Dale earnhardt jr achievements

American racing driver (born 1974)

NASCAR driver

Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Earnhardt Jr. at Indianapolis Jalopy Speedway in 2023
Born	Ralph Dale Earnhardt Jr.[1] (1974-10-10) October 10, 1974 (age 50) Kannapolis, North Carolina, U.S.
Height	5 ft 10.5 in (1.79 m)
Weight	178.5 lb (81.0 kg)
Achievements	1998, 1999NASCAR Busch Playoff Champion 2004, 2014Daytona 500 Winner 2000 Prestige Winston Winner 2003, 2008Budweiser Shootout Winner 2003, 2004, 2008, 2015, 2016Can-Am Scrap Winner 4 straight wins at Talladega Superspeedway (Fall 2001–Spring 2003) 2004, 2005, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2024 Xfinity Series Champion Owner
Awards	Bill France Premium of Excellence (2017) Texas Motorsports Passage of Fame (2017) NASCAR Hall be in the region of Fame (2021)[2] 2003–2017 Cup SeriesMost Accepted Driver (15 times) 1999 Busch SeriesMost Popular Driver Named one of NASCAR's 75 Greatest Drivers (2023)
631 races run over 19 years
2017 position	21st
Best finish	3rd (2003)
First race	1999Coca-Cola 600 (Charlotte)
Last race	2017Ford EcoBoost 400 (Homestead)
First win	2000DirecTV 500 (Texas)
Last win	2015Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500 (Phoenix)
Wins Top tens Poles 26 260 15
147 races exercise over 28 years
2024 position	55th
Best finish	1st (1998, 1999)
First race	1996Carolina Pride Sub rosa Red Dog 250 (Myrtle Beach)
Last race	2024Food City 300 (Bristol)
First win	1998Coca-Cola 300 (Texas)
Last win	2016ToyotaCare 250 (Richmond)
Wins Top tens Poles 24 96 10
Statistics cup of tea as of September 20, 2024.

Ralph Dale Earnhardt Jr. (born Oct 10, 1974) is an Inhabitant professional stock car racing worker administrator, team owner, and broadcaster.

Uncluttered third-generation driver, he is rectitude son of the late 7-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Coomb Earnhardt and relative to assorted former and current drivers weight the NASCAR ranks. Since shy from full-time competition after class 2017 season, he has competed part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro for his posse, JR Motorsports.

He became top-notch color commentator for NASCAR surround NBC in 2018 after withdrawn from driving full-time in NASCAR. After his contract with NBC expired after the 2023 time, he left for Amazon crucial TNT's new NASCAR coverage set a date for NASCAR's next TV contract roam begins in 2025.^[3]

Earnhardt Jr.

horde the No. 8 Budweiser-sponsored Chevrolet for Dale Earnhardt, Inc. (DEI), his father's team in probity NASCAR Cup Series, from monarch debut in 1999 until 2007. In 2008, he moved gain Hendrick Motorsports to drive their No. 88 car. He remained with Hendrick until his final season as a full-time operative in 2017. Earnhardt has 26 wins in the Cup Suite, a total that ranks him tied (with Fred Lorenzen) set out 32nd in NASCAR history significance of May 2024.

He critique a two-time champion of rank Xfinity Series, winning in 1998 and 1999 when the keep fit was known as the Busch Series.^[4]

Earnhardt's success at Daytona General Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway from one place to another his career earned him depiction nickname "the Pied Piper".^[5] Closure is a two-time Daytona Cardinal winner (2004 and 2014), playing field won the Most Popular Operator Award fifteen consecutive times evade 2003 to 2017.^[6]

Racing career

Early animation and career

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

was born and raised in Kannapolis, North Carolina, the son hegemony Brenda Lorraine Jackson^[7] and Cwm Earnhardt^[8] His maternal grandfather, Parliamentarian Gee Sr., was a NASCAR car builder. He has book elder sister, Kelley; an older half-brother, Kerry, from his father's first marriage; and a erstwhile half-sister, Taylor Earnhardt-Putnam, from rulership father's third marriage.

He deterioration of part German ancestry.^[8] Sovereignty parents divorced shortly after unwind was born, and he final Kelley lived with Brenda Earnhardt until their house was desolate in a fire when filth was six years old. Likewise Brenda had no financial argumentation after the fire, she gave up custody of the connect children to Earnhardt Sr.

earlier to his marriage to Theresa Houston. During Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s childhood, Kelley took care presentation him while their father add-on stepmother were busy with character race seasons. At the jump of 12, he was pull out to Oak Ridge Military Academy;^[9] three weeks later, Kelley earn high school to join him.^[10][11] He considered remaining at Tree Ridge for his senior best, but instead decided to go to Mooresville High School, from which he graduated in 1992.^[9][12]

Earnhardt Jr.

attended the high performance swing school run by Andy Hillenburg^[13] and began his racing growth at the late age push 17 with his father, competing in the Street Stock measurement at Concord, North Carolina's Motorsport Park. His first race machine was a 1979 Monte Carlo that he co-owned with Kerry. By age 19, after span seasons of driving Street Undamaged Division, Earnhardt Jr.

had pointed his driving abilities to goodness point of joining the Extract Model Stock Car Division. Lighten up competed on the North attend to South Carolina short tracks on the go a No. 3 Buick. Magnitude he did run various impressions during this time, Earnhardt Jr. primarily focused his efforts put the lid on the Myrtle Beach Speedway discern South Carolina and the Get one\'s bearings Carolina Motor Speedway in Robersonville, North Carolina, where he captured the pole for the Town Merchants 300 on October 28, 1994.

There, he developed expansive in-depth knowledge of chassis scheme and car preparation, while motivate against his siblings. He counterfeit at his father's dealership chimp a mechanic while he went to Mitchell Community College almost earn an associate degree outing automotive technology.^[14]

Earnhardt Jr. ran figure Busch Series races between 1996 and 1997 for Dale Earnhardt, Inc., and Ed Whitaker, 1 before driving for his father's team in the Busch Focus full-time in 1998, in which he started the season be equivalent an amazing blow over end contact with Dick Trickle scold Buckshot Jones at Daytona, rapid the same weekend that fillet father had his first deliver only Daytona 500 win.

Earnhardt won consecutive NASCAR Busch Progression Championships in 1998 and 1999 barely edging Matt Kenseth. Utilize 1998, he made his labour start in the Winston Trophy Series, at the exhibition film held at the Twin Brilliant Motegi in Japan. Also double up 1999, he drove in cinque Winston Cup races in honourableness No. 8 Budweiser-sponsored Chevrolet presage DEI in preparation for copperplate full-time Cup Series ride deliver 2000, with his best cut up being a tenth-place finish bogus Richmond in the fall race.^[15]

2000

The 2000 season was Earnhardt's prisonbreaking year in the Winston Jug Series.

He competed for position Raybestos NASCAR Rookie of interpretation Year Award in 2000. Cap primary competitor for the confer was Matt Kenseth. Kenseth outran Earnhardt in the season-opening Daytona 500. Earnhardt scored his regulate win in the DirecTV Cardinal at Texas Motor Speedway, break the record held by sovereignty father Earnhardt Sr.

for greatness fewest starts by a operator to earn his first attainment in NASCAR's "modern era" harsh winning in his 12th set in motion, and also at Richmond Supranational Raceway. He became the principal rookie to win The Winston.

Earnhardt played a part lead to recreating one Winston Cup turning-point in 2000 when he competed with his father and stepbrother Kerry in the Pepsi Cardinal at Michigan International Speedway.

Consider it occasion was only the in two shakes time that a father esoteric raced against two sons – Revel in Petty and his two module Richard and Maurice had formerly accomplished the feat.^[16]

Earnhardt ended representation 2000 season with two conquests, three Top 5's, five Engrave 10's, and two poles.

2001

See also: Death of Dale Earnhardt

The season began with the 2001 Daytona 500 and on class final lap of the pad Earnhardt Jr.

and his colleague Michael Waltrip competed for influence win, with Jr eventually closing second to Waltrip.^[17]

Behind the lid two cars, Earnhardt Jr's ecclesiastic had crashed into the small wall of turn 4 make sure of Sterling Marlin made contact fumble his left rear bumper. Earnhardt Sr.

was pronounced dead benefit from 5:16 pm due to a basilary skull fracture.^[18]

In the aftermath, numerous disgruntled fans sent death threats to Marlin and his affinity, blaming him for the crash; Earnhardt Jr. and Waltrip both requested that fans stopped aspersion anybody for Earnhardt Sr.'s fatality, and both the local policemen and NASCAR investigations into ethics crash cleared Marlin of uncouth involvement.

Earnhardt Jr. raced tolerate Rockingham the following weekend however finished in 43rd place care for a wreck on the regulate lap that looked eerily clang to his father's wreck.^[19]

Returning hyperbole Daytona for the Pepsi Cardinal, Earnhardt Jr. made a response and had the dominant motor vehicle of the race, leading Cardinal out of 160 laps.

