When Leah Pruett decided to step back from NHRA drag racing a little while ago, fans didn’t expect a NASCAR crossover, with Tony Stewart taking the helm full-time. It was an incredible moment for the sport. However, little do fans know, this NASCAR-NHRA crossover could have happened years ago, had the Earnhardt family gone through with it.

Kelley Earnhardt Miller recently revealed her chance at getting into the NHRA. However, she rejected the opportunity because of her pregnancy.

Welcoming a new member helped Kelley steer away from drag racing

When approached for drag racing, Earnhardt-Miller revealed turning down the opportunity. Speaking of the same, Kelley said, “Funny story about that. When I worked for Action and Fred Waginaw, I was 27 and had raced some stock cars and whatnot. But my problem racing stock cars is that I always wanted to get into the corners too hard and too fast. I go out to Phoenix and Fred’s like, We want you to get into John Force’s car. Try you out in a few drag races. I was like, Oh, God, this is crazy. I felt very claustrophobic in that car. They’re like, This is you. You can do this. But funny little fact, I was expecting my first child.”

It wasn’t just the Earnhardt boys who were known for their supremacy as drivers on the track. It was from Dale Earnhardt that Kelley learned to drive. She began racing stock cars at local tracks, displaying remarkable talent and traits like aggression, mental toughness, and a fearless approach to pushing her car to its limits. Not just her father, but even her cousins like Tony Eury Jr. thought that she was the next iconic Earnhardt on the tracks. Kelley frequently competed at Hickory Motor Speedway and Myrtle Beach Speedway, with her brother Dale Earnhardt Jr. assisting in building and maintaining her race cars. This was also precisely the time that she was approached for drag racing, just like the other drivers who showed potential. However, she didn’t want to pursue this path ever. 

Kelley Earnhardt Miller’s biggest problem with NHRA, claustrophobia, is a well-known problem people face when getting into one of the 11,000 horsepower cars. Even famous stuntmen like Travis Pastrana expressed this fear while getting into the car. He said, “I’m thinking, ‘I’m getting old, and I’m panicking.’ I haven’t even started this thing yet – let alone gone down the strip yet. I’m claustrophobic and completely lost my mind.” At the same time, there was a different reason too!

Kelley Earnhardt’s decision to stay away from drag racing was influenced not only by her personal preference but also by the timing of her pregnancy with her first child. While she called it an excuse, the life-changing moment may have ultimately solidified her choice to focus on other aspects of her career and family life. After all, drag racing is an intense sport and takes a massive toll on the body. The struggles of keeping up with it are well known, as emphasized by Leah Pruett’s decision to step away. 

In a way, things worked out for Earnhardt-Miller, since she took up one of the most important roles in the newly born JR Motorsports after father Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s passing. She took on the role of managing her brother Dale Earnhardt Jr. and started her journey as one of the most powerful business executives in NASCAR.

It wasn’t just Kelley avoiding NHRA

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Kelley was also asked by Antron Brown about why her brother Dale Earnhardt Jr would also consider racing the same genre, she said, “I don’t know about that. He doesn’t race the Super Speedways for a reason. I don’t know if he’s going to think about going straight or not”. Since 2018, Dale Jr. has participated in at least one Xfinity race each season, including eight starts through 2024. During these races, he secured four top-5 finishes.

The last time the NASCAR tracks saw Dale Earnhardt Jr was during the NASCAR Xfinity Series race tracks, Bristol Speedway. This is where he had secured a 7th position and had declared formally that he would not be getting back to the NASCAR tracks, at least anytime soon. After Dale Earnhardt Jr declared his official retirement in the year 2018, he was seen at least once in each of the Xfinity races.
He had officially declared his plans and said, “I don’t have any plans. I like it that way. If I want to run one, I will. If I don’t, I won’t. Right now, there is nothing on the schedule for next year”.

The NASCAR Hall of Famer, who turns 51 this year, made it quite clear that the year 2024 was his final start from the Xfinity Series. However, he had also mentioned that in case he misses the track anytime soon, he would make an appearance for the 2026 season. </span