On Kentucky, Earnhardt obtained the brand new rod and set another type of song qualifying price list that have lap lifetime of moments and a performance from kilometers hourly ( km/h)
The following month regarding Dash All of the-Celebrity Race, Earnhardt battled a rigid handling vehicle most of you to nights just before doing seventh. The next few days towards Coca-Cola 600, Earnhardt shed a motor and done 39th, giving your 1st DNF while the 2011. From the Quicken Financing 400, Earnhardt provided 23 laps but suffered a motor failure, and you may accomplished 37th in what was a low point of the season on the Hendrick Motorsports communities general (Kasey Kahne and Jeff Gordon one another had DNFs due to injuries, and you can Jimmie Johnson slashed a tire that have 5 laps commit).[35] After the lower from Michigan, Earnhardt got a twelfth-lay end up at the Sonoma.
For the race, Earnhardt would direct 80 laps, but do become second to help you Jimmie Johnson
[36] Even if the guy come on the pole, he forgotten top honors to help you Carl Edwards early. But not, if you find yourself Earnhardt are best after the restart off a competitor warning (because of a rain impede), Denny Hamlin slash an excellent tire and carcass emerged new tune and is hit of the Earnhardt’s splitter by Jimmie Johnson’s automobile, causing tall destroy. Earnhardt was required to make multiple charge from field so you’re able to salvage a twelfth-set find yourself. Then got a keen eighth-lay become from the Coke No eight hundred. The guy, Johnson, and Ryan Newman was the only real about three vehicle operators to help you sweep the new Top 10 in both Daytona events.
Earnhardt upcoming struggled a troubled vehicles in the Brand new Hampshire, where the guy finished 14th. Following the last regarding few days, the guy discover certain consistency with closes from sixth in the Indianapolis and you will fifth at the Pocono, whenever you are stressed loose wheels and vibrations inside the a course of two days.
The newest Zero. 88 group next had a couple crappy months, which have good 30th-place end up in the Watkins Glen due to a belated battle crash having Kasey Kahne. The second few days, Earnhardt blew the right front side tire when you’re running from the Best ten. The destruction was enough which he done twenty-six laps down, within the 36th lay. It evaporated their Pursue cushion, however with stops out of 10th at Bristol and eighth at Atlanta, he had been capable reconstruct it support. On Richmond, the past competition of your own normal season, Earnhardt merely needed to finish 32nd otherwise best to make Chase. A good 13th-put wind up did which, and then he entered the Pursue seeded into the ninth set. This was the very first time for the Earnhardt’s career he got made about three straight Chase looks. In the first Pursue competition at the Chicagoland Speedway, Earnhardt suffered a motor inability, place him last-in Orlando FL sugar baby Chase race. The guy bounced straight back from the The newest Hampshire Engine Speedway, top 17 laps and you can doing 6th. The effect try adequate to move Earnhardt as much as 11th from inside the Pursue toward Dash Cup standings having seven racing left regarding the year.
At Dover, Earnhardt claimed their next pole of the year, function a special qualifying speed listing out-of miles per hour. This is the first time since 2002 he got registered several pole during a month. Another few days in the Kansas, the guy accomplished 8th. And work out his 500th Glass initiate at Charlotte, Earnhardt added 19 laps early, however, completed 15th when you’re striving a tight competition vehicle. Next week at Talladega, Earnhardt provided 38 laps and you may involved to receive a push out of Austin Dillon so you can overtake Jamie McMurray into history lap when Ricky Stenhouse Jr. stolen Dillon, resulting in one driver to twist away then get strike by the Casey Mears, making Earnhardt that have a 2nd-place find yourself. The next few days on Martinville, Earnhardt made a keen eighth-lay end up. Next times during the Colorado, he previously a stronger night, doing 2nd to Johnson towards third time in the season (once Daytona and you can Dover). Another few days within Phoenix, Earnhardt become when you’re forced to pit that have a loose controls very early, getting your good lap off. not, an alert desired your to use the fresh free citation to get right back for the direct lap and rescue a fourth-lay become.