2000 was Earnhardt’s breakout 12 months on the Mug Series, the guy competed with the Raybestos NASCAR Newbie of the season Prize inside the 2000. Kenseth outran Earnhardt about season-beginning Daytona five-hundred. Earnhardt obtained 1st winnings in the DirecTV five-hundred from the Colorado Motor Speedway, damaging the record stored because of the his dad Earnhardt Sr. to have fewest starts by the a drivers to make 1st victory in NASCAR’s “progressive point in time” by winning within his twelfth begin, and also at Richmond All over the world Raceway. He turned into the first newbie so you can earn the latest The-Star expo battle.
Earnhardt played a part for the reproducing you to definitely Winston Cup milestone from inside the 2000 when he competed together with his dad and you may 1 / 2 of-sibling Kerry throughout the Pepsi 400 within Michigan Globally Speedway. You to celebration was only the second date you to definitely a father had raced facing a couple sons – Lee Petty along with his a couple of sons Richard and you will Maurice had prior to now completed the fresh new feat.[9]
Inside 2001, the big knowledge of the season took place towards Daytona 500. While the Earnhardt and his awesome teammate Michael Waltrip raced to your finish line, the guy accomplished next so you can Waltrip. His dad got crashed consequently 4 immediately following Sterling Marlin generated exposure to their kept bottom bumper. Earnhardt Sr. raised the track into additional wall surface trailing Waltrip and you will his son and you can amassed Ken Schrader in the process. Earnhardt Sr. was noticable lifeless at 5:16 pm due to a basilar head fracture.
On the wake, of numerous disgruntled admirers delivered passing risks to help you ing your with the crash; Earnhardt and you may Waltrip each other questioned one to admirers avoided blaming people having Earnhardt Sr.is the reason dying and the regional cops and you may NASCAR testing into the latest crash cleaned Marlin of any involvement. Earnhardt raced at Rockingham the following week-end, however, completed in 43rd-place immediately following a destroy towards basic lap one seemed eerily just like his dad’s wreck simply weekly prior to. Later on from the season, Earnhardt made a comeback, beginning with an emotional earn in the Pepsi eight hundred, which had been plus the basic race kept from the Daytona because the their father’s demise.
Earnhardt met with the principal vehicle of one’s competition, leading 115 away from 160 laps. Towards the last restart, he was able to make a move from sixth so you can first place throughout the course of several laps, which have Waltrip holding off of the occupation since the Earnhardt took the new checkered banner. eight hundred at Dover, which was the first Glass battle adopting the Sep 11 episodes because the brand-new scheduled race at the The new Hampshire System Speedway is put-off before the end of the year. Following the competition, the guy did a gloss profit lap when you’re carrying a giant Western banner the actual driver’s front side windows.
He acquired new MBNA Cal Ripken Jr
Regarding Slip, Earnhardt grabbed his 2nd restrictor dish winnings as he won the EA Sporting events five hundred in the Talladega because the a fail unfolded for the back immediately that brought about Bobby Labonte so you’re able to flip more than and also obtained fifteen most other trucks. The newest Talladega win made Earnhardt a great Winston No Bull 5 $one million incentive. He was docked twenty five facts, but not, shortly after their vehicle failed post-race assessment. With this specific earn, DEI swept about three of your own four restrictor dish races for 2001, merely failing continually to win the latest spring Talladega competition. He finished the newest 2001 seasons eighth on products standings with three gains, 9 Top 5s, and fifteen Best 10s, and additionally two posts.[10]
2002-03
When you look at the 2002, Earnhardt Jr. got a great roller-coaster season. The guy struggled immediately after long lasting an effective concussion from a mind-on the collision sugar daddy site Dallas TX on the exterior wall structure at the California race during the April – a personal injury the guy didn’t acknowledge to help you up to mid-September. From the about three racing adopting the Ca, the guy completed zero better than 30th. But not, Earnhardt Jr. rallied in order to sweep one another Talladega racing (leading a dominating 133 out of 188 laps regarding the springtime competition), a set of Bud Pole Honors and you will an enthusiastic 11th-set wind up about standings with eleven best-fives and you can 16 greatest-10 concludes.