When Dale Earnhardt Sr. passed away in the 2001 Daytona 500, a heavy silence blanketed all of NASCAR. The sport had lost a racing legend who had created countless golden moments throughout his career. These moments ranged from driving from 18th to 1st in the final five laps at Talladega Superspeedway to pulling off the ‘Pass in the Grass’ during his battle with Bill Elliott in the 1987 Winston. However, while fans focused on his achievements during his prime, his family had to confront challenges after his death.
At the time, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was 27 years old, still coming to terms with the harsh reality that his iconic father had succumbed to crash injuries. In that moment, his stepmother, Teresa Earnhardt, stepped in to protect her late husband’s legacy. In a recent reflection, Dale Jr. has dispelled the negative perceptions that fans hold against Teresa.
Since Teresa Earnhardt refused to give Dale Earnhardt Inc. ownership and the No. 8 trademark rights to her stepson in 2007, she quickly became a villain in NASCAR. Fans gave her colorful nicknames for blocking 14-time Most Popular Driver Dale Earnhardt Jr’s desires. But times have changed, as Teresa has finally relinquished the No. 8 car’s rights to Dale Jr. He is now set to drive the number with Budweiser’s sponsorship in Late Model Stock Series races in 2024-25. And the stepson is now working to restore Teresa Earnhardt’s damaged reputation.
After Dale Earnhardt passed, the NASCAR world was thrown into chaos. The sport had just lost a 7-time Cup champion who dominated fans’ emotions, and some sought to profit even after his death. But Teresa acted as a shield, ensuring her family’s dignity remained intact. Dale Jr. emphasized this in a recent Dale Jr. Download episode:
“I saw that effort when we were dealing with the autopsy photos. There were people trying to have them released. I definitely didn’t want that…I was really impressed by how hard Teresa fought. I’m grateful for her actions because I didn’t fully understand why it was so important at the time,” he said.
Dale Jr. continued to express his gratitude for Teresa’s efforts following that tragic day on February 18, 2001. “But I’m so thankful for what she did… it took a lot of time, effort, and money. She’s always been protective like that.” Although fans have labeled her a villain for holding onto the No. 8 rights for 17 years, Dale Earnhardt Jr. softened his tone. “I was happy knowing she had it. I knew it was safe. But when she decided she no longer wanted the trademark, I knew I had to get it to keep it safe.”
Earnhardt Family Drama: Dale Jr. Exposes Stepmother’s Hidden Battle
