Sports
Wicked World: Dale Earnhardt Jr’s Step Mother Plotting Mind Games Against the Earnhardt Over Disputes
Wicked World: Dale Earnhardt Jr’s Step Mother Plotting Mind Games Against the Earnhardt Over Disputes
At one point, Dale Earnhardt Inc. (DEI) was a powerhouse in NASCAR, especially dominant at restrictor plate tracks like Daytona and Talladega. However, after the passing of Dale Earnhardt Sr, the ownership, shocking many, went to his widow, Teresa Earnhardt, instead of his children, Dale Earnhardt Jr and Kelly Earnhardt.
When Dale Jr decided to leave DEI due to disagreements, primarily due to ownership issues, with his stepmother, Teresa reportedly said, “If Dale Jr doesn’t want to stick around here we’ll make another Dale Jr.” She didn’t pass anything on to Dale Jr, and it seems like even now, she might still be causing trouble for her stepchildren. But what exactly is the new thing she has come up with this time?
Teresa Earnhardt hasn’t stopped giving Dale Earnhardt Jr and his family a hard time
The very public tug-of-war over DEI between Teresa Earnhardt and Dale Jr not only led to the downfall of Earnhardt Sr’s cherished racing team, but also sparked a huge fuss. This was especially evident when a Budweiser ad meant to honor Dale Jr conspicuously left out the #8, leading fans to suspect Teresa was blocking its use—since DEI held the trademark rights to both the #8 and #1.
Fast forward to now, and the #8 car, famously driven by Dale Earnhardt, is caught in trademark limbo yet again. If you look up the trademark status for #8, you’ll find that the last day to file for renewal with an additional fee is June 3, 2024. Yet, there’s no move to renew it. Given the typical timing for these processes, this should’ve been handled months ago, like it was with the #1. But as it stands, no steps have been taken to renew it as the final deadline approaches.
It might just be that Teresa Earnhardt is playing games with everyone because if there’s anyone who knows how to hold a grudge as well as Dale Jr, it’s probably her. After all the drama with Dale Jr, Ty Norris, and everything else at DEI, she might just wait until the last minute on June 2 or 3 to renew that trademark—just to show everyone who has the upper hand and say something like, “You thought it was yours? Think again!”
On the flip side, there’s a chance she might just let it lapse. Maybe she’ll let it go, and someone like Dale Jr or RCR will swoop in and snatch up the trademark. But given the bad blood since Dale Jr left the team in 2007, and the fact that they haven’t really talked since—something Dale Jr mentioned on his podcast—it’s likely she wouldn’t let it just slide without a fight. She’s probably not going to make it easy for him to take over that number.
These discussions are critical, especially since Dale Earnhardt Jr opened up back in 2007 about the significance of the number. He said, “We just wanted the number, but I was willing to give the number back when I was done driving. I wouldn’t have any use for it personally. I feel like it’s an Earnhardt tradition because my grandfather and my dad used it a little bit, too. I’m using it right now, and I figured that we would be able to keep using it. But unfortunately, we’re not going to be able to.“ It seems the ongoing feud might be the reason she’s unwilling to let it go.
However, this isn’t the first time Teresa Earnhardt has been in the spotlight this month. Previously, Dale Jr mentioned on his podcast that she even denied him access to something that belonged to his father, sparking quite a bit of buzz then, too.
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A former Ferrari engineer has criticised the decision to bring in Lewis Hamilton and thinks the Brit’s presence will mean “a lot of potential for drama”.
At the age of 40, seven-time Formula 1 champion Hamilton will form a formidable driver partnership with Charles Leclerc. His big switch comes at the expense of Carlos Sainz, who has performed well for the Italian squad but who was axed so they had room for their blockbuster new signing.
But not everyone of a Ferrari persuasion is convinced that it will go well. Ernest Knoors, who spent many years as an engineer at Maranello, specialising in power units, worries that Hamilton’s presence could do more harm than good for a team that is finding its groove under Frederic Vasseur.
“A big name like Hamilton also brings a lot of politics and if politics within Ferrari are not managed well, then there is a lot of potential for drama,” he told Formule1.nl. “Hamilton has the tendency that if things do not work out, he turns his whole car upside down and starts experimenting.