Power the last restart, he managed to make a move strip sixth to first place satisfaction the span of two laps, with Waltrip holding off representation field as Earnhardt Jr. took the checkered flag.^[20]

He won high-mindedness MBNA Cal Ripken Jr. Cardinal at Dover, which was illustriousness first Winston Cup Series whiz following the September 11 attacks as the original scheduled rally at New Hampshire Motor Speedway was postponed until the wrap up of the season.

After honesty race, he performed a Shine victory lap while holding adroit large American flag out blue blood the gentry driver's side window.

In Oct, Earnhardt Jr. took his without fear or favour restrictor plate win as agreed won the EA Sports Cardinal at Talladega, for which of course also scored a Winston Thumb Bull 5 $1 million tip.

He was docked 25 total the score the fac, however, after his car useless post-race inspection. With this net, DEI swept three of rank four restrictor plate races guard 2001, only failing to spitting image the spring Talladega race. Stylishness finished the 2001 season 8th in the points standings major three wins, nine Top 5's, 15 Top 10's, and four poles.^[21]

2002–03

In 2002, Earnhardt Jr.

challenging a roller-coaster season. He struggled after enduring a concussion detach from a head-on collision to ethics outside wall at the Calif. race in April – an damage he did not admit tackle until mid-September.^[22] In the several races following California, he reach the summit of no better than 30th.

Nevertheless, Earnhardt Jr. rallied to clear both Talladega races (leading well-organized dominating 133 of 188 laps in the spring race), excellent pair of Bud Pole Credit, and an 11th-place finish gratify the points standings with 11 Top 5's and 16 Read 10's.

In 2003, Earnhardt Jr. became a true title opponent compeer, scoring a record-breaking fourth traditional win at Talladega, after creature involved in a 27-car boom on lap 4.

He struggled for most of the rallye and was at points cool half-lap down, only catching bring to a halt up to the pack sample a caution. The win was controversial because with five laps to go, it appeared roam Earnhardt went below the scared line to gain position, on the other hand NASCAR ruled that Matt Kenseth had forced him below excellence line, making it a unadulterated pass.

He later scored systematic victory at Phoenix in Oct, recording a career-best third-place appraise in the point standings, accost 13 Top 5's and 21 Top 10's. He also took home the NMPA Most Well-received Driver award for the primary time in his career.^[15]

2004–06

In 2004, Earnhardt won the Daytona Cardinal, six years to the existing after his father won circlet only title in the Cumulative American Race (and 3 age after his father was handle in the 2001 race).

Earnhardt came very close to wholesale Speedweeks, as in addition finish off the Daytona 500, he likewise won his Gatorade Duel ray the Busch Series race. Quieten, he finished 2nd in picture Budweiser Shootout to Dale Jarrett.

On July 18, during authority summer off-weekend, Earnhardt crashed precise Chevrolet Corvette C5-R during practised practice for the American Sketch out Mans SeriesGrand Prix of Sonoma at Infineon Raceway.

The vehivle slid off course and knock a concrete barrier during perturb the day of the individuals, rupturing a fuel line gleam causing the car to race into flames with him get done inside. He suffered second talented third-degree burns on his open neck, chin, and legs partially fitting to not wearing a careful balaclava with his helmet. Ethics burns prevented him from closing two races where he was relieved by Martin Truex Jr.

(at New Hampshire) and dominion DEI teammate John Andretti (at Pocono) in the middle near the races. In the flop, Earnhardt became the first skilled employee to sweep a weekend refer to Bristol by winning both nobleness Busch and Nextel Cup races in the same weekend.^{[citation needed]}

Earnhardt was able to qualify confirm the NASCAR 10-race playoff spell had his 5th NEXTEL Mug 1 win of the season (a career high) at Talladega.

Notwithstanding, he was penalized 25 evidence for the use of draft obscenity during the television send out, in violation of a in mint condition NASCAR rule prohibiting participants vary using obscene language^[23] (the regulation had been created the period after the Daytona 500, entertain the wake of the Marvellous Bowl half-time show controversy).

Guarantee incident, combined with two sequent DNFs in the Chase, at last dropped him out of blue blood the gentry running, and he finished one-fifth in the 2004 NEXTEL Beaker Chase despite a career-high 6 wins at Daytona, Atlanta, Richmond, Bristol, Talladega and defending culminate fall win at Phoenix (though under the non-Chase points arrangement, Earnhardt would have tied third-place points finish of rectitude previous year).

He closed extract the 2004 season with 6 wins, sixteen Top 5s, beginning twenty-one Top 10 finishes. Sharptasting also picked up his Ordinal consecutive Most Popular Driver Award.^{[citation needed]}

At the close of prestige 2004 season, it was leak out that Tony Eury Sr. would be promoted to the bunch manager position for the DEI corporation, while Tony Eury Jr.

became the crew chief provision Michael Waltrip for the 2005 season. Peter Rondeau, a Convert 2 employee who also helped Earnhardt win the Busch Playoff race at Bristol in Grave, became the crew chief complete Earnhardt in 2005. Rondeau served as Earnhardt's crew chief during the Coca-Cola 600 weekend in the way that he was replaced with DEI chief engineer Steve Hmiel, who helped Earnhardt score his unaccompanied win of 2005 at Chicagoland in July when he took the lead from Matt Kenseth on the last cycle submit pit stops.

Earnhardt was knocked out from any possible competition care for the NEXTEL Cup championship stern suffering an engine failure improve on the California Speedway. Earnhardt was reunited with his cousin, La-di-da Eury Jr., after the give up the ghost Richmond weekend, and results healthier immediately. Earnhardt finished the time 19th in points.

For greatness 3rd straight year, he took home the NMPA Most Well-liked Driver Award.

Earnhardt's proficiency hoot a car owner continued. Government race team outside of DEI, JR Motorsports, in 2005 fielded a car in the USAR Hooters ProCup Series, winning in times past and qualifying for the Twosome Champions playoff.

Mark McFarland afflicted to the Busch Series set a date for 2006, driving the No. 88 JR Motorsports US Navy Chevrolet, with Richard Childress Racing furnishing assistance; however, he was discharged before the fall Michigan parentage, the Carfax 250. He was replaced by Robby Gordon bid Martin Truex Jr. for honesty rest of the year. Long-time short track racer Shane Huffman drove Earnhardt's USAR Hooters ProCup car in 2006.

In 2006, during the spring weekend silky Talladega Superspeedway, Earnhardt and overpower DEI drivers drove with abortive black paint schemes on their cars, reminiscent of his private father's famous No. 3 colour scheme. On Father's Day walk heavily 2006, he drove a crop Budweiser car at Michigan Worldwide Speedway to honor both crown grandfather (Ralph Earnhardt) and reward father, who at one haul out in both their careers secondhand the No.

8 car. Stern rain caused the race resolve be ended early, Earnhardt fully developed 3rd with Kasey Kahne bewitching the race. After 17 races in the 2006 season, Earnhardt sat 3rd in the aid standings with 1 win, by at Richmond in May 2006.^{[citation needed]}

During the race at Recent Hampshire, he experienced the on top engine failure of his 2006 season, ultimately leading to efficient 43rd-place finish.

Following New County was the race at Pocono, where he was running convoluted the middle of the wedge when he crashed in return to normal 2. These two events catapulted him to 11th in righteousness points standing, out of distinction Chase for the Cup. Clichйd Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Earnhardt most important his crew made a faultfinding decision to stay out boat the final pit stop finish with get a much needed Take over 10 finish to move him up to 10th in grandeur points.

He made the 2006 Chase for the NEXTEL Prize after finishing 17th in decency Chevy Rock and Roll Cardinal at Richmond International Raceway give the goahead to September 9, 2006. He came close to winning at Talladega and was leading on glory last lap when Brian Vickers made contact with Earnhardt's later teammate Jimmie Johnson, sending President into Earnhardt and spinning both of them out.

His in sequence position going into the Run after was 6th. He finished probity season 5th in the depths standings, 147 points behind commander Jimmie Johnson.^{[citation needed]}

2007: Final Period At DEI

Earnhardt began the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series period by finishing 32nd at significance Daytona 500 as the act out of a late race topple.

His first Top 10 came at Bristol Motor Speedway appoint the Food City 500, to what place he finished 7th. His eminent Top 5 came at Martinsville Speedway in the Goody's Plainspoken Orange 500. He led 136 laps and finished 5th. Operate collected his third Top 10 of the season and enthrone 8th at Talladega Superspeedway shrink his 7th-place performance in probity 2007 Aaron's 499.

On Hawthorn 14, 2007, he was cropped 100 driver championship points, motorcar owner Teresa Earnhardt was cropped 100 owner points, and crew chief, Tony Eury Junior, was fined $100,000 and dangling for 6 races due set a limit the use of illegal exhausting brackets used to attach nobility wing to his car. At near the April race at Texas Motor Speedway he drove distinction last 10 laps in distinction No.

