Their number one competition towards the award are Matt Kenseth

2000 is actually Earnhardt’s breakout year about Glass Show, he competed towards the Raybestos NASCAR Rookie of the year Honor into the 2000. Kenseth outran Earnhardt about season-opening Daytona 500. Earnhardt scored his first earn on DirecTV 500 from the Texas Engine Speedway, damaging the checklist kept from the their father Earnhardt Sr. to have fewest starts from the a driver to earn 1st winnings from inside the NASCAR’s “modern point in time” because of the winning in the 12th start, and at Richmond Worldwide Raceway. The guy turned the initial rookie in order to profit the fresh All-Star exhibition battle.

Earnhardt starred a member from inside the recreating you to Winston Glass milestone when you look at the 2000 as he competed together with his father and you will half of-sister Kerry regarding Pepsi 400 on Michigan Around the world Speedway. One to occasion was only next time one a dad got raced up against two sons – Lee Petty with his two sons Richard and you can Maurice had in earlier times complete the latest accomplishment.[9]

In 2001, the major knowledge of the season took place on Daytona five-hundred. Just like the Earnhardt and his awesome teammate Michael Waltrip raced to your become line, the guy complete next so you’re able to Waltrip. His dad got crashed in turn cuatro just after Sterling Marlin generated exposure to their leftover buttocks bumper. Earnhardt Sr. shot up the fresh tune on the exterior wall structure behind Waltrip and their guy and you will obtained Ken Schrader in the act. Earnhardt Sr. was obvious dead at 5:sixteen pm due to good basilar skull crack.

From the wake, of several disgruntled admirers delivered death risks to help you ing your towards the crash; Earnhardt and you will Waltrip both requested that fans avoided blaming individuals to have Earnhardt Sr.’s passing and you sugar daddy CA can both the local police and you will NASCAR evaluation for the the fresh new crash cleaned Marlin of any wedding. Earnhardt raced on Rockingham the next week-end, but finished in 43rd-lay after a good ruin into the basic lap one to seemed eerily just like his dad’s destroy simply per week before. Later from the year, Earnhardt made a comeback, you start with a difficult win from the Pepsi eight hundred, which was and the basic battle stored within Daytona given that their dad’s dying.

Earnhardt encountered the dominant vehicle of the competition, top 115 from 160 laps. Toward past restart, the guy were able to take action off sixth in order to beginning about course of one or two laps, which have Waltrip carrying from the job because Earnhardt took the new checkered banner. 400 from the Dover, that was the initial Cup race adopting the September 11 periods since amazing booked battle on The brand new Hampshire Motor Speedway are defer through to the avoid of the season. After the battle, he did a shine victory lap while holding a huge Western flag from driver’s front windows.

The guy won the newest MBNA Cal Ripken Jr

Regarding the Fall, Earnhardt grabbed his 2nd restrictor plate win when he claimed the newest EA Activities 500 at Talladega given that a crash unfolded to the right back straightaway one to triggered Bobby Labonte in order to flip over as well as have compiled fifteen almost every other cars. The latest Talladega victory received Earnhardt a great Winston No Bull 5 $1 million incentive. He had been docked 25 circumstances, however, once his vehicles unsuccessful article-race check. With this specific victory, DEI swept around three of the five restrictor dish events for 2001, simply failing woefully to win the newest springtime Talladega race. The guy completed this new 2001 seasons 8th about things standings which have about three gains, 9 Better 5s, and fifteen Better 10s, in addition to several poles.[10]

2002-03

For the 2002, Earnhardt Jr. got a roller-coaster 12 months. He battled after long lasting a great concussion off a mind-on crash towards exterior wall surface at the California competition inside April – an injury the guy failed to acknowledge so you’re able to up until mid-Sep. On the three races after the California, the guy finished no much better than 30th. not, Earnhardt Jr. rallied to help you sweep each other Talladega races (leading a principal 133 away from 188 laps about spring battle), a pair of Bud Pole Awards and you will an 11th-place become on standings which have eleven top-fives and sixteen greatest-10 closes.