The guy after obtained a winnings on Phoenix when you look at the Oct, tape a career top 3rd-lay work on standings, that have 13 Most useful 5s and you may twenty-one Top ten concludes. [8]
2004-06
Inside the 2004, Earnhardt obtained the brand new Daytona five hundred, half a dozen decades for the go out once his father claimed their simply title from the Great American Race (and three-years immediately after his dad was slain on the 2001 race). Earnhardt arrived extremely near to sweeping Speedweeks, as with introduction to your Daytona five-hundred, the guy in addition to acquired their Gatorade Duel plus the Busch Collection battle. But not, the guy accomplished 2nd regarding Budweiser Shootout so you can Dale Jarrett.
In the romantic of 2004 seasons, it had been indicated that Tony Eury Sr
Into July 18, during the summer off-week-end, Earnhardt crashed a Chevrolet Corvette C5-Roentgen during the a practice toward American Ce People’s Collection Huge Prix out-of Sonoma on Infineon Raceway. The automobile slid out of movement and you will hit a concrete barrier throughout warm-up the day of brand new battle, rupturing a petrol range and you can evoking the auto to-burst into fire with your however inside. He suffered second and you may third-degree burns off to the his shoulder, chin, and you can legs partly on account of perhaps not using a protective balaclava that have his helmet. This new burns eliminated your off doing a few racing where he had been alleviated of the mate John Andretti (in the Pocono) in the middle of the fresh racing. About slide, Earnhardt turned the original driver to help you sweep a week-end from the Bristol because of the successful both the Busch and Cup events in identical week-end.[ticket requisite]
Earnhardt were able to qualify for the new NASCAR ten-competition playoff, and had their fifth NEXTEL Mug win of the year (employment highest) at the Talladega. However, he was punished 25 issues for usage regarding an obscenity during it transmitted, inside violation from a different sort of NASCAR laws prohibiting professionals by using down and dirty vocabulary[11] (the new rule is created the week following the Daytona five-hundred, about aftermath of your own Super Pan half of-date tell you controversy). One to experience, along side two consecutive DNF’s regarding Chase, sooner decrease him out of the running, and he finished fifth regarding the 2004 NEXTEL Cup Pursue even after employment-high six victories on Daytona, Atlanta, Richmond, Bristol, Talladega and you can shielding his slide victory during the Phoenix (even though in non-Chase factors system, Earnhardt will have tied up his third-lay items find yourself of your earlier in the day 12 months). The guy finalized off of the 2004 season with six wins, sixteen Most readily useful 5s, and you will twenty-one to Top closes. He in addition to picked up their next successive Preferred Driver Honor.[admission necessary]
is marketed with the people director updates towards DEI company, when you are Tony Eury Jr. turned into brand new team master to possess Michael Waltrip towards the 2005 season. Peter Rondeau, a chance dos worker exactly who and additionally aided Earnhardt earn this new Busch Series battle at Bristol for the . Rondeau served because Earnhardt’s staff captain before Coca cola 600 weekend, when he was substituted for DEI head engineer Steve Hmiel, who helped Earnhardt get his lone profit regarding 2005 at the Chicagoland when you look at the July, when he grabbed the lead away from Matt Kenseth towards history cycle regarding gap finishes. Earnhardt try removed out-of any possible competition towards the NEXTEL Glass tournament immediately after suffering a system incapacity on Ca Speedway. Earnhardt is actually reunited together with relative, Tony Eury Jr., following the slide Richmond weekend, and you can performance increased instantaneously. Earnhardt done the entire year 19th into the activities. Into the third upright seasons, he took domestic the new NMPA Most popular Rider Prize.
Earnhardt’s competence as the an auto manager went on. His battle class outside of DEI, JR Motorsports, for the 2005 fielded a car regarding Emplear Hooters ProCup Show, successful just after and you may qualifying on Five Champions playoff. , riding the new Zero. 88 JR Motorsports All of us Navy Chevrolet, with Richard Childress Race taking assistance; yet not, he had been discharged till the fall Michigan battle, the brand new Carfax 250. He had been changed from the Robby Gordon and Martin Truex Jr. throughout the season. Long-time brief tune racer Shane Huffman drove Earnhardt’s Utilizar Hooters ProCup auto when you look at the 2006. Into the 2006, inside the spring season weekend in the Talladega Superspeedway, Earnhardt and other DEI motorists drove having unique black painting techniques on their vehicles, similar to their late father’s greatest Zero. step 3 decorate program. On Dad’s Time from inside the 2006, the guy drove a classic Budweiser vehicle during the Michigan In the world Speedway in order to honor one another his father (Ralph Earnhardt) and his awesome father, exactly who during the one point in their work used the No. 8 auto. After rain caused the race to-be ended very early, Earnhardt complete third having Kasey Kahne successful the fresh new battle Denver CO sugar baby. Shortly after 17 events in the 2006 seasons, Earnhardt seated third regarding the tournament standings which have 1 profit, future on Richmond during the .[pass requisite]