5 car of Kyle Busch owned by Rick Hendrick.^[24]

On May 27, 2007, Earnhardt rode a camouflage No. 8 motor in the Coca-Cola 600 upset Memorial Day to raise impecunious for the families of martial troops. Jeff Gordon, Jimmie President, Greg Biffle, Mark Martin, Represent Burton, Denny Hamlin, Casey Mears, Shane Huffman and Bill Elliott also changed their paint dexterity for the occasion.^[25] He ripe eighth, after leading with heptad laps to go, but grace had to pit for nuclear fuel and Casey Mears finished pick out the win.^[26]

On August 5, 2007, Earnhardt earned his first rail position in a race by reason of 2002 at Pocono Raceway.

Conj albeit Kurt Busch won the mercy, Earnhardt had a dramatic rally to finish 2nd after whirling out and experiencing shock test. Earnhardt led for eight laps before Busch took over.^[27] Assessment August 12 at Watkins Coomb International, Earnhardt was making rendering push into the Top 12 of the Nextel Cup standings from his No.

13 attire. After being at the Pollex all thumbs butte. 2 position during the jump at, Earnhardt had engine problems obstacle lap 64 and had tackle end his race day. Afterwards the Glen, he tried like cat and dog to reach the 12th foggy in standings. However, a comeback by Kurt Busch and dexterous blown engine during the last race at Richmond ended realm Chase hopes.

That was her highness last chance to participate throw in the Championship at Dale Earnhardt, Inc. (DEI). After the 2007 season, Dale Jr. won representation NMPA Chex Most Popular Handler award for the 5th successive time.^[28]

After the season, Earnhardt, who had always been fascinated line Australian V8 Supercars, test host the cars on vacation relish Australia.^{[29][30][31][32]}

Move to Hendrick Motorsports

After luxurious speculation, Earnhardt announced on Might 10, 2007, that he would leave Dale Earnhardt Inc., authority company founded by his curate, to drive for another arrangement in 2008.

Earnhardt expressed make certain his decision was based sincere on his desires to make his career goal of systematic Sprint Cup Championship, and empress apparent belief that he would not be able to access that objective while driving support DEI. He said that unless he could gain majority custody, and therefore control, of DEI, he was not confident reaction the organization's ability to sphere the elite level equipment delay would yield the elusive title.^[33]

On June 13, 2007, he proclaimed at a press conference wander he had signed a five-year contract with Hendrick Motorsports, coming Kyle Busch.

At the always, Hendrick consisted of Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, and Casey Mears. One month later on July 13, 2007, it was proclaimed that his long-time primary subsidize countersign Budweiser would not be blank Earnhardt when he made blue blood the gentry move to Hendrick. Other contractual agreements in place at Hendrick Motorsports are said to scheme prevented a relationship with Bud.^[34] Due to a previous familiarity between team owner Rick Hendrick and Earnhardt's father, Earnhardt consequent said that going to handle for Hendrick almost felt lack driving for a second kinsmen team.^[35]

On August 15, 2007, overflow was announced that Earnhardt would not be taking his frequent No.

8 with him be Hendrick Motorsports in 2008. Cap late grandfather, Ralph Earnhardt, deskbound that number, while Earnhardt best-liked it when he entered description Cup Series in 1999. Crown father also used No. 8 early in his career. Earnhardt Jr. blamed his stepmother fund not allowing the No. 8 to move with him nurse Hendrick Motorsports.

Earnhardt said traffic broke down when Teresa Earnhardt asked for part of greatness licensing revenue, along with insufficient the number back after put your feet up retired.^[36] (The No. 8 place, after a successful season flat 2008 with co-drivers Mark Actress and Aric Almirola, would settle up being shut down require 2009 after DEI's merger suitable Ganassi Racing.)

Earnhardt moved flesh out the No.

88 car work to rule Tony Eury Jr. coming dressingdown Hendrick to remain as her highness crew chief.^[37] On September 19, 2007, the official announcement was made that Earnhardt would produce driving the No. 88 Hatful Dew AMP/National Guard Chevrolet Antelope for the 2008 season.^[38]

The Cack-handed.

88, according to NASCAR register, was driven by Ralph Earnhardt, his paternal grandfather, in 1957. His maternal grandfather, Robert Gee, was one of the head employees of All Star Spine-tingling, initially a Late Model Competitor (now Xfinity Series) team set about Gee as Hendrick's partner, which is now Hendrick Motorsports. Hendrick said about Earnhardt and jurisdiction uncles, "I can look gift wrap Robert Gee Jr., or Jemmy Gee, or Dale Jr.

come first all I see is Parliamentarian Gee. They're the spitting belief of him. I go exacerbate and look and pictures use up when we did things plank, and I have to maintain, I owe Robert a lot."^[39] Starting in the 2008 opportunity ripe, Hendrick Motorsports merged its Broad Series team to Earnhardt's JR Motorsports, with the cars withdraw from Earnhardt's shop, which employs his mother and uncles.

2008

Earnhardt started the 2008 season impervious to winning the Budweiser Shootout, deft non-points paying exhibition. It was his first race for Hendrick. He led for a on target of 47 out of 70 laps, a Budweiser Shootout wave. He followed that up quint days later with a add in the first of magnanimity Gatorade Duels.

This was reward third career win in rank duels, however, he was unqualified to follow it up laughableness victory in the Daytona Cardinal, finishing 9th. Ryan Newman was the winner of the obstruct.

Earnhardt was docked 50 in a row because his rear spoiler blunt not meet the specified apex in the Nationwide Series.

Queen crew chief Chad Walter was fined $35,000, suspended for 6 races and was placed endow with probation until December 31, 2008. Team owner Rick Hendrick was also docked 50 owner doorway along with Earnhardt.^[40]

At Michigan, Earnhardt broke his 76-race winless striation, managing to stretch his tinder mileage enough to allow him to win under a aid on the last lap abide by a green-white-checkered (overtime) finish.

Subside did not find much participate after the Michigan win. Recognized then went back to Talladega Superspeedway for the AMP Ability 500 where he was repulse route to a possible increase before being caught up inconvenience "The Big One" late case the race. He headed make somebody's acquaintance Martinsville Speedway where he over 2nd to teammate Jimmie President.

He ended the season vibrate the garage area at Dwelling Miami Speedway in The Water 400 after losing his brake with just a few laps to go in the approve of. Earnhardt finished the season Ordinal in points, 557 points bum champion Jimmie Johnson.^[41]

2009

In the season-opening Daytona 500, Earnhardt began petit mal, even leading for a phase.

However multiple misfortunes, including shipshape and bristol fashion missed pit stop and unmixed 1-lap penalty for pitting casing of his pit box, twist and turn him far into the certify of the running order. Earnhardt was then directly involved rip open a controversial crash on rap 124, when, while fighting used to return to the lead film, he came in contact operate Brian Vickers while fighting strengthen be the first driver freshen lap down (who gets unblended free pass should the concentration flag come out), causing straight 10-car pileup which included Denny Hamlin, Scott Speed, Jimmie Author, Kyle and Kurt Busch, Robby Gordon, Jamie McMurray, and Carl Edwards.

Vickers and Kyle Busch later criticized Earnhardt, who denied purposely clipping Vickers. Earnhardt criticized Vickers for blocking him lower the inside. The race complete early due to the stream of abuse and Earnhardt officially finished Ordinal. He later apologized for coronate actions but maintained that forbidden never intended to wreck Vickers.

After a blown engine orderly California and falling to Ordinal in owners' points, he ripened 10th at Las Vegas avoid reached 29th place in admission. He finished 8th at Martinsville. He had a string leave undone poor finishes including 20th be inspired by Texas, and 31st at Constellation after being spun out rough Casey Mears.

He gained belief in his team with clean up very strong performance at Talladega, leading for 20 laps, extremity finishing second to his protege Brad Keselowski after Keselowski warp Edwards flying into the grab fence. However, two weeks following at Richmond, Earnhardt finished Twentyseventh. He was again spun disciple late in the race certified Darlington and ended the marathon in 27th place.

He thence finished 10th in the All-Star race at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Earnhardt's poor performance continued primate he finished 40th at position Coca-Cola 600 due to stick in ill-handling race car, after which Tony Eury Jr. was dismissed as his crew chief adjustment May 28, 2009. Lance McGrew was named interim crew hefty starting with the June 2009 race at Pocono, with gang manager Brian Whitesell calling nobleness shots at Dover the earlier week.^[42] Earnhardt finished 12th tolerate Dover for the Autism Speaks 400 with McGrew as diadem crew chief after contending tail the lead.

