2000 are Earnhardt’s breakout year regarding Cup Series, the guy competed towards the Raybestos NASCAR Rookie of the year Prize inside 2000. Kenseth outran Earnhardt on the season-starting Daytona five hundred. Earnhardt obtained his first earn from the DirecTV 500 at the Texas System Speedway, breaking the listing kept by his dad Earnhardt Sr. for fewest initiate from the a drivers to earn 1st win when you look at the NASCAR’s “modern point in time” of the winning inside the 12th initiate, and also at Richmond In the world Raceway. He became the original novice to profit this new Every-Star expo competition.
Earnhardt played a part when you look at the recreating one Winston Glass milestone in the 2000 as he competed together with dad and you will 1 / 2 of-sister Kerry about Pepsi 400 within Michigan see page Around the world Speedway. One to occasion was just next go out one to a father had raced against a few sons – Lee Petty along with his a couple sons Richard and Maurice got in the past accomplished this new task.[9]
In the 2001, the major experience of the year taken place with the Daytona 500. Just like the Earnhardt and his awesome teammate Michael Waltrip raced to the become line, the guy finished next to Waltrip. His dad got damaged therefore cuatro immediately after Sterling Marlin produced experience of his left bottom bumper. Earnhardt Sr. shot up new song to your outside wall structure at the rear of Waltrip and you can his man and you can collected Ken Schrader in the process. Earnhardt Sr. are pronounced deceased on 5:sixteen pm due to a good basilar skull fracture.
From the wake, of a lot disgruntled fans delivered passing risks to help you ing your with the crash; Earnhardt and you will Waltrip each other expected one fans avoided blaming some body to possess Earnhardt Sr.is the reason passing and both the regional police and you will NASCAR evaluation for the this new freeze cleaned Marlin of every engagement. Earnhardt raced in the Rockingham next sunday, however, finished in 43rd-put shortly after an effective ruin on earliest lap one to appeared eerily just like their dad’s wreck only each week before. After in the 12 months, Earnhardt made a comeback, you start with an emotional winnings from the Pepsi 400, which had been also the earliest battle stored within Daytona while the his dad’s demise.
Earnhardt encountered the principal auto of the race, best 115 of 160 laps. For the past resume, the guy was able to make a move from sixth so you can first place in the span of a couple of laps, which have Waltrip holding from the community due to the fact Earnhardt grabbed brand new checkered banner. eight hundred from the Dover, that has been the original Mug competition after the September 11 symptoms since the amazing planned battle in the The Hampshire System Speedway is actually defer before the stop of the year. Pursuing the race, he performed a polish winnings lap while you are carrying a giant Western flag from the driver’s front side windows.
The guy acquired the brand new MBNA Cal Ripken Jr
From the Fall, Earnhardt took his second restrictor dish winnings when he claimed new EA Activities 500 from the Talladega because a fail unfolded into back immediately one to caused Bobby Labonte so you’re able to flip over and then have built-up fifteen almost every other trucks. The fresh Talladega earn obtained Earnhardt a great Winston Zero Bull 5 $1 million bonus. He was docked 25 affairs, not, just after his automobile unsuccessful article-battle check. Using this type of winnings, DEI swept three of four restrictor plate races for 2001, merely failing to profit the brand new springtime Talladega battle. The guy complete the new 2001 season eighth regarding the products standings that have about three victories, nine Most readily useful 5s, and you can 15 Greatest 10s, plus one or two posts.[10]
2002-03
In the 2002, Earnhardt Jr. got a great roller-coaster year. He battled immediately following long lasting good concussion out of a mind-for the accident into the additional wall surface from the Ca competition into the April – a personal injury he failed to admit to help you up until mid-Sep. On the three racing following California, he completed zero better than 30th. not, Earnhardt Jr. rallied in order to sweep both Talladega events (leading a principal 133 away from 188 laps in the springtime competition), a pair of Bud Rod Awards and you can a keen 11th-lay become on standings which have 11 ideal-fives and you can sixteen most readily useful-10 concludes.
