It wasn’t until high school that Kerry Earnhardt knew that his father was none other than the NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Sr. Dale Sr. married his first wife Latane (Kerry’s mom) when they were 17 years old and got divorced a few years later when Kerry was just three. But after coming in contact with his grandmother Martha, he soon got in touch with his father and it was a surreal moment for him.

Three years ago, Kerry Earnhardt sat down for a candid conversation with his half-brother Dale Earnhardt Jr. and shared how he felt a mix of anticipation and excitement when he met his father, the seven-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion, Dale Sr. for the first time.

Kerry Earnhardt recalls having to sneak his way to meet Dale Sr.

After being raised by his mother and later by his stepfather Jack Key, Kerry Earnhardt bonded with his grandmother Martha. She was the first member of the Earnhardt family that he met after she came to watch one of his baseball games at Jackson Park in Concord, North Carolina.

As she continued to attend his games, they formed a strong relationship which eventually led to a phone call with Dale Sr. However, he still hadn’t met his father in person, but that would change soon.

On the Dale Jr. Download in 2021, Kerry opened up about the first time meeting his dad. After talking to him on the phone, it took him three years to meet him face to face. This was because of tensions at home with his stepfather Jack disapproving of a relationship with Dale Sr. However, all Kerry needed was to get his driving license. “The day I got my license, we went and got my license. I had a 72 Chevelle and we got back home and I told mom I was going to go just cruise around.” Little did she know Kerry was going straight to his grandmother’s house in the hopes of seeing his father.

His father’s shop was in the back of the house and he inquired whether he was around. “I talked to [her] about going to see dad, he was out there,” said Kerry. Dale Sr. was working in the garage while Kerry was building up the courage to speak to his old man for the first time. When Dale Jr. asked him how long he spoke to their grandmother before going to meet his dad, Kerry replied, “It took me two hours”.

Recounting the moments that lead up to the meet, he said, “But finally I built the courage up and walked out the back door and you know the back door comes down and you’re right there at the garage… But when I opened the door, it got quiet”. Dale Earnhardt Sr. did have a larger-than-life persona and wasn’t called the Intimidator for nothing. It seemed like a daunting prospect for a then-16-year-old Kerry.

“Everybody (was) laughing and clanging tools and stuff when I opened that door, and it got quiet. And I remember Tony Sr. was sitting there… and dad was under the hood. And he just raised up when I opened the door, and dad’s like ‘Hey, son.’ And I said, ‘Hey, dad, how are you doin’?’. So we sat there and talked a little bit and he says ‘Come on, lets go riding,’” Kerry recalled.

While the two were on their ride across the town, bonding moments and getting to know each other, Dale Sr. had a suggestion for Kerry. “So we rode around town a little bit just talking about things. He mentioned about me coming to the house and visiting and getting to meet you [Dale Jr.] and Kelley,” Kerry said. “I’m like, hell, ‘heck yeah,’ we’ll do that. So you know we set the date and I can’t remember the day or anything, but I came there…. It was shortly after that, yeah, it was like that following week”. 

Talking about how he felt riding with his father and talking to him after all these years, Kerry said, “It’s like we hadn’t been apart you know. It was relaxed. There just had to be a connection because you know I wasn’t nervous after that or anything after I walked in that shop.”

During the conversation, Kerry also mentioned that Dale Sr. told him that he regretted leaving him to pursue his goals and that he respected his stepfather’s decision to ask him to stay away. After being years apart the bond between Dale Sr. and Kerry grew over the years. He would often visit his dad’s house and eventually got to meet his siblings at a family reunion.

Kerry Earnhardt ran in seven NASCAR Cup Series races in three years and 72 Xfinity Series in more than 10 years. After his retirement from competitive racing in 2007, he served as a driver development consultant for Dale Earnhardt Inc. till 2011.

That first meeting with Dale Sr. was more than just a father and son reunion; it was Kerry’s gateway into a family he had only known from a distance. The ride with his father and the subsequent introduction to his siblings marked the start of a blooming friendship, particularly with his step-sister Kelley Earnhardt.

Kelley instantly bonded with Kerry Earnhardt 

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During the conversation, Dale Earnhardt Jr. mentioned, “I remember at the family reunion, you came there, and I was positive. I was excited about it” he also mentioned how Kelley instantly connected with Kerry. It was for her meeting an elder brother who is just the shadow of their father.

Dale Jr defined the moment with just one sentence that sparked a thousand emotions in all the listeners, “She latched on to him”. It seemed that more than their names, their taste matched and the sibling duo had spoken for hours on their first meeting itself. Admitting to getting connected with Kelley more, Kerry said, “We bonded right off because she was a little older and closer to my age”. While both Kerry and Kelley met each other for the first time, it seemed as though blood was indeed thicker than water. 

In finding each other, Kelley and Kerry unearthed a connection that felt both natural and profound, as if time had simply paused for them to reunite. Their bond became a testament to the enduring strength of family, even across years of separation.