful 3 later, and contributed seven laps, but an eco-friendly-white-checkered, and you can bad brakes pressed Earnhardt in order to a seventh-lay end up. Another few days in the Talladega, Earnhardt raced among prepare until the middle of the competition, as he took the lead. He led having twenty six laps, nevertheless the last 31 laps noticed the car just take a conservative pace, and you will try never able to win back people song condition, and you can complete 26th. During the Kansas, towards the first night battle within track, Earnhardt ran securely on the Most useful 5, even best a few laps, prior to doing 5th.
From the Sprint Endless, Earnhardt contributed having seven laps, but in the final section, contact with brose brought about him going to new wall surface in turn step one, doing 9th
To your Sprint The-Superstar Battle, Earnhardt become sixth, however, struggled a strict vehicles all day, and you will is actually never a real competitor. Earnhardt crossed the finish range last. The following day at Coca-Soda 600, the guy raced within the Most useful 5 for many of one’s night, prior to making a keen unscheduled gap avoid getting a system oscillations. It led to a 19th-put wind up, just a couple of laps off. Next month from the Dover, Earnhardt raced within the Top from day to night, and you may try powering about Finest 5 later, but a mistake on the pit roadway remaining them with an effective 9th-set find yourself.