Meet NASCAR’s Own Soap Opera Family: The Earnhardt's

By Dylan Vox

NASCAR is one of the most watched sports in the United States, and if there is anyone who knows that it is a serious business, it's the Earnhardt family. It may not be exactly gay but for the Earnhardt's, NASCAR is definitely all in the family. Just like any good Aaron Spelling production, there has been tragedy, triumph, business deals, and rocky relationships that all occur under the watchful eye of the media. At each turn, however, the Earnhardt's have proven that they are forever the Royal Family of America's favorite pastime.

As a young boy watching his father Ralph race, and win in Stock car events throughout the Southeast, Dale Earnhardt, Sr., developed a love for the sport that would ultimately fuel one of the most successful careers in the history of motorsports.

In his late teens, Dale began racing Hobby-class cars in and around his native Kannapolis, NC, working full-time by day, welding and mounting tires, and either racing or working on his cars by night. In 1973, Ralph Earnhardt died of heart failure while working on his race car. Crushed by the loss, Dale eventually learned to cope, by becoming more determined than ever to be successful as a driver, and made his Winston Cup Debut two years later.

Over the next 20 years Earnhardt created an empire with and one of the most successful racing teams in history winning the Winston cup a record total of seven times with his # 3 car. He also started a family which would eventually follow in his footsteps. Dale had four children and three marriages before finally settling down with Teresa Earnhardt.

In February 1998 after 20 attempts, Dale Earnhardt Senior captured the only major victory that had eluded him throughout his career, the Daytona 500. The win was the 71st of his career and came in his 575th Winston Cup start, placing him sixth on the all-time wins list. Earnhardt added to his legacy when NASCAR honored both him and his father Ralph as two of the 50 Greatest Drivers in NASCAR history. Two years later, Earnhardt's son, Dale, Jr., followed in his father's tire tracks, joining his dad on the Winston Cup circuit. Dale Earnhardt Junior was the second child from his second marriage to Brenda. Unlike Dale Senior, Junior was an outgoing personality who enjoyed the media attention. He started racing with his half brother Kerry Earnhardt and joined Dale Earnhardt Inc. (DEI) as one of their successful drivers.

Junior was creating a successful career on his own. Dale Jr.'s name has helped his media presence and he has even expressed interest in pursuing an acting career. Dale Jr. has appeared in print advertisements for Drakkar Noir Cologne, and in the video for Sheryl Crow's song Steve McQueen, which pays tribute to the late film star famous for his car chase scenes. He was also featured in several commercials for Wrangler jeans.

Junior was hot, and in 2005 even beat out heartthrob Jeff Gordon for NASCAR's Sexiest Driver. But his public persona had always been a source of concern for his step-mother Teresa who was very involved with the image of the DEI. "Teresa is my stepmother, and I have a mother at home that I have a very good relationship with," Junior once explained to the associated press. "Mine and Teresa's relationship has always been very black and white, very strict and in your face ... it ain't a bed of roses."

By 2001 father and son were competing against each other in event after event proving they were more than just stock car drivers. The major event of the season, however, occurred in the final corner of the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500. As Junior finished second, his father had crashed in turn four. Dale Earnhardt, Sr. did not survive the wreck.

Several press conferences were held in the days following Earnhardt's death. At one point, fans were threatening to kill Sterling Marlin, who had bumped into Earnhardt's car before the wreck, for causing his death. It was Dale Jr., who absolved Marlin of responsibility and asked everyone who loved his father to stop assigning blame for his death.

After much consideration Junior decided to race at Rockingham the following weekend, but finished in 43rd-place after a wreck that looked eerily similar to his father's which occurred just one week earlier.

Many believe Dale Earnhardt started the team as something his children would someday run, but after his tragic death, the controlling interest in the company did not in fact go to his children, but instead was retained by Teresa Earnhardt who quickly earned a reputation as an owner in absentia, making very few appearances at the race track and granting even fewer interviews. Teresa has controlled everything since the accident, including the rights to Earnhardt Jr.'s name, which she only relinquished to him last summer. But Junior wants more than just his name back, and just like any good soap opera, is prepared to walk away from the team if he doesn't get it.

Junior, who has competed for the DEI team for several years, recently has made insinuations that he will leave his family's name sake. Teresa commented this year to The Wall Street Journal, "Right now the ball's in his court to decide on whether he wants to be a NASCAR driver or whether he wants to be a public personality." The cold comments were just an ongoing example of the rocky relationship between owner and driver.

"The relationship that we have today is the same relationship we had when I was 6 years old when I moved into that house with Dad and her. It's always been the same. It hasn't gotten worse over the last couple years or last couple months. The way I felt about her then is the way I feel about her now. " Junior responded to allegations that his problems with Teresa may force him to leave DEI.

"I just want to drive races and win championships and hang it up one day and not have to worry about whether I have enough money in my retirement fund," Junior told AOL. "Just give me a good race car and make it run fast and give me guys I can enjoy working with, and I'll go to the racetrack and I'll do whatever you need me to do with the sponsors and everything else."

The battle over DEI has shaped up to be as interesting as the war over Denver/Carrington, and everything but Joan Collins is included in the drama. The Earnhardt's have titillated fans with there story for three generations and undoubtedly will continue to do so in the future. Through all the marriages and children and wrecks and recoveries it is clear that NASCAR is a mainstay in the public eye, and the Earhardt's have always been a catalyst for that success.

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