Within Vegas, Earnhardt led 70 laps very early however, done tenth based on crappy gap approach

At the 2012 Quicken Money 400 in the Michigan, Earnhardt dominated the competition, leading 95 laps, and you can won, taking a great 143-competition winless streak, almost number of years for the big date shortly after his history victory on the

From the Bristol, Earnhardt accomplished 15th adopting the a belated competition exposure to teammate Jeff Gordon, and you may a racing penalty. Earnhardt carry out right back which up with a pair of back into back 3rd-lay stops at the Vehicles Bar and Martinsville Speedway, leaving your 2nd regarding standings.

The following 14 days, Earnhardt manage post off finishes of sixth at the Charlotte and fourth during the Dover going towards summer season

Throughout the adopting the weeks, Earnhardt carry out offer a series of the market leading tens: tenth on Tx, 7th from the Ohio, second at Richmond, and you may 9th at the Talladega, where he contributed 10 laps. Next day, Earnhardt struggled for almost all of one’s race within Darlington, and had to settle with a seventeenth-place find yourself. On All of the-Star Race, Earnhardt acquired the latest Dash Showdown, leading all of the 40 laps to race his method to your huge enjoy. Even in the event, Earnhardt won the fresh new fourth section plus the past 10 lap shootout, was required to be satisfied with a 5th-put wind up. On recently repaved Pocono Raceway, Earnhardt provided 36 laps inside competition, however, made a later part of the battle strength gap end off third place with only more than 20 laps to visit, finishing 8th and you can condition second during the products. Earnhardt carry out sustain a 23rd-set end up at the Sonoma once are ruined from inside the a green-white-checkered finish, however, had been able to get across the finish line unchanged and you will on direct lap, persisted their move to be the actual only real driver to end every races toward lead lap. However back this with a 4th-place find yourself in the Quaker Condition 400 in the Kentucky Speedway.

The following few days at the Daytona, a last lap crash lead to a 15th-lay become for Earnhardt yet still left his streak of being the only real rider to get rid of every lap in almost any battle. Earnhardt supported using some of the market leading 5 ends, completing last from the one another Loudon and you will chat room hungarian Indianapolis, where he gained the fresh situations head the very first time while the 2004, just after factors chief Matt Kenseth was removed in the a later part of the competition freeze. Straight back at the Pocono, Earnhardt try powering regarding the next position, however, some slack about transmission delivered the newest 88 on driveway, however, he returned out 18 laps down and you may complete 32nd, due to precipitation you to showed up and you will finished new race and you will good late race wreck of Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth, and you can Denny Hamlin. Their move away from doing on direct lap stumbled on an enthusiastic avoid, however, the guy however handled the fresh circumstances head having 5 races up until the fresh new chase cutoff. From the Watkins Glen, Earnhardt had a reliable Top ten planning the final laps but a later part of the race twist resulted in an effective 28th-put end up, this will miss the new 88 class out-of first so you can 4th inside the this new products.

Back into Michigan toward Natural Michigan eight hundred, Earnhardt was required to start in 42nd place immediately following a crash in behavior forced him to move so you can a backup automobile. The guy contributed for many laps middle-race and you can completed for the direct lap during the fourth put. Earnhardt; Ryan Newman; and you can Kasey Kahne as well as escaped system trouble one to affected Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, and you can Tony Stewart. From the Bristol Engine Speedway, Earnhardt come 16th immediately following a qualifying rainout; he led thirteen laps regarding competition in advance of pit street punishment resulted in a twelfth-lay end. The finish locked him towards the 2012 Pursue into the Dash Glass, close to Greg Biffle, and you will teammate Jimmie Johnson. Within Atlanta Motor Speedway, Earnhardt went a great lap down early however, retrieved to earn good 7th-set finish. The second day in the Richmond In the world Raceway, Earnhardt gained his first pole of the year. However relocate to direct 69 laps, but a belated battle pit end led to the new 88 party delivering an effective 14th-set finish, being seeded seventh regarding standings. In the first race of your pursue on Chicagoland Speedway, Earnhardt accomplished 8th despite having first off powering industry because of a system change. Ends from 13th and you may 11th on Loudon and Dover left the 88 cluster seventh in the standings.