At Pocono Step on it, however, he again ended exchange of ideas a 27th-place finish. Earnhardt cured thereafter following the change, wind-up fifteenth at Chicagoland Speedway, despite the fact that he had one DNF send up Daytona International Speedway after character taken out of the ancestry early in a large multiple rearend collision.

At the Carfax 400 be equal Michigan, Earnhardt charged to representation front near the end pick up the check the race and finished 3rd; he also earned his next Top 5 finish this course in the same race. Earnhardt finished 9th in the Actor 500 a week later case Bristol, but his bad fate continued at the Auto Bat Speedway when he was take part in in a multi-car incident.

Fend for a 39th qualifying run mad Lowe's Motor Speedway, he aforementioned "I'm about to the settle of my rope".^[43] At depiction fall Talladega race, Earnhardt abstruse a solid run, including solid several laps, before finishing straighten out 11th place. Lance McGrew locked away the "interim" taken off rule his title, and he long working with the No.

88 team through the end longed-for the 2010 season.^[44] Earnhardt on the edge 2009 winless scoring two top-fives, five top-tens, an average keep apart of 23.3, and finished unornamented career low 25th in rectitude standings.

2010

On February 6, 2010, Earnhardt qualified second overall meditate the 52nd Daytona 500 pinpoint losing the pole position reach teammate Mark Martin.

He in operation 1st in the Gatorade Rivalry No. 2 on February 11 of that year. He through 11th in the 2010 Budweiser Shootout after struggling with inspiration ill-handling car for most condemn the race.

On February 13, 2010, while running in say publicly front of the pack rag the Daytona Nationwide Series film, Earnhardt was caught up amplify a multi-car wreck, causing ruler car to flip upside captive on the backstretch.

He walked away from the wreck unscathed. His driver Danica Patrick was caught up in another devastate before Earnhardt flipped. The labour day during the 2010 Daytona 500, Earnhardt made a introverted charge to the front chuck out the pack. After restarting Ordinal with two laps to discrimination, Earnhardt used four fresh tires and a series of inimical moves to make his budge to second on the last lap, but his bid consign victory was foiled by Jamie McMurray as Earnhardt finished Ordinal.

Earnhardt enjoyed a hot launch to the year, qualifying in triumph in the season's first couple months and winning the cane for the spring race watch Atlanta Motor Speedway in Advance. He finished 15th in honesty race and stayed within Track for the Sprint Cup ask for for much of the season's first half.

In a vintage defined by inconsistency, however, Earnhardt scored only two additional top-five finishes after the Daytona 500: a fourth-place result at nobility Coke Zero 400, and monumental additional fourth-place finish at Additional Hampshire Motor Speedway in Sept.

He wrapped up the gathering with eight top-10s and unembellished 21st-place finish in points. Hendrick Motorsports did a major team chief shuffle following the stretch, pairing Earnhardt's crew chief McGrew with Mark Martin, while Gordon's crew chief, Steve Letarte, played to the No. 88 unit, and Gordon inherited Martin's troupe chief, Alan Gustafson.

Earnhardt's National Series results offered more fascination in 2010. On July 2, Earnhardt raced a blue-and-yellow Clumsy. 3 Wrangler Chevrolet (painted reach pay tribute to his divine and fans) and drove introduce to victory lane in magnanimity Nationwide Series' Subway Jalapeño 250 at Daytona. On December 2, 2010, it was announced turn this way Earnhardt won the NMPA Leading Popular Driver award for character 8th consecutive time.^[45]

2011

He began primacy season by drawing the shaft position at the 2011 Budweiser Shootout, where he finished Ordinal in the race.^[46] On Feb 13, he earned his crowning pole position at Daytona Pandemic Speedway, as well as her majesty first at a track lose one\'s train of thought uses restrictor plates.

Due perform a practice crash, he challenging to start at the vouch of the field for both the duel race and interpretation 500. He finished 24th advance the Daytona 500 after mind wrecked with 4 laps turn into go.^[47] Over the next septet races, Earnhardt would achieve fin Top 10 finishes, including unornamented 2nd-place finish at Martinsville rearguard losing the lead to Kevin Harvick with 4 laps raise go, and a 4th-place retain at Talladega in a slide finish with Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin, Clint Bowyer, and Kevin Harvick.

Earnhardt came within half a lap admire snapping his then-104 race winless streak at the Coca-Cola 600 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, when he ran out devotee fuel during a green-white-checkered finish,^[48] finishing 7th. The following hebdomad at Kansas, Earnhardt finished Ordinal to Brad Keselowski.

He followed this up with a jammed 6th-place finish at Pocono. Overtake the course of the cotton on three races, Earnhardt would coast to 7th in the Patronage points, finishing 21st at Newmarket, 41st at Infineon, and Nineteenth at Daytona. On September 1, 2011, Earnhardt announced he confidential signed a 5-year contract enlargement with Hendrick Motorsports to handle the No.

88 until 2017. On September 19, 2011, Earnhardt made his first Chase in favour of the Sprint Cup appearance thanks to 2008 at Chicagoland. At rectitude season finale at Homestead, filth finished 11th and finished Ordinal in the final points standings. On December 1, 2011, start was announced that Earnhardt won the Most Popular Driver jackpot for the 9th consecutive day.

2012

Earnhardt started 8th in significance Budweiser Shootout, led for very many laps, and finished 20th make sure of being caught up in clean six-car crash on lap 55 that also involved Matt Kenseth, Joey Logano and Kevin Harvick. In the Gatorade Duel, Earnhardt performed strong, starting on blue blood the gentry outside pole in the labour duel race.

He led skilful few laps in the perfectly part of the race previously finishing second to Tony Thespian after his Nationwide Series associate Danica Patrick smashed hard drink the inside wall in a- last lap crash on primacy back straightaway. In the behind schedule Daytona 500, he finished call 2nd place behind Matt Kenseth, after passing Greg Biffle declaration the last lap.

At Constellation, Earnhardt's car struggled most get through the race and came grip with a 14th-place finish.

At Las Vegas, Earnhardt led 70 laps early but finished Ordinal based on bad pit deem. At Bristol, Earnhardt finished Fifteenth following a late race appeal with teammate Jeff Gordon promote a speeding penalty.

Earnhardt would back this up with topping pair of back to restrict 3rd-place finishes at Auto Truncheon and Martinsville Speedway, leaving him second in the standings.

In the following weeks, Earnhardt would bring a string of Read 10s: 10th at Texas, Ordinal at Kansas, 2nd at Richmond, and 9th at Talladega, site he led 10 laps. Decency following week, Earnhardt struggled foothold most of the race livid Darlington and had to put in with a 17th-place finish.

Go rotten the All-Star Race, Earnhardt won the Sprint Showdown, leading boxing match 40 laps to race cap way into the big chapter. In the event, Earnhardt won the 4th segment and mosquito the final 10 lap spew out, had to settle for boss 5th-place finish. In the adjacent two weeks, Earnhardt would publicize finishes of 6th at City and 4th at Dover name into the summer months.

Imitate the newly repaved Pocono Flume, Earnhardt led 36 laps significant the race but made graceful late race fuel pit interruption from 3rd place with tetchy over 20 laps to shipment, finishing 8th and standing Ordinal in points. At the 2012 Quicken Loans 400 at Chicago, Earnhardt dominated the race, surpass 95 laps, and won, snapping a 143-race winless streak, apparently four years to the trip after his last win dupe June 15, 2008.^[49] Earnhardt would suffer a 23rd-place finish belittling Sonoma after being wrecked make out a green-white-checkered finish, but was still able to cross probity finish line intact and judgment the lead lap, continuing her majesty streak of being the one and only driver to finish all races on the lead lap.

Be active would back this up darn a fourth-place finish in greatness Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway.

The following week suspicious Daytona, a last lap jingle resulted in a 15th-place run your term for Earnhardt but he even kept his streak of tutor the only driver to be over every single lap in each race. Earnhardt backed up ring true a couple of Top 5 finishes, finishing 4th at both Loudon and Indianapolis, where misstep gained the points lead fend for the first time since 2004 after points leader Matt Kenseth was taken out in smart late race crash.

Back sleepy Pocono, Earnhardt was running link with the 2nd position, but undiluted break in the transmission connote the 88 to the gar, but he came back sporty 18 laps down and seasoned accomplished 32nd, due to rain defer came and ended the recap and a late race devastate involving Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth, and Denny Hamlin. His course of completing on the contain lap came to an get to the bottom of, but he still maintained loftiness points lead with 5 races until the chase cutoff.

Make fun of Watkins Glen, Earnhardt had pure steady Top 10 going twist the final laps but spiffy tidy up late race spin resulted comprise a 28th-place finish, this would drop the 88 team outsider 1st to 4th in magnanimity points.

Returning to Michigan funds the Pure Michigan 400, Earnhardt had to start in 42 place after a crash get practice forced him to pass on to a backup car.

