Into the 2001, the big skills of the season occurred toward Daytona 500

Earnhardt starred a part from inside the recreating you to Winston Mug milestone inside 2000 as he competed along with his father and you will half of-sibling Kerry on the Pepsi 400 during the Michigan International Speedway. You to celebration was only the following go out you to definitely a dad had raced facing one or two sons – Lee Petty with his a couple sons Richard and you will Maurice had in the past accomplished the latest task.

Given that Earnhardt and his teammate Michael Waltrip raced to your end line, the guy completed 2nd so you can Waltrip. His father got damaged in turn 4 once Sterling Marlin produced dating ghana experience of his left buttocks bumper. Earnhardt Sr. increased the fresh new track towards additional wall structure about Waltrip and you will his man and you may amassed Ken Schrader along the way. Earnhardt Sr. are obvious dry in the 5:sixteen pm due to a good basilar skull crack.

In the aftermath, many disgruntled fans sent demise dangers so you’re able to ing him on the crash; Earnhardt and you will Waltrip one another questioned one fans averted blaming somebody for Earnhardt Sr.’s the reason death and both the regional police and you may NASCAR testing for the the latest crash cleaned Marlin of every engagement. Earnhardt raced in the Rockingham the next weekend, however, finished in 43rd-set after an excellent ruin towards earliest lap you to definitely searched eerily similar to his father’s ruin simply weekly before. Afterwards about 12 months, Earnhardt made a comeback, beginning with a difficult victory on Pepsi eight hundred, that was along with the earliest competition stored in the Daytona since the their dad’s passing.

Earnhardt had the dominant car of your own competition, top 115 off 160 laps. With the last restart, he were able to make a move from sixth to help you first place throughout the span of several laps, with Waltrip holding off the field once the Earnhardt grabbed the new checkered banner. 400 at Dover, which had been the original Winston Glass Show competition following the Sep eleven periods once the brand spanking new planned battle at The new Hampshire Engine Speedway was delayed till the prevent of the season. Following competition, the guy did a shine win lap if you are holding a big Western banner from driver’s front side window.

In the Slip, Earnhardt grabbed their 2nd restrictor dish win as he won the newest EA Football five-hundred during the Talladega given that a crash unfolded to the right back straightaway you to triggered Bobby Labonte to flip more and get obtained fifteen most other vehicles. The fresh Talladega winnings won Earnhardt a beneficial Winston Zero Bull 5 $one million incentive. He had been docked twenty-five things, however, immediately after his vehicles were not successful article-race inspection. With this specific winnings, DEI swept around three of five restrictor dish events to own 2001, merely failing continually to winnings brand new spring Talladega race. The guy accomplished the 2001 12 months 8th from the factors standings having about three gains, 9 Best 5s, and fifteen Most readily useful 10s, including two poles.

2002–03

For the 2002, Earnhardt Jr. got a roller-coaster seasons. He struggled immediately following enduring a great concussion of a head-towards collision toward exterior wall surface at California competition in the April – an accident the guy don’t recognize to help you until mid-Sep. On three events after the California, the guy finished no better than 30th. Yet not, Earnhardt Jr. rallied to help you sweep one another Talladega races (top a prominent 133 off 188 laps regarding the springtime race), a pair of Bud Rod Honours and a keen 11th-put wind up throughout the standings having 11 greatest-fives and you may sixteen best-10 comes to an end.

The guy won the fresh MBNA Cal Ripken Jr

When you look at the 2003, Earnhardt Jr. became a true identity contender, rating a record-breaking last straight victory on Talladega, immediately after becoming working in good 27-car crash toward lap cuatro. The guy battled for the majority of the race, and you can is at factors an one half-lap off, simply getting support for the package as a result of a warning. The fresh victory is actually controversial given that which have 5 laps to visit, they featured you to Earnhardt ran beneath the red-colored line to gain position, however, NASCAR ruled one to Matt Kenseth had forced your underneath the range, it is therefore a flush citation.