2004–06
Within the 2004, Earnhardt acquired the fresh Daytona five hundred, half dozen years for the date just after his father acquired his just term on Higher Western Battle (and you can three-years once their dad is slain throughout the 2001 race). Earnhardt appeared very close to sweeping Speedweeks, as in addition to the Daytona 500, the guy and additionally obtained his Gatorade Duel in addition to Busch Collection battle.
Earnhardt is actually reunited along with his relative, Tony Eury Jr
To your July 18, during the best dating sites Houston summer from-sunday, Earnhardt damaged a great Chevrolet Corvette C5-R during the a habit for the American Ce Man’s Show Grand Prix from Sonoma during the Infineon Raceway. The auto slid out-of movement and you may struck a concrete barrier throughout the warm-within the day’s new race, rupturing a fuel range and you will evoking the vehicle to-burst on the flame having your however into the. He sustained next and you can third degree injury to the his neck, chin, and ft partly on account of perhaps not putting on a safety balaclava which have their head protection. The fresh new burns off averted him from doing one or two races in which he had been alleviated because of the companion John Andretti (within Pocono) in the newest races. From the slide, Earnhardt became the initial driver to help you brush a weekend on Bristol of the profitable both the Busch and you may Nextel Glass events throughout the exact same sunday.
Earnhardt managed to be eligible for this new NASCAR 10-competition playoff, along with their 5th NEXTEL Glass winnings of the season (a position high) from the Talladega. Although not, he had been penalized twenty five facts for use regarding an enthusiastic obscenity throughout the tv transmit, when you look at the admission regarding an alternative NASCAR code prohibiting users by using obscene language (this new signal got created the day after the Daytona 500, in the aftermath of one’s Very Bowl 1 / 2 of-date show conflict). You to incident, and one or two successive DNF’s regarding Chase, at some point decrease him out from the powering, and he complete 5th about 2004 NEXTEL Cup Pursue even with a job-high 6 victories at the Daytona, Atlanta, Richmond, Bristol, Talladega and you will defending his slip earn in the Phoenix (even if underneath the low-Chase circumstances program, Earnhardt might have tied up his 3rd-lay circumstances end of one’s early in the day 12 months). He closed off of the 2004 season having six wins, sixteen Most readily useful 5s, and you can twenty-one Top 10 finishes. He together with found their 2nd straight Most widely used Rider Honor.
At the romantic of your own 2004 12 months, it had been indicated that Tony Eury Sr. would-be advertised on the team manager updates with the DEI firm, whenever you are Tony Eury Jr. became the fresh new crew captain getting Michael Waltrip into the 2005 seasons. Peter Rondeau, a spin dos staff whom plus assisted Earnhardt profit the latest Busch Show competition at the Bristol inside . Rondeau offered once the Earnhardt’s staff master before Coca-Soda 600 week-end, as he was substituted for DEI chief engineer Steve Hmiel, just who aided Earnhardt get their solitary victory from 2005 from the Chicagoland inside July, when he grabbed top honors regarding Matt Kenseth for the past stage from gap finishes. Earnhardt was got rid of from any potential battle for the NEXTEL Glass tournament just after suffering a system inability from the California Speedway. , following the fall Richmond sunday, and performance increased instantaneously. Earnhardt completed the season 19th inside activities. To your third upright season, the guy got household the brand new NMPA Most popular Rider Prize.
Earnhardt’s proficiency given that a car or truck manager continued. Their competition people outside of DEI, JR Motorsports, in 2005 fielded a vehicle on Usar Hooters ProCup Collection, profitable immediately after and you can being qualified towards Five Winners playoff. , driving the new Zero. 88 JR Motorsports United states Navy Chevrolet, which have Richard Childress Race getting direction; not, he was fired till the slip Michigan competition, the brand new Carfax 250. He was changed by the Robby Gordon and you may Martin Truex Jr. throughout the entire year. Long-day brief track racer Shane Huffman drove Earnhardt’s Utilizar Hooters ProCup auto inside 2006. Within the 2006, when you look at the springtime sunday in the Talladega Superspeedway, Earnhardt or other DEI people drove with unique black colored paint systems to their vehicles, reminiscent of his late father’s greatest Zero. step 3 decorate plan. Towards Father’s Big date in 2006, he drove a vintage Budweiser vehicles in the Michigan Around the world Speedway in order to award each other his pops (Ralph Earnhardt) with his father, whom on some point both in the careers made use of the No. 8 auto. Immediately following rain caused the race as concluded early, Earnhardt completed 3rd that have Kasey Kahne effective the newest competition. Immediately after 17 races on the 2006 12 months, Earnhardt seated 3rd about championship standings that have 1 winnings, future at Richmond from inside the .