2004–06

During the 2004, Earnhardt claimed the brand new Daytona 500, half a dozen years into the big date just after their father acquired their only title on Great Western Race (and you can 36 months immediately after his father was murdered about 2001 race). Earnhardt came really alongside sweeping Speedweeks, as in inclusion towards Daytona five-hundred, the guy plus obtained his Gatorade Duel and also the Busch Collection battle.

Earnhardt try reunited together with his cousin, Tony Eury Jr

Towards July 18, during the summer out-of-week-end, Earnhardt crashed a good Chevrolet Corvette C5-R while in the a practice into the Western Le Mans Collection Huge Prix from Sonoma within Infineon Raceway. The vehicle slid out of path and hit a concrete hindrance throughout the warm-up the day of brand new battle, rupturing a petrol range and you may evoking the vehicle to burst on fire having him however in to the. He suffered second and you may third degree burns towards his neck, mouth, and you will base partly due to perhaps not wear a safety balaclava with his head protection. The latest injury eliminated him off finishing several races where he was relieved by the companion John Andretti (on Pocono) in the center of the fresh new races. Regarding the slide, Earnhardt turned into the initial driver so you can sweep a sunday at the Bristol by the successful both the Busch and you may Nextel Cup races in the same weekend.

Earnhardt been able to qualify for this new NASCAR 10-competition playoff, together with his 5th NEXTEL Glass winnings of the year (a position highest) at the Talladega. not, he was punished 25 items to be used out of an enthusiastic obscenity through the the television transmitted, for the violation out of another type of NASCAR laws prohibiting members by using down and dirty code (the fresh new signal had been developed the few days following Daytona five hundred, in the aftermath of your own Extremely Bowl half of-big date tell you debate). That experience, along side a couple consecutive DNF’s from the Pursue, fundamentally decrease him out from the powering, in which he done fifth from the 2004 NEXTEL Glass Chase even with work-large six wins within Daytona, Atlanta, Richmond, Bristol, Talladega and you can shielding his slip earn during the Phoenix (whether or not according to the low-Pursue circumstances program, Earnhardt will have tied their 3rd-set affairs end up of one’s earlier in the day seasons). He signed off of the 2004 seasons that have 6 wins, sixteen Most useful 5s, and you can twenty-one Top 10 ends up. He also picked up his next successive Best Rider Honor.

At the intimate of the 2004 seasons, it had been indicated that Tony Eury Sr. could be promoted into cluster movie director status towards DEI business, if you find yourself Tony Eury Jr. turned into the fresh crew head for Michael Waltrip for the 2005 seasons. Peter Rondeau, a go 2 employee whom and aided Earnhardt earn the newest Busch Collection race within Bristol inside . Rondeau served just like the Earnhardt’s team master before the Coca-Soda 600 week-end, when he is actually substituted for DEI master professional Steve Hmiel, which assisted Earnhardt score his lone earn out-of 2005 on Chicagoland from inside the July, when he grabbed top honors regarding Matt Kenseth for the last course out of pit comes to an end. Earnhardt try eliminated from any possible battle on the NEXTEL Cup title immediately after suffering an engine failure from the California Speedway. , after the slip Richmond sunday, and you will overall performance enhanced quickly. Earnhardt accomplished the season nineteenth in things. Toward third straight year, he grabbed domestic the fresh new NMPA Most well known Rider Prize.

Earnhardt’s competence since a car proprietor went on. Their competition class away from DEI, JR Motorsports, for the 2005 fielded a vehicle regarding Emplear Hooters ProCup Show, profitable shortly after and you may being qualified to the Four Champions playoff. , driving the have a glimpse at the website No. 88 JR Motorsports All of us Navy Chevrolet, that have Richard Childress Racing getting guidance; yet not, he had been fired till the fall Michigan race, the new Carfax 250. He was replaced by Robby Gordon and you may Martin Truex Jr. for the rest of the season. Long-time brief tune speed Shane Huffman drove Earnhardt’s Utilizar Hooters ProCup car into the 2006. Inside the 2006, inside spring season week-end within Talladega Superspeedway, Earnhardt and other DEI vehicle operators drove with unique black colored paint plans on the autos, similar to their late father’s popular Zero. step three painting strategy. On Dad’s Go out from inside the 2006, the guy drove a classic Budweiser car at Michigan Global Speedway so you’re able to prize both his father (Ralph Earnhardt) and his awesome father, exactly who in the some point both in their professions used the Zero. 8 car. After rain was the cause of race becoming concluded early, Earnhardt finished third having Kasey Kahne effective the fresh race. Immediately following 17 races regarding 2006 12 months, Earnhardt seated third throughout the tournament standings which have step one earn, coming at Richmond for the .