2004–06
Within the 2004, Earnhardt claimed brand new Daytona five hundred, six years with the date just after his father acquired their simply term on the Higher Western Race (and you can 3 years immediately following his father try slain on the 2001 race). Earnhardt came really near to capturing Speedweeks, as in introduction to your Daytona 500, he also won his Gatorade Duel additionally the Busch Collection battle.
Earnhardt try reunited along with his relative, Tony Eury Jr
On July 18, during the summer out-of-week-end, Earnhardt damaged good Chevrolet Corvette C5-Roentgen throughout the a habit towards the Western Ce Man’s Show Huge Prix out-of Sonoma at the Infineon Raceway. The auto slid of way and strike a real hindrance throughout warm-up the day’s the new competition, rupturing a petrol line and you will inducing the automobile to-burst to your fire with your however inside. The guy sustained 2nd and you will third-degree injury into the their neck, jaw, and you can legs partially on account of not dressed in a safety balaclava that have their helmet. The burns off averted your out-of doing a few races where he had been alleviated by the spouse John Andretti (during the Pocono) in the middle of the brand new events. About fall, Earnhardt turned the original rider in order to brush a weekend during the Bristol because of the effective both the Busch and you will Nextel Mug racing in the same week-end.
Earnhardt managed to be eligible for new NASCAR ten-race playoff, and had his fifth NEXTEL Cup profit of the season (a career highest) at the Talladega. But not, he had been penalized twenty five things for use off a keen obscenity during the tv transmit, in pass out-of a separate NASCAR signal prohibiting members by using serious words (brand new code had been developed the times after the Daytona five-hundred, throughout the wake of your own Extremely Pan half-go out tell you conflict). One to event, together with a couple straight DNF’s about Chase, at some point fell him from the powering, in which he complete 5th about 2004 NEXTEL Mug Chase even after a position-highest 6 wins within Daytona, Atlanta, Richmond, Bristol, Talladega and you can shielding their slide win from the Phoenix (even though underneath the low-Pursue affairs system, Earnhardt will have tied his 3rd-lay issues become of the earlier in the day season). He finalized off of the 2004 12 months with 6 victories, 16 Most useful 5s, and you can twenty-you to Top ten stops. The guy in addition to acquired his 2nd consecutive Most popular Driver Honor.
At the romantic of your 2004 year, it was showed that Tony Eury Sr. might be promoted on cluster movie director reputation toward DEI enterprise, while you are Tony Eury Jr. turned into the crew chief having Michael Waltrip for the 2005 12 months. Peter Rondeau, a go dos worker which including helped Earnhardt earn new Busch Collection battle at the Bristol inside the . Rondeau supported given that Earnhardt’s crew master until the Coca-Cola 600 weekend, as he is actually replaced with DEI head engineer Steve Hmiel, which assisted Earnhardt rating their solitary win from 2005 within Chicagoland in July, as he grabbed top honors out-of Matt Kenseth into the last years from pit comes to an end. Earnhardt was eliminated of any possible competition towards NEXTEL Mug championship once suffering an engine inability within Ca Speedway. , following the fall Richmond free mature chat and dating Germany weekend, and you may show improved immediately. Earnhardt finished the year nineteenth within the activities. Towards 3rd straight year, the guy grabbed family the NMPA Hottest Driver Award.
Earnhardt’s ability once the an automobile owner proceeded. Their competition people beyond DEI, JR Motorsports, in the 2005 fielded a car or truck throughout the Emplear Hooters ProCup Series, successful immediately after and you can qualifying for the Five Champions playoff. , operating this new No. 88 JR Motorsports Us Navy Chevrolet, which have Richard Childress Rushing providing assistance; not, he had been fired before slip Michigan competition, this new Carfax 250. He had been changed because of the Robby Gordon and you can Martin Truex Jr. for the remainder of the year. Long-time small track racing Shane Huffman drove Earnhardt’s Usar Hooters ProCup automobile inside 2006. During the 2006, inside the spring season sunday from the Talladega Superspeedway, Earnhardt or any other DEI people drove that have special black colored painting schemes on the cars, similar to his later dad’s greatest Zero. step three painting strategy. Toward Dad’s Go out from inside the 2006, he drove a vintage Budweiser auto at Michigan Global Speedway in order to prize both their dad (Ralph Earnhardt) and his awesome dad, who within some point both in the professions utilized the No. 8 vehicles. After rain caused the race becoming finished very early, Earnhardt complete third having Kasey Kahne effective the competition. Just after 17 events throughout the 2006 12 months, Earnhardt sat 3rd throughout the championship standings having 1 victory, future on Richmond in the .