In the first Budweiser Duel, Earnhardt been fourth, and you will added 14 laps, in advance of diminishing back again to wind up in which the guy become

Towards , Earnhardt won the preferred Driver Honor to your 11th successive year, breaking Statement Elliott’s listing, just who obtained ten upright honours from 1991 in order to 2000.

From the Colorado, the guy damaged on Lap thirteen and you can stuck unstoppable

The fresh No. 88 people produced headlines before the start of the entire year. When you look at the regular Daytona Wintertime shot within the January, it actually was announced one to team chief Steve Letarte carry out step-down in the gap package pursuing the season being a full-go out person in the newest after that NASCAR into NBC shown party, close to Jeff Burton and Rick Allen. Earnhardt and you will Letarte reassured this particular circulate wouldn’t meddle away from them successful races and you can fighting toward title during the season’s stop.

Regarding Daytona five hundred, Earnhardt started 9th. Their vehicles installed up to middle-package for some of your earliest one-fourth of the battle. Shortly after a six-hr and you can twenty two-moment red-flag, Earnhardt’s vehicles came alive, bringing the direct with 70 laps leftover. He provided 54 of your history 70 laps in which he kept away from Denny Hamlin and you may Brad Keselowski so you’re able to profit his second Daytona five-hundred, merely a decade once 1st that. Another week from the Phoenix, Earnhardt continued his momentum, completing second so you’re able to Kevin Harvick. From the Vegas, Earnhardt wagered for the energy regarding remaining 40 laps, however, the guy went out-of gas when you find yourself top towards last lap, doing second so you can eventual race champ Brad Keselowski. At Bristol, he had been solid early, along with the opportunity to get to be the basic rider given that Richard Petty first off a month which have four straight Finest 2 finishes, up until tire difficulties pressed your and also make a keen unscheduled end, leaving your to get rid of 24th, four laps off.

On Automobile Bar Speedway, Earnhardt already been fifteenth. Although not, toward lap forty two, their auto shed a right side tire and you can hit the exterior wall surface therefore 2, bringing out an alert, and come up with your one of many sufferers regarding tire downfalls you to affected new race. Shortly after being repaired and losing with the straight back of head lap, Earnhardt produced several charges from industry to help you salvage a 12th-lay finish, remaining your at the second input the brand new situations. Next times within Martinsville, Earnhardt struggled in Best 5 day long, top twenty five laps, and completed 3rd, giving him their last Better step three end of the year, and you can regained the new points lead. The guy done last and you can decrease 5 positions inside the affairs and you can dropped to 30 points behind the fresh new situations commander Jeff Gordon. Another month in the Darlington, Earnhardt raced one of many Most useful 5 all day, and you may was leading with the a green-white-checkered end, just before finishing next to help you Kevin Harvick.

In the Richmond, pursuing the Easter out-of month, Earnhardt was good about battle, rushing among the Better step three later, and added 7 laps, but a green-white-checkered, and you may bad brakes pressed Earnhardt so you can a seventh-set wind up. Next few days in the Talladega, Earnhardt raced among the many package through to the center of your own race, when he got the lead. The guy provided to own 26 laps, but the last 29 laps noticed the car take an old-fashioned rate, and you will is never able to win back people tune reputation, and finished 26th. Within Kansas, into first-night battle within track, Earnhardt ran solidly from the Most readily useful 5, actually leading a number of laps, prior to doing 5th.

Regarding Race Limitless, Earnhardt contributed herpes dating sites France to own 7 laps, in the past part, connection with brose caused him hitting the wall surface consequently 1, completing 9th

Towards the Race The-Celebrity Battle, Earnhardt become sixth, however, battled a rigid car all night, and you will is actually never ever a bona fide competitor. Earnhardt entered the end line fourth. The following times from the Coca-Cola 600, the guy raced for the Best 5 for some of one’s night, before making an unscheduled gap stop getting an engine vibration. That it resulted in a 19th-put find yourself, only two laps off. The second week from the Dover, Earnhardt raced inside the Top throughout the day, and you can try running on Top 5 later, but a mistake on gap road leftover these with a beneficial 9th-place finish.