CONCORD, N.C. — It was a strong season for Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the No. 88 team.
And with a new crew chief sitting atop the pit box, the team worked it to its advantage. Now with a full season under their belt, Earnhardt and his team look to continue their impressive season and improve upon their success.
Let’s take a look back at the moments that defined Earnhardt’s 2015 season.
Tied career-high top-five finishes
The driver of the No. 88 Chevrolet SS tied his career record for top-five finishes in a single NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. Earnhardt collected 16 top-five finishes, along with three wins, throughout the 2015 season. In 2004, he also earned 16 top-five results. His final victory in 2015 at Phoenix International Raceway allowed him to tie the milestone record. Before this year, his next highest number of top-five finishes recorded in a single season was 12 in 2014.
Daytona dominance
Earnhardt found Victory Lane for the second time this season at Daytona International Speedway in June. When the green flag dropped at the 2.5-mile oval, the No. 88 Chevrolet SS rolled off from the pole position, leading the field to green. The fast car went on to lead 96 laps before taking the checkered flag in the rain-delayed race. Teammate Jimmie Johnson finished right behind him in second, claiming a Hendrick Motorsports one-two finish.
Just a splitter away at Talladega
The first victory of the season for the No. 88 Chevrolet SS team came at Talladega Superspeedway. With a fifth-place starting position heading into the second Talladega event of the season, Earnhardt and his team were looking to make a season sweep. After leading 61 laps in the 500-mile race, Earnhardt fell just shy of a claiming second consecutive win. In the single-attempt green-white-checkered finish, the No. 88 Chevrolet SS lined up second. Only moments after the leader crossed the starting line, a caution concluded the race. The No. 88 Chevrolet SS was a splitter behind the leader, ultimately finishing the race second and ending Earnhardt’s run in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
“I’m proud of what we did today,” Earnhardt said of his second-place result. “We did everything we needed to do, just fell a little short – about the width of the splitter. Another 100 yards, I’d have been in the lead, but NASCAR makes the calls. They’re the governing body and I have 100 percent faith in the choices that they make. I’m not going to be too upset about it – I did everything I could.”
Completing Eliminator Round sweep
Hendrick Motorsports kicked off the Eliminator Round with a memorable victory by Jeff Gordon and the No. 24 team at Martinsville Speedway. Johnson and his team continued the momentum in Texas, claiming a second consecutive win for the organization. Earnhardt closed out the Eliminator Round by finding Victory Lane at Phoenix International Raceway, completing Hendrick Motorsports’ sweep. The wins by Jimmie Johnson and Earnhardt kept Gordon as the only driver to advance to the Championship Round of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup from a win.
Fast start with Ives
A quick bond between Earnhardt and crew chief Greg Ives led the team to a successful first season. Together the new duo earned three victories, 16 top-five finishes and 22 top-10 finishes. Of those 16 top-five finishes, 11 of them were within the top three. Although the 2015 season was one of Earnhardt’s strongest, the driver of the No. 88 Chevrolet SS knows they can do better — and in the end compete for next season’s championship.
“This is my first year with Greg, and I really think that we've got a lot to improve on. And we will, and we'll get even better,” he said.