CONCORD, N.C. — Dale Earnhardt Jr. won a career-high six races in 2004 and mounted a decent challenge for the championship.

He’s not had a year like that since, not even close. But five races into the season, he feels as good as he did eight years ago.

“I feel the best I’ve felt, personally, confidence-wise, as I have in a long time. Probably since 2004, when I was winning all them races,” Earnhardt said Wednesday at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Earnhardt goes into Sunday’s race at Martinsville Speedway mired in a 134-race losing streak that dates back to 2008, his first season with Hendrick Motorsports. He had a solid shot at getting back to Victory Lane a year ago at Martinsville, but wound up second to Kevin Harvick that left Earnhardt’s fans feeling a little flat.

Earnhardt led 17 laps and was out front when Harvick passed him four laps from the finish. Earnhardt resisted any urge to try to knock Harvick out of his way in an attempt to reclaim the win. With Kyle Busch right behind him, Earnhardt instead just held on for the second-place finish.

Although his fans wish he’d gotten more aggressive, Earnhardt remains convinced a year later he did all he could.

As he looks back, Earnhardt believes it was a monumental moment for his No. 88 race team in what ultimately became a comeback season.