Kerry Earnhardt

Kerry Dale Earnhardt (born December 8, 1969) is an American former NASCAR driver and the eldest son of seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Dale Earnhardt. He is the half-brother of former NASCAR Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kelley Earnhardt Miller. He was employed by Dale Earnhardt, Inc. as a consultant specializing in driver development until 2011. His younger son, Jeffrey Earnhardt, began racing for DEI in 2007 and currently competes in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Kerry Earnhardt is known for his physical similarity to his father.

Early life

Earnhardt's mother, Latane Brown, was Dale Earnhardt's first wife. The couple divorced when Kerry was one year old. He wrecked out of the race on lap five. It was the first of his seven Winston Cup starts. In 2001, the same year his father was killed at Daytona, Earnhardt was involved in a massive crash on October 4 in an ARCA race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. On lap 63 of 67, Earnhardt had to dodge a lapped car by hitting his brakes, which caused Blaise Alexander's No. 75 car to catch up to Earnhardt. Alexander began to inch into the lead when Earnhardt's car made contact with Alexander's, sending Alexander's car head-on into the wall and back into Earnhardt's car, causing Earnhardt to flip over onto his roof and slide into the grass. Earnhardt managed to climb out by himself. Alexander was given a red flag and the race director called it official, which gave Earnhardt the victory. Alexander was pronounced dead in the infield care center at 10:20 p.m. He finished 22nd in points, scoring three top-fives and six top-tens. This was one of his two full seasons in any of NASCAR's top three series (Cup, Busch, and Truck). He also attempted to make several Winston Cup races in 2002 and 2003 in the No. 83 Aaron's, Inc./Hot Tamales Chevrolet for FitzBradshaw, but failed to qualify for every race he attempted. Midway through the 2003 season, Earnhardt was released by FitzBradshaw, replaced by Tim Fedewa. All six starts were restrictor plate races (Daytona and Talladega). His highest finish was a 17th-place run at Talladega in the 2005 Aaron's 499. Also in 2004, Earnhardt made eight starts in the K&N Pro Series West for Bill McAnally Racing, scoring two top-fives and five top-tens.

In 2005, Earnhardt joined Billy Ballew Motorsports in the Craftsman Truck Series, replacing Shane Hmiel. For the 2006 season, he signed with ThorSport Racing and drove the No. 13 Chevrolet the full season with occasional sponsorship from the National Pork Board. The season was a struggle, and his best finish that year was an 11th place at Nashville and Las Vegas. At the conclusion of the season, he and ThorSport Racing went their separate ways.

In December 2007, Earnhardt announced his retirement as a competitive driver in a letter to fans on his website.

Earnhardt was still an active test driver for DEI and occasionally drove in the Nationwide Series (NNS). His last appearance in a national touring series was the NNS' Subway Jalapeño 250 on July 3, 2009 at Daytona International Speedway driving the No. 31 car for Rick Ware Racing. In 2016, he drove one of his father's original race cars, a No. 3 1995 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in England.

Family life

Earnhardt and wife, René, married in 1999. They have a daughter, Kayla. From their previous marriages, Kerry has two sons, Bobby and Jeffrey, and René has a daughter, Blade. As of 2022, Jeffrey Earnhardt races in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for Sam Hunt Racing and Richard Childress Racing, and has previously raced in the NASCAR Cup Series. Bobby and Jeffrey are the fourth generation of Earnhardts in professional motorsports.

Legal issues

In May 2016, Earnhardt's stepmother, Teresa Earnhardt, sued him for using the Earnhardt name when he and his wife were planning to market a line of homes and furniture under the name The Earnhardt Collection. On July 27, 2017, Teresa Earnhardt won an appeal which required the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board to clarify its decision to allow him to use the name Earnhardt Collection in his business. Kerry ultimately won the case and the right to use the Earnhardt name in his business venture as surnames cannot be trademarked.

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Nextel Cup Series

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:75%"

!colspan=45| NASCAR Nextel Cup Series results

! Year

! Team

! No.

