Towards the Lap 50 on springtime Talladega battle, he got sagging on write and only like Daytona the guy strike the wall structure, ruining their auto. At the Ohio, the guy come 22nd and you may accomplished fifteenth. The following few days in the Dover, he would begin next given that qualifying is actually rained out, however, try in a late ruin towards an excellent botched restart, finishing 32nd.
From the All of the-Celebrity Competition, qualifying are rained away, so the guy been 10th on account of manager facts, but were able to finish third.
Missing racing because of concussions
During the July, Earnhardt was clinically determined to have concussion-like episodes and you can do skip the last half of the season because of this. He had been replaced by the Alex Bowman into the The latest Hampshire 301 and you may Jeff Gordon on Brickyard 400 and Pennsylvania 400. Towards the September dos, Earnhardt launched he’d stand the actual other countries in the seasons having Gordon and Bowman persisted their replacement spots on the 88. On the , Earnhardt is actually clinically cleaned to return to competition in 2017. Despite destroyed another 50 % of the season, Earnhardt Jr. obtained the NMPA Most popular Rider Award towards 14th straight time.
2017: Finally season
Earnhardt come Daytona qualifying 2nd but was wrecked when you are leading mid-race, and you may accomplished 37th. Once a string regarding lackluster ends up, the guy been able to rating a top 5 on freshly repaved Texas. It actually was 1st and simply most useful 5 all year. To your might possibly be their final 12 months operating complete-time. Earnhardt Jr. did not result in the Playoffs within his last 12 months, upload a great 13th-put become during the Richmond, looking for a victory to make it inside. Inside the finally restrictor plate battle at Talladega, Earnhardt perform start this new rod in which he carry out miss step three larger damages in the closure laps to get rid of seventh. In his final occupation race, Earnhardt started in 24th place and you can finished in 25th set. He ended up into the twenty-first inside the things standings. The guy wound up with only one finest 5, 8 most readily useful 10s, 2 posts, and you will eight DNFs. Although not the guy did victory their 15th straight, and you can last, Most widely used Driver prize. In the event 15 upright numerous years of Earnhardt getting most well known rider was a great NASCAR list, he’s 2nd the-time and energy to Bill Elliott, who has got sixteen top rider prizes, as well as ten upright.
2018–expose
Once his old-age, Earnhardt first started sporadically rushing regarding the Xfinity Series that have JR Motorsports. Within the 2018, he went the brand new slide Xfinity battle within Richmond on Zero. 88, once qualifying 2nd, he reigned over because of the top 96 of the 250 laps, however, carry out in the course of time wind up 4th once a later part of the competition restart. The coming year, he competitive the game Video Haircuts VFW 2 hundred from the Darlington, his first Xfinity initiate during the song due to the fact 1999, driving a no. 8 designed immediately following their father’s 1975 Cup auto. Just after carrying out fifteenth, he completed 5th; he’d in the first place complete sixth but is promoted you to reputation pursuing the Denny Hamlin’s disqualification.
Into the 2020, Earnhardt have a tendency to express the newest No. 8 having Daniel Hemric and you may Jeb Burton. About 2020 Daytona five-hundred, Earnhardt Jr. was entitled the fresh Honorary Beginner and you will waved the eco-friendly banner so you can commercially begin the fresh new battle.
Other rushing
At the top of his twenty six career Race Cup typical season gains, Earnhardt likewise has won nine exhibition racing. He acquired brand new 2003, 2004, 2008, 2015 golf local dating, and you may 2016 Budweiser Duels, the newest 2000 Dash All-star Race, this new 2003 and you may 2008 Budweiser Shootout together with 2012 Race Showdown. He accomplished 2nd on 1999 IROC race out-of Michigan Worldwide Speedway, scarcely losing so you’re able to their dad. When you look at the 1998, he had been one of a select few of people invited so you’re able to race on the NASCAR Thunder/Motegi five-hundred inside Motegi, Japan. The guy hit a sixth-place end up within overseas competition.