Kelley Earnhardt Leads the Charge for JR Motorsports as They Recognize the Contributions of Women in Their Workplace

In the shadow of the towering legacy left by Dale Earnhardt, the quiet determination of his daughter has transformed a family racing enterprise into one of NASCAR’s most respected organizations. When Kelley Earnhardt Miller walks through the JR Motorsports shop in Mooresville, North Carolina, she carries not just the weight of the Earnhardt name but also the responsibility of leadership in a sport where female executives remain a rarity. “I look around and there’s about three women in there,” Kelley once noted about NASCAR ownership meetings in 2016. “Then you kind of look and go, ‘This is pretty cool. This is pretty cool to be a woman in the sport.'”

Since joining as general manager in 2001, Kelley has steadily built JR Motorsports alongside her brother Dale Earnhardt Jr. into an operation that extends far beyond the racetrack. Now, as CEO, she oversees a company that has claimed four NASCAR Xfinity Series championships while creating a workplace culture that reflects values rarely associated with the adrenaline-fueled world of motorsports.

Growing up as “The Intimidator’s” daughter wasn’t always easy. “People definitely treat you different — good and bad — with the last name,” Earnhardt Miller once shared. “We were either loved or hated, pretty much. And the hated part was kind of hard.” Those early experiences forged a resilience in Kelley that prepared her for leadership in racing’s competitive landscape. After a promising racing career of her own, where, according to her cousin Tony Eury Jr., she “probably had as much or more talent than any of them,” Kelley transitioned to business, climbing through the ranks at Action Performance before taking the helm at JR Motorsports.

Recently, Kelley demonstrated her approach to team building by organizing an evening out with the female staff members of JR Motorsports at the 79-year-old Brawley Seed Co. & Garden Center in Mooresville. “Fun night with the ladies of JR Motorsports! Our succulent gardens turned out amazing,” she shared on Instagram stories, highlighting a side of NASCAR team management rarely seen in the spotlight – the deliberate cultivation of camaraderie among women in the organization.

This recognition of women’s contributions at JR Motorsports has coincided with remarkable success on the track. The organization recently made its NASCAR Cup Series debut at Daytona 500, where Justin Allgaier drove the No. 40 Chevrolet to an impressive 9th-place finish as an “open” team. Meanwhile, the Xfinity Series program continues to thrive with four full-time entries. As Dale Jr. observed about his sister’s management style: “She has complete control of everything going on there, and everyone gladly and happily answers to her because they have so much respect for her.”

While other NASCAR teams might focus exclusively on performance metrics, Kelley’s leadership embraces a more holistic approach that recognizes the value of all team members. “I’m not really a bully — I wouldn’t consider myself that at all — I just want things to be fair and I fight for things to be fair,” Kelley has explained, a philosophy that extends from the boardroom to events like the garden center outing, where team building happens away from the pressures of race day.

The fourth generation of the Earnhardt legacy

For the Earnhardt family, Daytona International Speedway has always held special significance. “This place is special. Dale [Jr.] alluded to the memories as a kid, and that’s what Isla is doing now, creating those memories as a kid,” Kelley shared during a press conference at the iconic track. “Coming here, we came here on vacation, so to speak, was the vacation that our family took. Just seeing the wins with Dad and how hard he worked to conquer this track and, after so many years and being here for Dale’s wins.”

That racing heritage now extends to a fourth generation as Kelley’s 13-year-old son Wyatt Miller recently captured his first Late Model victory at Hickory Motor Speedway. Starting from the pole position, the young driver dominated the event at the historic 0.363-mile North Carolina oval in just his second Late Model race. For Kelley, watching her son follow in the family tradition brings her full circle from her days behind the wheel, when she raced in the Late Model Stock Series. In fact, all the Earnhardts have cut their teeth on the track. Ralph Earnhardt, Dale Jr.’s grandfather, has five track championships and was so dominant that they had to ban him from racing there! Dale Jr. and Dale Sr. both competed there often, and thus, the track earned the nickname “Birthplace of the NASCAR Stars.”

Looking toward 2025, JR Motorsports has assembled an impressive lineup featuring defending champion Justin Allgaier alongside rising stars Sammy Smith, Connor Zilisch, and Carson Kvapil. The return of the iconic No. 8 car – reclaimed after Teresa Earnhardt chose not to renew the trademark – represents another connection to the family’s racing history. Throughout these developments, Kelley’s leadership style continues to emphasize inclusion and recognition of all team members’ contributions, proving that acknowledging women’s roles in motorsports isn’t just about fairness – it’s about building a stronger, more successful racing organization.