! Make

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! 11

! 12

! 13

! 14

! 15

! 16

! 17

! 18

! 19

! 20

! 21

! 22

! 23

! 24

! 25

! 26

! 27

! 28

! 29

! 30

! 31

! 32

! 33

! 34

! 35

! 36

! Pts

! Ref

! 2000

! nowrap| Marcis Auto Racing

! 71

! Chevy

| DAY

| CAR

| LVS

| ATL

| DAR

| BRI

| TEX

| MAR

| TAL

| CAL

| RCH

| CLT

| DOV

| MCH

| POC

| SON

| DAY

| NHA

| POC

| IND

| GLN

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MCH

| BRI

| DAR

| RCH

| NHA

| DOV

| MAR

| CLT

| TAL

| CAR

| PHO

| HOM

| ATL

| colspan=2|

! 72nd

! 34

! 2002

! rowspan=2 nowrap| FitzBradshaw Racing

! rowspan=2| 83

! rowspan=2| Chevy

| DAY

| CAR

| LVS

| ATL

| DAR

| BRI

| TEX

| MAR

| TAL

| CAL

| RCH

| CLT

| DOV

| POC

| MCH

| SON

| DAY

| CHI

| NHA

| POC

| IND

| GLN

| MCH

| BRI

| DAR

| RCH

| NHA

| DOV

| KAN

| style="background:#FFCFCF;"| TAL

| style="background:#FFCFCF;"| CLT

| MAR

| style="background:#FFCFCF;"| ATL

| CAR

| PHO

| HOM

! NA

! -

! 2003

| DAY

| CAR

| LVS

| ATL

| DAR

| BRI

| style="background:#FFCFCF;"| TEX

| TAL

| MAR

| style="background:#FFCFCF;"| CAL

| RCH

| CLT

| DOV

| POC

| MCH

| SON

| style="background:#FFCFCF;"| DAY

| CHI

| NHA

| POC

| IND

| GLN

| MCH

| BRI

| DAR

| RCH

| NHA

| DOV

| TAL

| KAN

| CLT

| MAR

| ATL

| PHO

| CAR

| HOM

! NA

! -

! 2004

! rowspan=2 nowrap| Richard Childress Racing

! rowspan=2| 33

! rowspan=2| Chevy

| DAY

| CAR

| LVS

| ATL

| DAR

| BRI

| TEX

| MAR

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| TAL

| CAL

| RCH

| CLT

| DOV

| POC

| style="background:#FFCFCF;"| MCH

| SON

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| DAY

| CHI

| NHA

| POC

| IND

| GLN

| style="background:#FFCFCF;"| MCH

| BRI

| CAL

| RCH

| NHA

| DOV

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| TAL

| KAN

| CLT

| MAR

| style="background:#FFCFCF;"| ATL

| PHO

| DAR

| HOM

! 61st

! 228

! 2005

| style="background:#FFCFCF;"| DAY

| CAL

| LVS

| ATL

| BRI

| MAR

| TEX

| PHO

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| TAL

| DAR

| RCH

| CLT

| DOV

| POC

| MCH

| SON

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAY

| CHI

| NHA

| POC

| IND

| GLN

| MCH

| BRI

| CAL

| RCH

| NHA

| DOV

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| TAL

| KAN

| CLT

| MAR

| ATL

| TEX

| PHO

| HOM

! 61st

! 195

Daytona 500

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"

! Year

! Team

! Manufacturer

! Start

! Finish

| 2005

| Richard Childress Racing

| Chevrolet

|colspan=2 align=center style="background:#FFCFCF;"| DNQ

Nationwide Series

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:75%"

!colspan=42| NASCAR Nationwide Series results

! Year

! Team

! No.

