Success in NASCAR doesn’t come without the presence of a healthy partnership. Dale Earnhardt Jr knows it better than most in this regard. While his father Dale Earnhardt Sr played an important role in his career, it was his sister, Kelley Earnhardt Miller, who deserves to be credited equally for managing his finance effectively. However, Junior made a massive mistake in the past when it came to her.
Without a doubt, the love for motorsports runs strong in the Earnhardt family. Luckily for Dale Jr, her sister was well-versed in the dynamics of the sport and has proven to be a useful asset for him. In fact, it comes as no surprise why he rates her so highly.
Dale Earnhardt Jr admits a terrible mistake he made with her sister Kelley Earnhardt Miller during his racing days
It is always a disaster for any child to lose his/her parent. Having lost his father Dale Sr in 2001, Dale Earnhardt Jr was left to figure a lot by himself at a young age. Fortunately, his sister Kelley Earnhardt Miller’s immense support came in handy. It is with her help that he now has a net worth of around $400 million.
Recently speaking with Graham Bensinger on his YouTube show, Dale Jr opened up about his past like never before. The former Hendrick Motorsports driver then explained how he was clueless in his early racing days. While he made good money then, he had no idea about what to do with them. It was then that Kelley stepped in and asked to assist him with his finances. However, she had to give up a wonderful opportunity to help Junior.
Speaking about it, the 48-year-old said, “I mean one year I was making $350 a week and I went to making five million dollars in a year out. My sister had at this point worked her way up the chain of command in the merchandise business of NASCAR which was flourishing and she’s worked to get this real genuine opportunity and she’s going to turn that up, just give it away.”
In fact, to help Junior, her sister took a 50% pay cut. Despite this incredible gesture, Dale Jr missed out on returning the favor. He admitted, “What is so terrible to admit is, that for years I never once did an evaluation or gave her a raise because I had no idea, isn’t that terrible?”
It takes the effort of two people. Not just one. Otherwise you’re wondering is accurate as it will never be mended. It’s also ok to realize that’s maybe it’s just not meant to be fixed. Sometimes it’s better to leave it be. https://t.co/327znTOUIj
— Kelley Earnhardt (@EarnhardtKelley) March 9, 2018
Nevertheless, the 2x Daytona 500 winner made up for it later on after realizing his mistake. What’s amazing about Kelley is she never brought it up voluntarily. Eventually, when she had to, it became an awkward scenario. Describing it, Junior said, “She finally did and that and it came up begrudgingly. It’s like she wasn’t really excited to have that conversation but I felt like a fool because she’s my MVP.”
Clearly, there’s a strong bond between the Earnhardt brother-sister. Truth be told, Kelley was protective of Dale Jr from a very young age.
Dale Earnhardt Jr reveals his sister’s love for him as he tells a touching story from their school days
Kelley Earnhardt Miller has always been very protective of Dale Earnhardt Jr. Regardless of their parent’s presence, she has been there for her brother through thick and thin. In fact, Junior narrated a short story from the past on Bensinger’s show which shows Kelley’s incredible love for him.
The siblings started living with their father after their mother’s house burned down and she did not have the resources to raise them. Junior was 6 years old then. Talking about those days, Junior said, “Dad wasn’t taking care of me. I mean he was racing and gone, and Teresa [his stepmother] was with him. But Kelley was there, Kelley was the one that was there with me every day.”
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Over the years, things kept getting worse for him at school, so his father and stepmother sent him to military school. He continued, “I was there [military school] a month and Kelley came on her own accord. Like who goes to military [school]? Military school is like punishment, right? She’s halfway through high school. She leaves her friends and everybody to go to military school in the 10th grade. What kind of 10th grader says, you know what, I miss my brother. I’m going to go to military school where he’s at?”
At the military school, Kelley used to protect her younger brother from bullies as Junior was a “scrawny little bud.”
This certainly speaks volumes of how caring Kelley has been of him since they were kids. Junior is certainly blessed to have a sister like her.
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