Not counting first daughter Kelley, who has the chin and smile of her late father, only one of Dale Earnhardt’s four children looks like him. The eldest son, Kerry Earnhardt, is the least discussed of the four and has done little in the racing world. But unlike Dale Jr., he is the virtual image of Dale Sr. with a softer and more modest personality. When he speaks, it is as if you are seeing and / or listening to a ghost. Only the magnetism is missing.
More than a year ago, Kerry signed a contract with her stepmother, Teresa Earnhardt, and works full-time as a driver development consultant at Dale Earnhardt, Inc. She does not have a company degree, but her position is not at all honorary. His 19-year-old son, Jeffrey Earnhardt, is a driving force behind the development of the family business, and a father-son duo may be called upon to save the racing team if he loses Martin Truex Jr. at the end of this season. Mark Martin is already on the move, Paul Menard is rumored to be talking to Yates Racing and Regan Smith is not attracting sponsors for 2009.
Kerry’s racing career has been indescribable thus far. Won a pole in the ’05 Truck Series, has four ARCA Re / Max Series wins and has driven seven Cup events for Richard Childress Racing, but has been in and out of the driver’s seat for several years with nothing what to brag about. while his half brother is famous as much for who he is as for what he has accomplished.
Yes, the name and appearance have enough charm to perhaps bring some happiness back to DEI. Kerry is eager to give it a try and looks forward to bringing her son back in due time.
Earnhardt, 37, retired from racing months ago, but his desire to get back in the driver’s seat is unmistakable, preferably in the Sprint Cup. From their previous comments, some writers conclude that a Nationwide schedule for Jeffrey, who is 11 months older than Joe Gibbs prodigy Joey Logano, is unlikely in 2009, at least not full-time. On other occasions, he has emphasized that he would never rush his son and that proper tests would precede any schedule. The decision on when to move up may be up to Jeffrey, just like when he decided to go with DEI instead of RCR, Hendrick Motorsports and JR Motorsports.
The Earnhardt name may be the best thing the organization has going for it. Kerry raced once for DEI, at the Nationwide event on July 4 at Daytona, where he started 10th and finished 17th. Bass Pro Shops sponsored the No. 8 Chevrolet and is under contract with DEI until 2010. Driver discontent has routinely led to new trips in the past two years, and Truex Jr. is clearly discontent, leading to speculation that that Kerry Earnhardt will drive No. 1 because next season.
Earnhardt has made several laps in racing over the years, but has a reputation for being quite a name, without skill. He is actually the adopted son of Jack Key, whom he calls his stepfather, and he grew up under a different last name. He never met his biological father until his teens, after he discovered the link. Legally or not, he refers to Dale Sr. as his father when talking about his family. And that same mischievous look, from the small eyes to the playful smile, gives him the marketability needed for the father of three (he also has a stepson).
Last December, Kerry announced that he was retiring from competitive racing, but the tug has clearly returned. DEI officials deny that an Earnhardt is needed for the company to function, but it wouldn’t hurt to have the name, look and sound of the company’s founder coming face to face (possibly two heads) with Dale Jr. each. week. .