“Ferrari believes very much in the big personalities and will follow him. But Hamilton is just someone you have to guide a little bit and not give the freedom to rebuild the whole car, because then it will go completely wrong. So I do not know if it is such a smart move, but of course it is nice for the sport.”
News of Hamilton’s planned move broke on February 1, coinciding with football’s Transfer Deadline Day. That the back pages of many newspapers were dominated by the decision of Hamilton to swap Mercedes for Ferrari was testament to the magnitude of the announcement.
Sainz was not surprised as he had been informed by his team of the plan ahead of it being made public. But the Spaniard responded well with two victories to date this season and five further appearances on the podium, on the way to what looks likely to be a fifth-placed finish in the championship – two spots and 54 points ahead of Hamilton.
Sainz has signed for Williams next year and, after several years of running at the front of the grid, will focus on his new challenge of helping restore one of the grid’s most historic teams to its former glory. But Knoors believes he should have been kept on by Ferrari instead.
The Dutchman added: “I see Lewis Hamilton’s arrival at Ferrari more as a PR move. With all due respect, Hamilton is not going to take that Ferrari from P6 to P1. He will get the most out of it, but what Ferrari has to do is make that car faster. And if you make that car faster, you can easily drive at the front with the current line-up.
“Besides, as a team you have to look further on the horizon. If Hamilton becomes champion in the coming years, he and Ferrari will become immortal. But if you want to build a team with talent for the next five years, are you going to build on Hamilton? No, because he will really be finished after two or three years. That is why I would have kept the very strong line-up that Ferrari has now.”
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Chase Elliott had a front-row seat for one of NASCAR’s most bizarre moments of the 2024 Cup Series season. At the start of Stage 2, the pace car dove onto pit road in front of Elliott; however, it was a tad too late. The pace car made contact with the sand barrels at the entry of pit road and caused a red flag for cleanup.
Initially, there was some speculation on the NBC Sports broadcast, even from the No. 9 team, that Elliott made contact with the pace car. Fortunately, the pace car didn’t slide across the No. 9 car’s nose, but it undoubtedly provided one of NASCAR’s craziest red flag moments in recent memory.
Below, you can listen to Elliott and the No. 9 team react to the pace car crashing into the sand barrels on pit road at Phoenix during Championship Weekend!
Reflecting on the recent retirement of 2017 NASCAR Cup Series champion Martin Truex Jr., Earnhardt didn’t mince words about the toll NASCAR takes on its drivers. Speaking candidly, the two-time Daytona 500 winner admitted that the pressure to perform every week left him feeling miserable for most of his racing career—a sentiment he believes is shared by many of his peers.
“Right or wrong, racing made me a miserable person 90% of the time,” Earnhardt confessed. “And him too. I mean, ask Kyle Busch, ask anybody—unless you’re winning, you’re not happy.”
For these elite drivers, the sport is a relentless grind. A podium finish might bring temporary relief, but anything short of victory is often a source of frustration. The immense effort poured into preparation and execution rarely feels like it pays off unless the checkered flag is theirs.
Earnhardt highlighted the mental toll of falling short, explaining how the relentless focus on winning can overshadow the joy of simply competing. Even a solid performance feels hollow compared to the euphoria of a win.
“Unless you’re winning, you’re not happy at all,” he said. “You’re okay with a good run, but for the most part, all the effort it takes just to run good—it doesn’t weigh out.”
For drivers, the stakes are sky-high every week. Sponsors, fans, and teams demand nothing less than excellence, leaving little room for error or personal satisfaction in anything less than a dominant performance.
Earnhardt also shared insights into his friendship with Martin Truex Jr., who recently announced his retirement. While the two often spend time hunting together during NASCAR’s off-season, Earnhardt noted that the stress of racing even creeps into their leisure activities.
“When I’m with him during hunting season, it’s always in the back of his mind,” Earnhardt said. “It’s that stressful part of the year when he’s as miserable as he’s going to be.”
Now, with Truex stepping away from the track, Earnhardt looks forward to seeing a lighter, happier version of his long-time friend. Without the weight of weekly competition hanging over him, Truex might finally be able to relax and enjoy the outdoor lifestyle he cherishes.
“It’ll be fun to see him loosen up,” Earnhardt added.
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