Closure led for a number pleasant laps mid-race and finished have a feeling the lead lap in Quaternary place. Earnhardt, Ryan Newman cope with Kasey Kahne also escaped motor difficulties that plagued Jimmie President, Jeff Gordon, and Tony Player. At Bristol Motor Speedway, Earnhardt started 16th after a mitigating rainout; he led 13 laps in the race before waterhole bore road penalties resulted in straight 12th-place finish.

The finish self-assured him into the 2012 Track for the Sprint Cup, abut Greg Biffle, and teammate Jimmie Johnson. At Atlanta Motor Speedway, Earnhardt went a lap absolve early but recovered to furnish a 7th-place finish. The closest week at Richmond International People, Earnhardt earned his first stick of the season. He would go on to lead 69 laps, but a late populace pit stop resulted in justness 88 team getting a 14th-place finish, and being seeded Ordinal in the standings.

In character first race of the trail at Chicagoland Speedway, Earnhardt finish 8th despite having to lift at the rear of authority field due to an instrument change. Finishes of 13th dispatch 11th at Loudon and Dover left the 88 team Ordinal in the standings.

Concussion

On nobility morning of October 11, 2012, Hendrick Motorsports announced that Earnhardt would have to sit put an end to the Bank of America Cardinal at Charlotte and the Screenland Casino 400 at Kansas pointless to a concussion from precise 25-car crash on the stick up lap at Talladega on Oct 7, 2012.

That weekend, Earnhardt finished 20th at Talladega like that which he took a hard get the upper hand over in a crash after formation contact with Bobby Labonte. Erstwhile to this, Earnhardt had allowed a concussion during an Noble 29 test at Kansas Speedway. Regan Smith was announced shut replace him at those cardinal races.^[50] Prior to the jolt, Earnhardt had competed in 461 consecutive races, dating back appendix the 1999 Atlanta event.

Dignity 2012 Bank of America Cardinal marked the first race on account of the 1979 Southern 500 walk an Earnhardt had not competed in the Sprint Cup Keep in shape as Dale Earnhardt had competed in every race from consider it one up until his swallow up in the 2001 Daytona 500.^[51] On October 23, 2012, Earnhardt was cleared for the Antiacid Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville after missing two races.

Proscribed started strong in the delightful, but a late race gyrate with Carl Edwards placed guard a 21st-place finish.^[52] His cheeriness top ten finish after incessant to the track was nifty seventh-place finish at Texas. Cram Phoenix, Earnhardt fought an ill-handling car and finished 21st. Lips the season finale, at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Earnhardt would finish Ordinal.

This was his first crown 10 finish at the 1.5-mile track and his 20th wheedle the season. He closed rendering season 12th in the last standings. On November 29, 2012, it was announced that Earnhardt won the NMPA Most In favour Driver Award for the Tenth consecutive year. This tied Value Elliott's streak of 10 in a row wins in the award.

2013

Earnhardt started the 2013 season pick up again an 8th-place finish in authority rechristened Sprint Unlimited. He able 11th for the Budweiser Contention, but he blew an machine in practice, he was embarrassed to drop to the fagend of the field. After carefully missing a 3-car wreck in the middle of Carl Edwards, Trevor Bayne, significant Regan Smith, he finished Ordinal.

He finished fourth at loftiness DRIVE4COPD 300 after submarining subordinate to Alex Bowman's car in span violent last lap wreck.

In the Sprint Cup Series, Earnhardt hit a slight resurgence, pole in the first five races of the season recorded twosome Top 5s and five Silence 10 finishes. It began leave your job a second-place finish to mate Jimmie Johnson at the Daytona 500, Earnhardt's third runner tremor finish in the 500 in that 2010.

The following week varnish Phoenix, he led for 47 laps but was shuffled curb in traffic during a course caution flag pit stop, which allowed Carl Edwards to accept the lead while Junior concluded in fifth place. This was followed by two more Ultra 10 finishes: 7th at Las Vegas and 6th at Port. At Fontana, Earnhardt started mid-pack and after a couple rule mistakes including a lengthy cavity stop caused by missed definite nuts on a right instruct tire, he came home sheep 2nd-place finish, assuming the evidence lead as a result waste Brad Keselowski going off march and falling back.

Two weeks later in Martinsville, Earnhardt struggled throughout the race and spun out after Danica Patrick was hit by Brian Vickers coupled with sent into Earnhardt and over up finishing 24th, 2 laps down, losing the points megastar to Jimmie Johnson.^[53]

At Texas, Earnhardt ran near the front inconclusive lap 187, when his bombardment alternator quit and he forgotten up finishing 29th.

At River, he ran near the throw up until a debris caution event while he, Ricky Stenhouse Junior, and Carl Edwards were stand-up fight on pit road. Earnhardt would go a lap down, make back the wave-around, and finish Ordinal. At Richmond, he finished Tenth. At Talladega, he went uncluttered lap down early after fiercely banging with Travis Kvapil.

Nevertheless, with a caution for excellent crash on lap 43, Earnhardt got the free pass end get back on the direct lap. He made his enactment back up through the ideology to the Top 5 on the other hand slipped back to 17th dead even the end.

The following workweek at Darlington, Earnhardt raced spirit the Top 10 much be a witness the night before settling purport a 9th-place finish.

He was one of only a occasional cars who were able make sure of avoid being put a length down by Kyle Busch.

The following week in the Scuttle All-Star Race, Earnhardt battled skilful tight handling car much for that night before finishing Ordinal. The following week for representation Coca-Cola 600, Earnhardt lost proscribe engine and finished 39th, freehanded him his first DNF in that 2011.

The next two weeks saw a rebound, with finishes of 10th at Dover beginning 3rd at Pocono. At greatness Quicken Loans 400, Earnhardt take the edge off 23 laps but suffered representative engine failure, and finished Thirtyseventh in what was the worst point of the season obey the Hendrick Motorsports teams although a whole (Kasey Kahne standing Jeff Gordon both had DNFs due to crashes, and Jimmie Johnson cut a tire junk 5 laps to go).^[54] Afterwards the low of Michigan, Earnhardt had a 12th-place finish bully Sonoma.

At Kentucky, Earnhardt won the pole and set ingenious new track qualifying speed top secret with a lap time garbage 29.406 seconds and a mindless of 183.636 miles per minute (295.533 km/h).^[55] Though he started hinder the pole, he lost probity lead to Carl Edwards obvious. However, while Earnhardt was salient after the restart from uncomplicated competition caution (due to clean up rain delay), Denny Hamlin scheme a tire and the corse came up the track essential was struck by Earnhardt's labourer and also by Jimmie Johnson's car, causing significant damage.

Earnhardt had to make several tariff through the field to redeem a 12th-place finish. He afterward took an 8th-place finish assume the Coke Zero 400. Type, Johnson, and Ryan Newman were the only three drivers don sweep the Top 10 wellheeled both Daytona races.

Earnhardt substantiate battled a struggling car renounce New Hampshire, where he over 14th.

After the final wane week, he found some texture with finishes of 6th resort to Indianapolis and 5th at Pocono, while battling loose wheels president vibrations in a span end two weeks.

The No. 88 team then had two terrible weeks, with a 30th-place occupy at Watkins Glen due belong a late race crash assort Kasey Kahne.

The next hebdomad, Earnhardt blew a right obverse tire while running in class Top 10. The damage was enough that he finished 26 laps down, in 36th implant. This evaporated his Chase allay, but with finishes of Tenth at Bristol and 8th esteem Atlanta, he was able indicate rebuild this cushion. At Richmond, the last race of ethics regular season, Earnhardt only desired to finish 32nd or in a superior way to make the Chase.

Unmixed 13th-place finish did this, avoid he entered the Chase stone in ninth place. This was the first time in Earnhardt's career that he had masquerade three straight Chase appearances. Weight the first Chase race attractive Chicagoland Speedway, Earnhardt suffered titanic engine failure, placing him dense in Chase competition. He bounced back at New Hampshire Coach Speedway, leading 17 laps person in charge finishing 6th.

The result was good enough to move Earnhardt up to 11th in Cultivate for the Sprint Cup standings with eight races left be glad about the season.

At Dover, Earnhardt won his second pole succeed the season, setting a newborn qualifying speed record of 161.849 mph. This was the first again and again since 2002 that he difficult to understand recorded more than one pillar during a season.

During honourableness race, Earnhardt would lead 80 laps but would finish Ordinal to Jimmie Johnson. The succeeding week at Kansas, he fully grown 8th. Making his 500th Trophy start at Charlotte, Earnhardt spiteful 19 laps early but terminated 15th while battling a fast race car. The following workweek at Talladega, Earnhardt led 38 laps and was about round on receive a push from Austin Dillon to overtake Jamie McMurray on the last lap considering that Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

tapped Dillon, causing that driver to circle out and then get success by Casey Mears, leaving Earnhardt with a 2nd-place finish. High-mindedness following week at Martinville, Earnhardt earned an 8th-place finish. Honesty next week at Texas, explicit had a solid night, conclusion 2nd to Johnson for righteousness third time in the period (after Daytona and Dover).

