Race: Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway
Track Specs: 1.5-mile oval / 267 laps
Weather: Clear, 77 degrees
Race Winner: Kyle Busch
Dale Jr.'s Finish: 40th
Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s attempt to close the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season on a high note came to a unfortunate halt on lap 46 of Sunday night's race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Having raced inside the top 10 early, Earnhardt fell and the No. 88 Nationwide team fell victim to a multi-car accident that plummeted him to a 40th-place finish.
After posting blazing-fast lap times in Saturday's practice sessions, Earnhardt quickly settled into the top 10 early while battling an extremely loose race car. Before a lap-40 caution, Earnhardt ran just outside the top 10 in 11th.
Crew chief Greg Ives called the No. 88 to pit road under the caution, dropping Earnhardt to 29th for the ensuing restart at lap 45. One lap later, Clint Bowyer and Ty Dillon made contact in turn two. Bowyer's No. 15 car turned left, then abruptly back to the right, making hard contact with the No. 88's left rear. As a result, Earnhardt spun down the track, making slight contact with the inside wall.
Ives directed a diligent repair effort. However, the No. 88 fell 10 laps down before reentering the race track at lap 60.
Earnhardt finished the race 40th, 26 laps off the pace.
Kyle Busch won the race and the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship.
Earnhardt ends the season 12th in the season-long points' standings with three wins and a career-high-tying 16 top-five and 22 top-10 finishes.