In the first Budweiser Duel, Earnhardt been 4th, and you may added fourteen laps, before diminishing back again to end up in which he been

With the , Earnhardt obtained the most used Rider Prize toward 11th straight season, cracking Bill Elliott’s checklist, who obtained 10 straight honours away from 1991 to 2000.

Immediately after getting fixed and you may falling into the back of the head lap, Earnhardt generated multiple fees from industry so you’re able to salvage a 12th-lay find yourself, staying your at the next invest the fresh activities

New Zero. 88 class generated headlines before the start of the season. During the regular Daytona Winter months take to during the January, it actually was launched you to team chief Steve Letarte create step-down from the pit box following year becoming the full-date person in the new up coming NASCAR to your NBC transmit people, close to Jeff Burton and you can Rick Allen. Earnhardt and you may Letarte confident this disperse would not interfere from him or her winning races and you may fighting toward tournament within season’s stop. About Dash Limitless, Earnhardt provided to possess seven laps, however in the final sector, experience of brose caused him to hit the brand new wall structure therefore step 1, completing 9th.

From the Daytona five-hundred, Earnhardt started 9th. Their auto hung to middle-package for the majority of one’s basic quarter of competition. The guy led 54 of history 70 laps in which he held of Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski in order to earn his second Daytona five-hundred, just a decade just after 1st one to.[38] Another few days on Phoenix, Earnhardt continued his momentum, finishing next in order to Kevin Harvick. At Las vegas, Earnhardt wagered for the power in the left forty laps, but the guy ran away from gas if you’re leading to the history lap, completing second so you’re able to ultimate battle champion Brad Keselowski. At Bristol, he was strong very early, together with an opportunity to become the earliest rider just like the Richard Petty first off a month that have five straight Most useful 2 stops, up to tire dilemmas forced your making a keen unscheduled end, making him to finish 24th, four laps off.

At the Car Pub Speedway, Earnhardt already been fifteenth. not, towards lap 44, their vehicle destroyed a right top tire and you will hit the external wall surface therefore dos, bringing out a warning, and make your one of the subjects from tire failures one plagued the latest battle. Next times in the Martinsville, Earnhardt battled within the Best 5 from day to night, best twenty-five laps, and you will completed 3rd, giving him their last Most useful 3 become of the season, and you may regained the fresh things direct. At the Tx, he damaged on Lap thirteen and you will stuck unstoppable. He done last and you may fell 5 positions within the items and you will fell so you’re able to 31 affairs about the brand new items leader Jeff Gordon. Next times during the Darlington, Earnhardt raced one of the Finest 5 all sugar daddy in South Carolina night, and you can was top towards a green-white-checkered end up, in advance of finishing next to Kevin Harvick.

Just after a half a dozen-hr and you will twenty two-time warning sign, Earnhardt’s automobile showed up real time, taking the lead that have 70 laps leftover

On Richmond, after the Easter from day, Earnhardt is good regarding competition, rushing among the many Greatest 3 late, and you may provided seven laps, however, an eco-friendly-white-checkered, and you can bad brakes pressed Earnhardt in order to a 7th-set end. Another day within Talladega, Earnhardt raced one of many package until the center of your own competition, as he grabbed the lead. He led having twenty-six laps, nevertheless the history 30 laps watched the auto just take an old-fashioned pace, and you will try never ever in a position to win back one track condition, and you may done 26th. At the Kansas, on first night race at the track, Earnhardt ran completely about Ideal 5, even best a few laps, ahead of finishing 5th.

Toward Dash All of the-Star Competition, Earnhardt come sixth, however, battled a strict car all night, and you will is actually never a real contender. Earnhardt crossed the conclusion range 4th. Another week at Coca-Cola 600, the guy raced when you look at the Ideal 5 for many of night, before generally making an enthusiastic unscheduled pit prevent getting a motor oscillations. So it contributed to a 19th-lay become, only several laps down. Another day in the Dover, Earnhardt raced for the Top 10 all the time, and are running from the Finest 5 later, but a blunder on pit highway kept them with a great 9th-lay wind up.