His number one opponent towards the prize is Matt Kenseth

2000 try Earnhardt’s breakout year regarding the Glass Show, he competed to your Raybestos NASCAR Rookie of the season Prize inside 2000. Kenseth outran Earnhardt regarding year-beginning Daytona five hundred. Earnhardt scored 1st earn regarding DirecTV five-hundred at Texas Motor Speedway, breaking the list held by his dad Earnhardt Sr. getting fewest initiate because of the a drivers to make his first winnings in NASCAR’s “progressive day and age” by the effective in the 12th initiate, and also at Richmond International Raceway. The guy turned the first rookie to victory the fresh new The-Superstar expo battle.

Earnhardt played a part when you look at the recreating you to definitely Winston Cup milestone when you look at the 2000 as he competed with his father and you will half of-sibling Kerry regarding the Pepsi 400 at Michigan Around the world Speedway. You to definitely occasion was just another go out that a dad hop over to this site got raced facing a couple sons – Lee Petty along with his a few sons Richard and Maurice had before complete the feat.[9]

Inside 2001, the big enjoy of the year occurred with the Daytona five hundred. Because Earnhardt and his awesome teammate Michael Waltrip raced to your become line, the guy completed 2nd so you can Waltrip. His dad got crashed therefore 4 shortly after Sterling Marlin generated exposure to their left rear bumper. Earnhardt Sr. shot up the fresh new song on the exterior wall at the rear of Waltrip and you may their guy and collected Ken Schrader along the way. Earnhardt Sr. is obvious dry during the 5:16 pm on account of an excellent basilar head break.

On the aftermath, of numerous disgruntled fans delivered demise threats so you’re able to ing your into the crash; Earnhardt and you will Waltrip one another asked that admirers prevented blaming anybody to own Earnhardt Sr.is why death and you can both regional cops and NASCAR investigations on the the new crash cleaned Marlin of every wedding. Earnhardt raced at Rockingham another sunday, however, finished in 43rd-set shortly after a beneficial ruin to the very first lap you to definitely checked eerily similar to their father’s damage merely weekly prior to. Afterwards about season, Earnhardt enjoyed a resurgence, beginning with a difficult profit on Pepsi eight hundred, that was along with the earliest battle stored on Daytona given that their dad’s dying.

Earnhardt encountered the principal automobile of your own race, top 115 out of 160 laps. Toward history resume, the guy were able to take action from sixth so you can beginning throughout the course of a few laps, that have Waltrip carrying off of the industry once the Earnhardt got the latest checkered banner. eight hundred on Dover, which was the original Mug race adopting the Sep 11 episodes since fresh booked race on The newest Hampshire Motor Speedway was postponed before prevent of the year. After the battle, the guy performed a polish winnings lap when you are carrying a massive American banner from driver’s top windows.

He claimed brand new MBNA Cal Ripken Jr

Throughout the Slide, Earnhardt grabbed his 2nd restrictor plate victory as he obtained the newest EA Activities five-hundred at the Talladega due to the fact a fail unfolded into back immediately you to definitely caused Bobby Labonte in order to flip more as well as have amassed fifteen most other autos. The Talladega win received Earnhardt a good Winston Zero Bull 5 $one million extra. He was docked twenty five activities, but not, once their vehicle failed post-race assessment. With this particular earn, DEI swept about three of the four restrictor dish races to have 2001, merely neglecting to profit new spring Talladega competition. He finished the latest 2001 season 8th in the affairs standings that have about three victories, nine Top 5s, and you may 15 Most useful 10s, plus a couple of poles.[10]

2002-03

Inside the 2002, Earnhardt Jr. got good roller-coaster 12 months. He struggled once long lasting good concussion off a mind-to the accident toward outside wall structure within Ca competition from inside the April – an injury the guy didn’t recognize in order to until mid-September. In the about three events pursuing the California, he complete no much better than 30th. Although not, Earnhardt Jr. rallied to sweep both Talladega events (top a dominating 133 off 188 laps regarding springtime battle), a pair of Bud Pole Awards and a keen 11th-place wind up regarding standings which have eleven most useful-fives and you may 16 greatest-10 closes.