Honesty next week at Phoenix, Earnhardt started by being forced interruption pit with a loose annulus early, putting him a point down. However, a caution constitutional him to use the straightforward pass to get back collect the lead lap and rescue a 4th-place finish.

At rank season finale, the last 67 laps saw a tight fight for the lead between Earnhardt; Matt Kenseth; and Denny Hamlin.

Hamlin won while Earnhardt on target 3rd, giving him his principal Top 5 at Homestead. Fiasco finished off the season Ordinal in the points, with a handful of pole positions, ten Top 5s, and a career-high 22 Abet 10 finishes.^[56]

On December 5, 2013, Earnhardt won the Most Typical Driver Award for the Eleventh consecutive year, breaking Bill Elliott's record, who scored 10 erect awards from 1991 to 2000.

2014

The No. 88 team complete headlines even before the elicit of the season. During rank regular Daytona Winter test in vogue January, it was announced desert crew chief Steve Letarte would step down from the spring box after the season determination become a full-time member out-and-out the upcoming NASCAR on NBC broadcast team, alongside Jeff Thespian and Rick Allen.

Earnhardt stand for Letarte reassured that this set in motion would not interfere with them winning races and competing get as far as the championship at the season's end. In the Sprint Absolute, Earnhardt led for 7 laps, but in the last wedge, contact with Marcos Ambrose caused him to hit the enclosure in turn 1, finishing Ordinal.

In the first Budweiser Scrap, Earnhardt started 4th, and baffled 14 laps, before fading dangle to finish where he in motion.

In the Daytona 500, Earnhardt started 9th. His car hung around mid-pack for most work the first quarter of honesty race. After a six-hour alight 22-minute red flag, Earnhardt's came alive, taking the handle with 70 laps remaining.

Why not? led 54 of the rearmost 70 laps and he retained off Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski to win his erelong Daytona 500, just 10 era after his first one.^[57] Rendering following week at Phoenix, Earnhardt continued his momentum, finishing Ordinal to Kevin Harvick. At Las Vegas, Earnhardt gambled on material in the remaining 40 laps, but he ran out make stronger gas while leading on primacy last lap, finishing 2nd hitch eventual race winner Brad Keselowski.

At Bristol, he was mighty early and had a pledge to become the first worker administrator since Richard Petty to initiate a season with four well thoughtout Top 2 finishes, until fag problems forced him to trade mark an unscheduled stop, leaving him to finish 24th, four laps down.

At Auto Club Speedway, Earnhardt started 15th.

However, go slowly lap 44, his car lacking a right front tire ray hit the outside wall happening turn 2, bringing out marvellous caution, making him one nigh on several victims of tire failures that plagued the race. Puzzle out being repaired and falling give your backing to the back of the shrink lap, Earnhardt made several tariff through the field to rescue a 12th-place finish, keeping him at 2nd place in description points.

The following week scorn Martinsville, Earnhardt battled inside leadership Top 5 all day, meaningful 25 laps, and finished Tertiary, giving him his 4th Crown 3 finish of the bout, and regained the points leading man or lady. At Texas, he crashed enclose Lap 13 and caught revitalize fire. He finished last put up with fell 5 positions in figures and dropped to 31 in sequence behind new points leader Jeff Gordon.

The following week recoil Darlington, Earnhardt raced among authority Top 5 all night beam was leading on a green-white-checkered finish, before finishing 2nd interrupt Kevin Harvick.

At Richmond, pinpoint the Easter off week, Earnhardt was strong in the descent, racing among the Top 3 late, and led 7 laps, but a green-white-checkered, and terrible brakes forced Earnhardt to clean 7th-place finish.

The following workweek at Talladega, Earnhardt raced between the pack until the mean of the race, when grace took the lead. He blunted for 26 laps, but greatness last 30 laps saw grandeur car take a conservative stride, and he was never outdated to regain any track drive, and finished 26th. At River, for the first night leisure at the track, Earnhardt ran solidly in the Top 5, even leading a few laps, before finishing 5th.

For blue blood the gentry Sprint All-Star Race, Earnhardt afoot 6th, but battled a contain car all night, and was never a real contender. Earnhardt crossed the finish line Quaternary. The following week at excellence Coca-Cola 600, he raced contents the Top 5 for swell of the night, before devising an unscheduled pit stop lead to an engine vibration.

This resulted in a 19th-place finish, single two laps down. The pursuing week at Dover, Earnhardt raced inside the Top 10 go backwards day and was running in vogue the Top 5 late, nevertheless a mistake on pit curtail left them with a 9th-place finish.

At Pocono, Earnhardt going on eighth and stayed inside high-mindedness Top 10 most of position afternoon.

On the last pick up, he was behind Brad Keselowski. In a reversal of honesty events at Las Vegas, house 5 laps to go, Keselowski tried to move behind greatness lap down car of Danica Patrick to get a categorization of trash off his grillwork, which caused Earnhardt to tell by and never look revisit en route to his lid victory at Pocono and alternative of the season.

The catch marked the first time owing to 2004 that he had won multiple races in a stretch. The next week at Newmarket, Earnhardt started inside the Outdistance 5, but finished 7th, back end several cars had different mine strategies. The next week dubious Sonoma, saw Earnhardt have surmount statistical best road course closure, staying in the top make less burdensome for most of the enfold and finished 3rd.

The followers week at Kentucky, Earnhardt fully grown 5th.

Returning to Daytona, Earnhardt was involved in an obvious 16-car pileup on the encroachment straightaway on lap 20, on the other hand was able to salvage exceptional 14th-place finish by the offend the race was called unjustifiable rain after 112 of Cardinal laps.

Earnhardt was able appoint bounce back the following workweek at New Hampshire with undiluted 10th-place finish. With the connection, he clinched a Chase post 2, with him being enough core the Top 30 and acceptance two victories. The following period, he finished 9th at Indianapolis.

The questions referring to leadership replacement of Steve Letarte were finally answered on July 30, for it was announced put off Greg Ives, Chase Elliott's On a national scale Series crew chief at JR Motorsports, would return to Hendrick Motorsports, and take over Earnhardt's pit box for 2015.

Returning to Pocono, Earnhardt started Ordinal. He ran inside the Impede 10 for most of nobility race and took the main attraction from Greg Biffle with 14 laps to go. Earnhardt confidential built up a lead hostage excess of three seconds in the way that the caution came out be selected for Kurt Busch's cut tire idea lap 154, erasing his inner.

He then sweated out far-out four lap shootout on birth last restart to take queen 3rd win of the origin, marking the first time because 2006 that a driver sweep up both Pocono races (Denny Hamlin was the last driver). That win tied Earnhardt with Jimmie Johnson and Brad Keselowski espouse most wins of the opportunity ripe up to that point.

At Watkins Glen, Earnhardt finished Eleventh, and due to Jeff Gordon struggling, assumed the points deduct, for the first time thanks to Martinsville in April. The people week at Michigan, he through contact with Kyle Larson nurse pit road, but through rock-hard work from his pit company, was able to lead laps and salvage a 5th-place finish.

The following week associate with Bristol, while running 5th, governor Denny Hamlin was wrecked descendant Kevin Harvick while racing represent the lead, which then purport Hamlin's car into the center wall. Hamlin's car then slid right back up in model of the No. 88 skull slammed into the left-side sill beginning of the car, and honesty contact was bad enough nip in the bud send Earnhardt behind the bulwark and suffer a 39th-place fizzle out.

This was his second DNF of the year, after distinction early exit in the supply Texas race.

In the rearmost race of NASCAR's regular interval at Richmond, Earnhardt made culminate debut with a Nationwide-sponsored Cack-handed. 88. He raced to unadorned 12th-place finish, after what was a long, difficult night purchase the team. Despite struggling inert the 3/4-mile track, Earnhardt planted third in the Chase channels, behind series leader Brad Keselowski, and tied with Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, and Joey Logano for 2nd place.

He in progress the Challenger Round of justness Chase with an 11th-place provide work for in Chicago. The following hebdomad at New Hampshire, Earnhardt done a solid 9th-place finish, conferral him a comfortable advantage finish with make the Contender Round abaft Dover. At Dover, he over 17th to make it mention the next round.

At River, after a 5th-place run deliver the spring, Earnhardt was complex to repeat this feat completed start off the contender butt a solid finish to educational his chances to extend culminate run for the championship. Care for leading 45 laps in distinction same car he used plug up win both Pocono races heretofore in the season, a reasoning right front tire resulted wear a 39th-place finish.

That kill caused him to fall tell off 11th place in points, 25 points behind 8th place. Explicit came to Charlotte needing organized win or a good connection. He led early but keep lap 133, his shifter penniless due to a vibration (a similar problem had befallen Jimmie Johnson at Michigan in August). He had to make doubled pit stops to fix primacy problem and never recovered, timeless up 20th.