! Make

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! 11

! 12

! 13

! 14

! 15

! 16

! 17

! 18

! 19

! 20

! 21

! 22

! 23

! 24

! 25

! 26

! 27

! 28

! 29

! 30

! 31

! 32

! 33

! 34

! 35

! Pts

! Ref

! rowspan=2| 1998

! rowspan=2| Specialty Racing

! 40

! rowspan=2| Chevy

| DAY

| CAR

| LVS

| NSV

| DAR

| BRI

| TEX

| HCY

| TAL

| NHA

| NZH

| CLT

| DOV

| RCH

| PPR

| GLN

| MLW

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| MYB

| CAL

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SBO

| IRP

| MCH

| BRI

| DAR

| RCH

| DOV

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| GTY

| CAR

| ATL

| HOM

| colspan=4|

! rowspan=2| 72nd

! rowspan=2| 225

! rowspan=2|

! 04

| colspan=26|

| style="background:#FFCFCF;"| CLT

| colspan=8|

! rowspan=3| 1999

! Galaxy Motorsports

! 40

! Chevy

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DAY

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CAR

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| LVS

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| ATL

| style="background:#FFCFCF;"| DAR

| TEX

| NSV

| BRI

| TAL

| CAL

| NHA

| RCH

| NZH

| CLT

| DOV

| SBO

| GLN

| MLW

| MYB

| PPR

| GTY

| IRP

| MCH

| colspan=12|

! rowspan=3| 81st

! rowspan=3| 256

! rowspan=3|

! rowspan=2| Whitaker Racing

! 76

! rowspan=2| Chevy

| colspan=23|

| style="background:#FFCFCF;"| BRI

| colspan=11|

! 7

| colspan=24|

| style="background:#FFCFCF;"| DAR

| RCH

| DOV

| CLT

| CAR

| MEM

| PHO

| HOM

| colspan=3|

! 2001

! nowrap| Michael Waltrip Racing

! 99

! Chevy

| DAY

| CAR

| LVS

| ATL

| DAR

| BRI

| TEX

| NSH

| TAL

| CAL

| RCH

| NHA

| NZH

| CLT

| DOV

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| KEN

| MLW

| GLN

| CHI

| GTY

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| PPR

| IRP

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| MCH

| BRI

| DAR

| RCH

| DOV

| KAN

| CLT

| MEM

| PHO

| CAR

| HOM

| colspan=2|

! 73rd

! 279

! 2002

! rowspan=2| FitzBradshaw Racing

! rowspan=2| 12

! rowspan=2| Chevy

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| DAY

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| CAR

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| LVS

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DAR

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| BRI

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| TEX

| style="background:#FFDF9F;"| NSH

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| TAL

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| CAL

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| RCH

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| NHA

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| NZH

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| CLT

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DOV

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| NSH

| style="background:#FFDF9F;"| KEN

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| MLW

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAY

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CHI

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| GTY

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| PPR

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| IRP

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| MCH

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| BRI

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| DAR

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| RCH

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DOV

| style="background:#DFDFDF;"| KAN

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| CLT

| style="background:#DFDFDF;"| MEM

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| ATL

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| CAR

| style="background:#FFDF9F;"| PHO

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| HOM

! 22nd

! 3145

! rowspan=3| 2003

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DAY

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| CAR

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| LVS

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAR

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| BRI

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| TEX

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| TAL

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| NSH

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CAL

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| RCH

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| GTY

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| NZH

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CLT

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DOV

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| NSH

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| KEN

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MLW

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| DAY

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CHI

| NHA

| PPR

| IRP

| MCH

| BRI

| DAR

| RCH

| DOV

| KAN

| CLT

| MEM

| ATL

| colspan=4|

! rowspan=3| 27th

! rowspan=3| 1767

! rowspan=3|

! Innovative Motorsports

! 48

! Chevy

| colspan=31|

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| PHO

| colspan=3|

! BACE Motorsports

! 74

! Chevy

| colspan=32|

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| CAR

| HOM

! 2004

! nowrap| Richard Childress Racing

! 29

! Chevy

| DAY

| CAR

| LVS

| DAR

| BRI

| TEX

| NSH

| TAL

| CAL

| GTY

| RCH

| NZH

| CLT

| DOV

| NSH

| KEN

| MLW

| DAY

| CHI

| NHA

| PPR

| IRP

| MCH

| BRI

| CAL

| RCH

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| DOV

| KAN

| CLT

| MEM

| ATL

| PHO

| DAR

| HOM

! 120th

! 94

! rowspan=3| 2005

! rowspan=2| Michael Waltrip Racing

! 98

! rowspan=2| Chevy

| DAY

| CAL

| MXC

| LVS

| ATL

| NSH

| BRI

| TEX

| PHO

| style="background:#DFDFDF;"| TAL

| DAR

| RCH

| CLT

| DOV

| NSH

| KEN

| MLW

| colspan=18|

! rowspan=3| 94th

! rowspan=3| 189

! rowspan=3|

! 99

| colspan=17|

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAY

| colspan=13|

| style="background:#FFCFCF;"| MEM

| TEX

| PHO

| HOM

! Red Cactus Racing

! 73

! Chevy

| colspan=18|

| style="background:#FFCFCF;"| CHI

| NHA

| PPR

| GTY

| IRP

| style="background:#FFCFCF;"| GLN

| MCH

| BRI

| CAL

| RCH

| DOV

| KAN

| CLT

| colspan=4|

! 2007

! Jeff Spraker Racing

! 63

! Chevy

| DAY

| CAL

| MXC

| LVS

| ATL

| BRI

| NSH

| TEX

| PHO

| TAL

| RCH

| DAR

| CLT

| DOV

| NSH

| KEN

| MLW

| NHA

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| DAY

| CHI

| GTY

| IRP

| CGV

| GLN

| MCH

| BRI

| CAL

| RCH

| DOV

| KAN

| CLT

| MEM

| TEX

| PHO

| HOM

! 134th

! 88

! 2008

! Dale Earnhardt, Inc.

