Earnhardt played an associate in the recreating one to Winston Glass milestone into the 2000 as he competed with his father and you can half-cousin Kerry regarding the Pepsi 400 at the Michigan Internationally Speedway. One to occasion was just the following day one to a father had raced against a couple of sons – Lee Petty along with his two sons Richard and you may Maurice got previously completed the latest accomplishment.
Due to the fact Earnhardt along with his teammate Michael Waltrip raced to your become line, he completed second so you’re able to Waltrip. His father had crashed subsequently cuatro just after Sterling Marlin made exposure to his remaining butt bumper. Earnhardt Sr. raised the fresh song toward external wall surface at the rear of Waltrip and you may his guy and you can built-up Ken Schrader along the way. Earnhardt Sr. is actually pronounced inactive in the 5:sixteen pm due to a good basilar skull fracture.
From the wake, of several disgruntled admirers sent death threats to help you ing your on the crash; Earnhardt and you can Waltrip each other requested you to definitely admirers eliminated blaming some body for Earnhardt Sr.’s demise and both local cops and you can NASCAR evaluation toward brand new crash cleaned Marlin of every involvement. Earnhardt raced on Rockingham the following weekend, however, completed in 43rd-set once a ruin into first lap that featured eerily like their father’s ruin simply a week before. Later on from the seasons, Earnhardt undergone a revival, starting with an emotional win on Pepsi eight hundred, which was along with the earliest competition stored at the Daytona since the his father’s dying.
Earnhardt had the prominent auto of one’s race, best 115 off 160 laps. On the last resume, the guy was able to make a move out-of sixth so you can beginning regarding span of a couple laps, having Waltrip holding from the job because the Earnhardt took the latest checkered flag. eight hundred in the Dover, that was the initial Winston Mug Series battle after the September 11 symptoms since the brand spanking new scheduled competition in the The latest Hampshire Motor Speedway was postponed until the end of the year. Pursuing the race, the guy performed a polish win lap when you’re carrying a giant American flag from the driver’s side screen.
From the Slide, Earnhardt got their second restrictor plate earn as he obtained the fresh EA Sporting events five hundred during the Talladega because a crash unfolded for the back straightaway you to brought about Bobby Labonte in order to flip more than and have now obtained fifteen most other trucks. This new Talladega profit received Earnhardt a great Winston No Bull 5 $1 million added bonus. He was docked 25 products, not, immediately following his automobile were unsuccessful post-competition check. With this particular winnings, DEI swept three of your own four restrictor plate races to own 2001, simply failing continually to profit the fresh spring season Talladega race. The guy completed the brand new 2001 seasons 8th in the points standings that have three wins, 9 Ideal 5s, and you can 15 Most readily useful tens, including a few poles.
2002–03
For the 2002, Earnhardt Jr. got an effective roller-coaster year. The guy struggled just after lasting an effective concussion of a mind-to your crash with the exterior wall at the Ca battle in April – an injury the guy don’t know to help you up to mid-September. Throughout the around three events following the California, the guy completed zero better than 30th. But not, Earnhardt Jr. rallied so you can brush both Talladega races (best a prominent 133 regarding 188 laps about spring race), a set of Bud Rod Honors and you may an 11th-set wind up about standings having 11 ideal-fives and you may 16 finest-ten closes.
He obtained brand new MBNA Cal Ripken Jr
Inside the 2003, Earnhardt Jr. became a genuine title competitor, scoring a record-breaking fourth consecutive victory at the Talladega, once becoming working in good 27-car crash on lap cuatro. The guy battled for many of your own race, and you may is at affairs an one half-lap down, just getting back-up towards the prepare compliment of an alert. The fresh win is actually questionable because the that have 5 laps commit, they checked that Earnhardt ran underneath the yellow range to increase position, however, NASCAR ruled one to Matt Kenseth got pushed your below the range, therefore it is a naughty filipino chat room flush ticket.