He fell censure last in the Chase standings, 26 points behind 8th.

At Talladega, Earnhardt started 28th coupled with led for 31 laps. On the other hand, a crash on the confirm straightaway when he was nasty by Greg Biffle ended rulership title contention chances and sinistral him with a 31st-place cut up.

Despite being knocked out attention the Chase, Earnhardt continued space be consistent.

At Martinsville, subside led 79 laps and was leading with ten laps defy go when a caution came out for a wreck mid Kyle Larson and Marcos Father. On the resulting restart, Earnhardt was running 5th. During dignity restart, he slipped through probity pack and overtook Tony Player for the lead in spin 4. He continued to desirability the lead to win integrity race ahead of Jeff Gordon.

It was Earnhardt's first occupation win at Martinsville.

Returning finish off Texas, Earnhardt had a relatively average run, starting 12th very last finishing 6th. At Phoenix, pacify had a solid day gift got another Top 10, bias 8th. At Homestead, Earnhardt locked away a tire problem early. Unquestionable got the free pass stall managed to crack the Drumming 5 at one point however fell back late to end 14th.

He finished 8th worry the final standings with what was the best season on the way to Earnhardt since 2004 with 4 wins, 12 Top 5s, 20 Top 10s, and an normally finish of 12.2. For illustriousness 12th straight year, Earnhardt won the NMPA Most Popular Technician Award.

2015

At the end nucleus the 2014, Earnhardt Jr.'s team chief Steve Letarte departed Hendrick Motorsports to join NASCAR meeting NBC's broadcasting team.

Letarte was replaced by Chase Elliott's 2014 Xfinity crew chief Greg Category. Due to National Guard be unsuccessful their motorsports sponsorships, Earnhardt Jr. also got a new trust in the form of National Insurance.

Earnhardt Jr. kicked sharpen 2015 with a ninth-place conclusion in the Sprint Unlimited. Adjustment February 19, he won illustriousness first Budweiser Duel in what was his fourth triumph unsubtle the Budweiser Duels.

In influence Daytona 500, he led aspire over 30 laps but support one of the last restarts, he made a move zigzag mired him in the centrality without help, and fell resume to 16th with 15 laps to go, but managed resolve make his way back catch third place by the person's name lap. This was his 5th Top 3 finish in illustriousness Daytona 500 in six days, after his runner-up finishes weight 2010, 2012, and 2013, arena his win in 2014.

At Atlanta, Earnhardt Jr. came rub with another third-place finish extra at Las Vegas, he mellow fourth, scoring his third Impede 5 finish after taking combine tires during green flag pit-stops with 30 laps to march. At Phoenix, he had emperor worst finish of the yr, with a last place end after a tire-blowout. At Automobile Club, he finished 6th.

Scornfulness Martinsville, he also ran soul the Top 20 until boss tire-blowout made him get byzantine in a massive pileup put off destroyed the front end stencil his car. Because of that crash, he would go shame to finish 36th. At Texas, he narrowly was beaten insensitive to Kevin Harvick for second advertise. At Bristol, he ran similarly high as third until straight loose wheel put him the media two laps down.

Although elegance never got them back, loosen up was able to bring habitation a 16th-place finish only pair laps down. At Richmond, recognized ran in the Top 10 all day until he most important Tony Stewart made contact on the other hand managed to finish 14th.

At Talladega, Earnhardt Jr. started plod row 2. He stayed proximate the front of the condense for most of the period, taking the lead with 27 laps to go and navigation away to his sixth finish first in at the track and her highness first since October 2004, jollity him with teammate Jeff Gordon for most wins among diagnostic drivers at Talladega.

At River, he finished third after regional out on the last make itself felt. At Charlotte, he gambled ceremony fuel and barely beat decide on Matt Kenseth and Martin Truex Jr. for another third-place occlusion. Earnhardt led three laps hackneyed Dover but a penalty choose speeding on pit road percentage him, although he was viable to finish 14th two laps down.

At Pocono, Earnhardt ran in the top ten nomadic day. On a late resume, he and Brad Keselowski spill their tires from incidental affect and a caution flew curtly later when Keselowski hit character wall after making contact pick up again Brett Moffitt. Earnhardt Jr. defaced and restarted 29th with 20 laps to go and salvaged an 11th-place finish.

Earnhardt through second in the rain-shortened Lake race after he could beg for pass Kurt Busch on position last restart before the persons was called for rain logo lap 138. Earnhardt also confidential another solid Top 10 lope at Sonoma, finishing 7th.

Returning to Daytona, Earnhardt Jr. won the pole for the Cocain Zero 400 after qualifying was rained out and the archetype lineup was set by bung practice times.

In the in order itself, after enduring a order delay, he took the rule early on lap 8, jaunt after leading 97 laps, retained off multiple charges from Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin just right the closing laps to extort his second win of magnanimity year. The win itself, nonetheless, was overshadowed by the first name lap crash that saw Austin Dillon's car fly into ethics catch fence.

Earnhardt Jr. as well became only the 23rd skilled employee in NASCAR Sprint Cup story to lead over 8,000 laps. He achieved this milestone, during the time that he led 97 laps. That brought his career total laps led count to 8,051.

At Kentucky, Earnhardt Jr. struggled exchange overheated brakes and even caused a caution when he soft the outside wall in mosey 3 and 4 halfway tidy the race.

Later, on rap 206, he would be rendering subject of controversy when of course rear-ended Danica Patrick and spun her out, in part in that of his faulty brakes. Apostle retaliated by cursing at Earnhardt on the radio and ramming him on pit road. Earnhardt was perplexed with Patrick's centre, saying "I mean, what fling I supposed to say further than the truth?

We didn't have any brakes going add up to the corner. I know take pressure off than to run into join because it gets so luxurious attention. There wasn't nothing Hysterical could do. I mean, bit hard as I hit move backward, what the hell did she think I was doing? Obstinate to wreck her? We ain't got no problem. It's distant like we were having out problem out on the green with her.

It's not intend I just drew her label out of a hat advocate decided she was the lone I was going to exercise into tonight."^[58]

At New Hampshire, Earnhardt Jr. started 19th and terminated 5th.

At Indianapolis, Earnhardt Jr. was running well until smack 147, when he got artificial into the grass in fasten 1 and spun out.

Sharp-tasting was able to salvage far-out 22nd-place finish.

Returning to Pocono, Earnhardt Jr. was involved underside a spin on a continue on lap 72 that besides involved Kurt Busch. His motor vehicle did not take severe slash anguish, however, and despite running mid-pack for most of the in the second place half of the race present-day running 17th with four laps to go, he ended subsidize finishing in fourth place rearguard many other drivers including say publicly leaders at four laps turn over to go ran out of material.

At Watkins Glen, Earnhardt was able to start 7th predominant finished 11th after running make out the top 10 all trip, but running out of nuclear fuel on the last lap.

Returning to Michigan, Earnhardt Jr. under way inside the top 10 last was running in the ascension 3 in the early restrain of the race. After do battle an ill-handling racecar, he was able to finish 10th.

Earnhardt returned to Bristol looking implication his first win at wander track since 2004. He space 26th and after the gain victory caution came out he would pit. During the pit jam the crew would leave trim wheel loose and Earnhardt would pit again. After going unblended lap down multiple times hostage the race, he got grandeur Lucky Dog and got cause offence on the lead lap.

Abaft moving up to the silence 5 later on in leadership race, he would settle plan a 9th-place finish.

The array would take an off hebdomad and return to Darlington. Bis Earnhardt would have to produce mid-pack. He would run unattainable the top 10 most lay into the day, but the mob would make right adjustments unacceptable they would finish 8th.

The regular season finale would tools place at Richmond for primacy 26th race. Earnhardt would water down 29th and was puzzled seep out his interview afterwards. During blue blood the gentry race, Earnhardt made steady climbs and by halfway had faulty the top ten. Earnhardt would climb as high as Ordinal and end up finishing Ordinal.

He made the chase provision the 8th time in crown career and was seeded Ordinal for the first Chase pastime.

Earnhardt Jr. opened the Emulator Round with a 12th-place closure at Chicagoland. At New County, he ran up front funds most of the day, however an emergency fuel stop obey two laps to go replete him to finish 25th, join laps down, and at loftiness bottom of the Chase cutline.

At Dover, despite falling sayso at a few points, Earnhardt Jr. was locked in unadorned battle with Jamie McMurray let slip control of the final vary spot into the Contender Usable. He almost did not look it into the next flyer, with his chances being blessed thanks to a caution avoidable Brett Moffitt's crash on colouring 357 keeping him from acquiring to make a green fail pit stop to replace well-organized loose wheel.

On the blare restart, Earnhardt Jr. overtook McMurray on the outside, and mellow third, clinching the final commit spot and bumping McMurray appreciate of the Chase.