! 8

! Chevy

| DAY

| CAL

| LVS

| ATL

| BRI

| NSH

| TEX

| PHO

| MXC

| TAL

| RCH

| DAR

| CLT

| DOV

| NSH

| KEN

| MLW

| NHA

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DAY

| CHI

| GTY

| IRP

| CGV

| GLN

| MCH

| BRI

| CAL

| RCH

| DOV

| KAN

| CLT

| MEM

| TEX

| PHO

| HOM

! 150th

! 0

! 2009

! Rick Ware Racing

! 31

! Chevy

| DAY

| CAL

| LVS

| BRI

| style="background:#FFCFCF;"| TEX

| NSH

| PHO

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| TAL

| RCH

| DAR

| CLT

| DOV

| NSH

| KEN

| MLW

| NHA

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAY

| CHI

| GTY

| IRP

| IOW

| GLN

| MCH

| BRI

| CGV

| ATL

| RCH

| DOV

| KAN

| CAL

| CLT

| MEM

| TEX

| PHO

| HOM

! 101st

! 176

Craftsman Truck Series

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:75%"

!colspan=45| NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series results

! Year

! Team

! No.

! Make

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! 11

! 12

! 13

! 14

! 15

! 16

! 17

! 18

! 19

! 20

! 21

! 22

! 23

! 24

! 25

! Pts

! Ref

! 2005

! nowrap| Billy Ballew Motorsports

! 15

! Chevy

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAY

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| CAL

| ATL

| MAR

| GTY

| MFD

| CLT

| DOV

| TEX

| MCH

| MLW

| KAN

| KEN

| MEM

| IRP

| NSH

| BRI

| RCH

| NHA

| LVS

| MAR

| ATL

| TEX

| PHO

| HOM

! 67th

! 175

! 2006

! ThorSport Racing

! 13

! Chevy

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DAY

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| CAL

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| ATL

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MAR

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| GTY

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| CLT

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| MFD

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| DOV

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| TEX

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| MCH

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MLW

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| KAN

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| KEN

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| MEM

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| IRP

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| NSH

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| BRI

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| NHA

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| LVS

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| TAL

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MAR

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| ATL

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| TEX

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| PHO

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| HOM

! 22nd

! 2199

Goody's Dash Series

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:75%"

! colspan=32| NASCAR Goody's Dash Series results

! Year

! Team

! No.

! Make

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! 11

! 12

! 13

! 14

! 15

! 16

! Pts

! Ref

! 1993

! nowrap| Dale Earnhardt Inc.

! 3

! Chevy

| style="background:#FFDF9F;"| DAY

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| NSV

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SUM

| style="background:#FFDF9F;"| VOL

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MAR

| style="background:#FFDF9F;"| LON

| 411

| LAN

| style="background:#FFDF9F;"| HCY

| SUM

| FLO

| BGS

| style="background:#FFDF9F;"| MYB

| style="background:#FFDF9F;"| NRV

| style="background:#FFDF9F;"| HCY

| style="background:#FFDF9F;"| VOL

! 11th

! 1520

ARCA Re/Max Series

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:75%"

!colspan=45| ARCA Re/Max Series results

! Year

! Team

! No.

! Make

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! 11

! 12

! 13

! 14

! 15

! 16

! 17

! 18

! 19

! 20

! 21

! 22

! 23

! 24

! 25

! Pts

! Ref

! 2000

! rowspan=2 nowrap| Dale Earnhardt, Inc.

! rowspan=2| 2

! rowspan=2| Chevy

| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAY

| SLM

| AND

| style="background:#DFDFDF;"| CLT

| KIL

| FRS

| style="background:#DFDFDF;"| MCH

| style="background:#FFFFBF;"| POC

| TOL

| KEN

| BLN

| style="background:#DFDFDF;"| POC

| WIN

| ISF

| KEN

| DSF

| SLM

| CLT

| TAL

| style="background:#FFDF9F;"| ATL

| colspan=5|

! 30th

! 1150

! 2001

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DAY

| NSH

| WIN

| SLM

| GTY

| KEN

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| CLT

| KAN

| style="background:#FFFFBF;"| MCH

| POC

| MEM

| GLN

| KEN

| MCH

| POC

| NSH

| ISF

| CHI

| DSF

| SLM

| TOL

| BLN

| style="background:#FFFFBF;"| CLT

| TAL

| style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ATL

! 35th

! 1005

! 2007

! nowrap| Jeff Spraker Racing

! 37

! Chevy

| DAY

| USA

| NSH

| SLM

| KAN

| WIN

| KEN

| TOL

| IOW

| POC

| MCH

| BLN

| KEN

| POC

| NSH

| ISF

| MIL

| GTW

| DSF

| CHI

| SLM

| style="background:#FFCFCF;"| TAL

| TOL

| colspan=2|

! 185th

! 25

Kerry Earnhardt

Early life

Family life

Legal issues

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

Nextel Cup Series

Daytona 500

Nationwide Series

Craftsman Truck Series

Goody's Dash Series

ARCA Re/Max Series

References

External links