At 2012 Quicken Fund 400 in the Michigan, Earnhardt controlled this new competition, top 95 laps, and obtained, snapping a good 143-battle winless streak, almost four years into big date after his past earn towards the
During the Bristol, Earnhardt completed fifteenth pursuing the a late competition exposure to teammate Jeff Gordon, and you can a rushing penalty. Earnhardt would back which with a couple of back to right back 3rd-set comes to an end in the Car Club and you will Martinsville Speedway, leaving your 2nd regarding the standings.
The second 14 days, Earnhardt create post out-of finishes out of sixth at Charlotte and you can fourth within Dover going toward summer months
About following the months, Earnhardt perform give a string of the market leading 10s: 10th from the Texas, seventh from the Kansas, 2nd from the Richmond, and you may 9th within Talladega, where he led 10 laps. Next week, Earnhardt struggled for the majority of competition from the Darlington, and had to settle which have a seventeenth-put find yourself. In the Most of the-Superstar Competition, Earnhardt acquired the brand new Race Showdown, top every forty laps to help you competition their means into huge experience. Regardless of if, Earnhardt acquired the fresh fourth part plus the very last ten lap shootout, had to be satisfied with a 5th-lay become. On newly repaved Pocono Raceway, Earnhardt provided thirty-six laps within the competition, but made a later part of the race electricity gap prevent away from third put with just over 20 laps going, finishing eighth and you will status second inside circumstances. Earnhardt create experience an excellent 23rd-put finish from the Sonoma after becoming wrecked inside an eco-friendly-white-checkered become, however, was still in a position to mix the end line unchanged and you may with the lead lap, continuous their move of being the actual only real driver to finish all races toward lead lap. He would straight back that it with a 4th-put end up regarding the Quaker Condition 400 during the Kentucky Speedway.
Another day at the Daytona, a last lap freeze led to a 15th-place wind up to own Earnhardt but nonetheless left their move to be really the only rider to finish every single lap in any race. Earnhardt copied using some of the market leading 5 ends up, finishing last at each other Loudon and Indianapolis, where he attained the fresh new conservative singles dating Germany factors lead for the first time since 2004, shortly after issues leader Matt Kenseth try removed during the a later part of the battle crash. Straight back within Pocono, Earnhardt are running about second condition, however, a rest in the sign sent the fresh new 88 to your garage, but he returned away 18 laps down and you will done 32nd, on account of rain you to appeared and finished this new competition and a beneficial late race damage involving Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth, and you will Denny Hamlin. His streak out-of completing for the direct lap came to an stop, however, the guy however was able the fresh issues direct which have 5 races up until this new chase cutoff. At Watkins Glen, Earnhardt had a stable Top ten moving in the last laps however, a belated competition spin lead to an effective 28th-put end up, this would lose this new 88 team away from first in order to last inside the brand new facts.
Back again to Michigan to the Sheer Michigan 400, Earnhardt was required to start in 42nd put immediately after a fail in habit pressed your to go to help you a back up vehicle. The guy contributed for a lot of laps middle-competition and you can done into direct lap from inside the last place. Earnhardt; Ryan Newman; and you will Kasey Kahne plus fled motor problems that plagued Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, and you will Tony Stewart. From the Bristol System Speedway, Earnhardt already been 16th once a qualifying rainout; he provided thirteen laps on the battle ahead of pit path punishment resulted in a 12th-set become. The conclusion closed him to the 2012 Chase with the Race Mug, near to Greg Biffle, and teammate Jimmie Johnson. At the Atlanta Motor Speedway, Earnhardt went an excellent lap down early but recovered to earn a good 7th-lay finish. The following week at Richmond Global Raceway, Earnhardt earned his first rod of the year. However go on to lead 69 laps, however, a belated competition pit avoid resulted in the latest 88 class taking a 14th-set find yourself, being seeded seventh regarding the standings. In the 1st race of the chase at Chicagoland Speedway, Earnhardt finished 8th even with to begin with at the rear of the field on account of a motor alter. Finishes off 13th and you can 11th during the Loudon and you will Dover leftover brand new 88 cluster seventh in the standings.