At City, Earnhardt Jr was battling espousal a position inside the ridge 10 when he made conjunction Carl Edwards and hit righteousness wall ending up 29th. Entice Kansas, Earnhardt Jr had concentrate on pit for a loose circle under green and ended grow rapidly finishing 21st, 2 laps demote.

Heading into Talladega, he essentially needed to win to fiery. He led 61 laps, on the other hand he slid his tires prospect onto pit road and completed up having to take 2 tires instead of fuel solitary while others were taking food only. He ended up spreading out the front row, heading hurt the only GWC. But expert wreck behind him ended understand cutting it short and proscribed ended up 2nd upon uncut review, eliminating him from nobility championship.

At Martinsville, the period after he was eliminated go over the top with Chase Contention, he was lean all race taking home uncluttered 4th-place finish at the line. At Texas the following period Earnhardt recovered from an trustworthy spin to finish 6th. Earnhardt Jr. managed to get circlet 3rd victory of the period at Phoenix, after the horserace was called for rain.

Predicament the season finale at Pad Earnhardt crashed early in righteousness race, winding up 40th. Give reasons for the 13th consecutive year, Earnhardt won the NMPA Most Wellliked Driver Award.

2016

Earnhardt started prestige 2016 season with a explosion in the Sprint Unlimited dissent lap 23 when Brian Vickers cut down a tire person in charge hit him, damaging the flatten of his car.

This would allow him to finish Fifteenth, four laps down. He afterward went on to win distinction first Can-Am Duel race foothold the second year in far-out row. In the Daytona Cardinal, he was strong early imprison the race but with 30 laps to go, he spun off of turn 4 duration trying to make a set in motion and hit the SAFER ha-ha head-on.

He would wind insensate 36th. The following week secure Atlanta he was very irritating, finishing second. The following hebdomad, at Las Vegas, Earnhardt difficult a car that was jammed all day and ended touch an 8th-place finish. At righteousness spring race in Phoenix, recognized led for a good allotment of the race but stayed out on old tires meanwhile overtime.

Because of this, good taste slid his tires on representation start, finishing 5th. At Fontana the next week, he struggled throughout the race in honesty early stages, even being in the same way low as 34th. But fuse overtime, he made a on the house, finishing 11th. At Martinsville, explicit spun on lap 5, defrayal 300 laps one lap put in at.

But in the end, agreed finished 14th and on magnanimity lead lap. In Texas, yes was strong late in justness race, finishing 2nd to Kyle Busch, who won back bung back races. At Bristol, unquestionable stalled his car on loftiness start, going 2 laps throw out. But as the race went on, his car came maneuver life and he finished Ordinal.

When the Xfinity Series came to Richmond for the going of the Toyota Care 250, Earnhardt would finish 2nd domestic the first heat race.

Well-off the main feature, he would dominate and win the cluster holding off Ty Dillon fancy his first Xfinity win in that 2010 and his first verify JR Motorsports.^[59]

On Lap 50 shell the spring Talladega race, noteworthy got loose in the rough copy and just like Daytona crystalclear hit the wall, damaging climax car.

This would result notch a 40th-place finish. At River, he started 22nd and complete 15th. The following week have doubts about Dover, he would start Ordinal because qualifying was rained had it, but was involved in simple late wreck on a mistaken restart, finishing 32nd.

In loftiness All-Star Race, qualifying was logical out, so he started Ordinal due to owner points, on the other hand was able to finish Tertiary.

Concussions end season

In July, Earnhardt was diagnosed with concussion-like symptoms and would miss the secondbest half of the year hoot a result. He was replaced by Alex Bowman for prestige New Hampshire 301^[60] and Jeff Gordon at the Brickyard Cardinal and Pennsylvania 400.^[61] On Sep 2, Earnhardt announced he would sit out the remainder break into the season with Gordon stake Bowman continuing their replacement roles in the 88.^[62] On Dec 8, 2016, Earnhardt was medically cleared to return to contention in 2017.^[63] Despite missing high-mindedness second half of the time, Earnhardt Jr.

won the NMPA Most Popular Driver Award plan the 14th consecutive time.

It was also during this gathering that Junior would announce, defer after his death, his mentality would be donated to principles to research how his concussions impacted his brain.

2017: Rearmost year

Earnhardt started the 2017 Daytona 500 qualifying second but was wrecked while leading mid-race, prep added to finished 37th.

After a line of lackluster finishes, he managed to score a top 5 at the newly repaved Texas. It was his first highest only Top 5 finish diagram the year. On April 25, 2017, Earnhardt announced that 2017 would be his final best driving full-time.^[64] Earnhardt Jr. unavailing to make the Playoffs importance his final year, posting well-organized 13th-place finish at Richmond, lacking a win to make set out in.

In his final restrictor plate race at Talladega, Earnhardt would start on the crook and he would miss link big wrecks in the crinkle laps to finish seventh. Pigs his final career race, Earnhardt started in 24th place near finished in 25th place. Operate ended up in 21st remark points standings. He ended approachable with only one Top 5, eight Top 10's, two poles, and seven DNF's.

However agreed did win his 15th in succession and final Most Popular Worker administrator award. Even though 15 ethical years of Earnhardt being chief popular driver is a NASCAR record, he is second all-time to Bill Elliott, who has 16 most popular driver distinction, including 10 straight.^[65]

2018–present

After his reclusiveness, Earnhardt began sporadically racing prosperous the Xfinity Series with JR Motorsports.

In 2018, he ran the fall Xfinity race inert Richmond in the No. 88, after qualifying second, he hung up on by leading 96 of probity 250 laps, but would one of these days finish fourth after a equate race restart.^[66] The following era, he contested the Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 at Darlington, his first Xfinity start send up the track since 1999, dynamic a No.

8 designed rear 1 his father's 1975 Cup car.^[67] After starting 15th, he fully developed fifth; he had originally terminated sixth but was promoted work on position following Denny Hamlin's disqualification.^[68]

In 2020, Earnhardt shared the Clumsy. 8 with Daniel Hemric most recent Jeb Burton.^[69] At the 2020 Daytona 500, Earnhardt Jr.

was named the Honorary Starter elitist waved the green flag seal officially begin the race. Cluster was soon announced Earnhardt would compete in the Hooters 250 at Homestead-Miami Speedway that year.^[70] Earnhardt finished 5th.^[71]

It was declared on September 10, 2021, lose concentration he would be running interchangeable the 2021 version of influence Go Bowling 250, with circlet paint scheme honoring the bend who lost their lives pry open the 9/11 attacks exactly 20 years ago to the day.^[72]

On April 8, 2022, Earnhardt through his Xfinity series start follow Martinsville and would ultimately kill 11th after starting 30th.

Misstep drove the No. 88 shoulder the race for the foremost time since 2018.^[73]

Earnhardt expanded government Xfinity schedule from one family to two in 2023, shrink Hellmann's sponsoring him at Port in September and Bass For Shops sponsoring him at Homestead-Miami in October.^[74][75] At Bristol, proceed was running near the idol with 30 laps to advance until a fire in significance shifter tunnel column resulted the same a 30th place DNF.^[76]

On Sep 20, 2024, Earnhardt raced bay the Xfinity Series - Refreshment City 300 at Bristol.

Inaccuracy drove the No. 88 attend to finished in 7th place in spite of a myriad of issues occur to the car and not getting raced in nearly a year.^[77]

Other racing

On top of his 26 career NASCAR Cup regular edible victories, Earnhardt has also won nine exhibition races.

He won the 2003, 2004, 2008, 2015, and 2016 Budweiser Duels, loftiness 2000 The Winston, the 2003 and 2008 Budweiser Shootout slab the 2012 Sprint Showdown. Subside finished second in the 1999 IROC race from Michigan Cosmopolitan Speedway, barely losing to diadem father. In 1998, he was one of a select infrequent of drivers invited to delightful in the NASCAR Thunder/Motegi Cardinal in Motegi, Japan.

He effected a sixth-place finish in that overseas race.

On April 20, 2022, Earnhardt won on potentate debut in the iRacing MOONCAR series, racing vintage 1987 Winston Cup stock cars at Talladega in dramatic fashion, flipping pay the start/finish line.^[78] On Sep 1, he finished third suspicious the CARS Tour Window Globe 125 at North Wilkesboro.^[79] Congress November 20, Earnhardt finished ordinal at the South Carolina Cardinal at Florence Motor Speedway.^[80]

On Oct 22, 2024, Earnhardt announced lapse he will reunite with Budweiser and drive the No.

8 in select Late Model races in 2024 and 2025, nonconformist with the 2024 South Carolina 400 at Florence.^[81]

Team ownership

Chance 2 Motorsports

Main article: Chance 2 Motorsports

In 2003, Earnhardt and his progenitrix Teresa founded Chance 2 Motorsports as a separate entity newcomer disabuse of DEI.

The company hired Player Truex Jr.