Dale Earnhardt, the legendary NASCAR driver, was married three times throughout his life. His first marriage to Latane Brown lasted three years and resulted in the birth of his son, Kerry Earnhardt. He later married Brenda Gee, with whom he had two children, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kelley Earnhardt. Finally, he wed Teresa Houston, who became the mother of his youngest daughter, Taylor Earnhardt.
Teresa Earnhardt, however, has not been warmly regarded by the NASCAR community. Her relationship with Dale Jr. was reportedly strained, and her connection with Dale Sr.’s oldest son, Kerry, was even more challenging. This tension was highlighted during a recent episode of Dale Jr.’s podcast, The Dale Jr. Download, where he invited Kerry to discuss various topics, including their father and their stepmother, Teresa.
Kerry recounted his first meeting with Teresa, which left a lasting negative impression. He shared, “I pulled up to the house where you [Dale Jr.] were playing football in the yard with a couple of friends. I went to the door, knocked, and someone else—not Dad—answered. She said, ‘Hey,’ and slammed the door. Then I heard Dad inside raising his voice a bit before he came to the door and said, ‘Hey son! Sorry about that. She wasn’t expecting anyone. Come on in!’ That someone was Teresa—everyone knows that. Kelley wouldn’t have done that, and I doubt the housekeeper would’ve either. Anyway, Dad smoothed things over, brought me inside, and we spent time talking in the basement.”
At the time of this encounter, Dale Jr. was very young, Kelley was likely away, and Taylor had not yet been born. While Dale Sr. made an effort to bridge the gap between Kerry and Teresa, the first impression seemed to set the tone for their future interactions.
After Dale Sr.’s tragic death, Teresa became fiercely protective of the Earnhardt legacy. While her intentions might have been well-meaning, her actions occasionally caused conflict within the family. A notable incident occurred when Kerry and his wife, Rene, collaborated with Schumacher Homes to create and promote the “Earnhardt Collection.” Teresa opposed their efforts, filing an appeal in federal court to block a decision by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Although she ultimately lost the case, the dispute deepened the rift between her and the family.
