Teresa Earnhardt has made too many bad choices in her life. A few wrong moves ruined the legacy of Dale Earnhardt Inc., the race team her late husband built from scratch. But it’s probably better to leave the past where it belongs. After all, the impulsive decisions she’s made in the past have probably made her one of the most hated people in Mooresville. And nobody lay those crumbs in place but her.

Most recently, ‘The Wicked Witch of the South’ saved her stepchildren some grace, after she finally gave up the trademark for Dale Jr’s iconic #8. Her younger stepson used that number some days ago for his reunion with Budweiser at the South Carolina 400. If there was ever an olive branch extended from Teresa for Junior, this might be it. But while this gesture mends one bridge, another remains to be crossed—the one separating her from her eldest stepson, Kerry.

Teresa Earnhardt’s forgotten olive branch

For those who weren’t aware, The Intimidator married thrice in his lifetime. In 1968, he had Kerry Earnhardt with his first wife, Latane Brown. Two years later, he divorced Kerry’s mom. The following year, Dale Earnhardt tied the knot with his second wife, Brenda Gee, daughter of NASCAR engine builder, Robert Gee. Earnhardt and Brenda had two children together, Kelley and Dale Jr. (arguably the most popular of the lot). Unfortunately, this marriage wouldn’t last either, and the couple would split after spending nearly four years together.

In 1982, Earnhardt got hitched to Hickory native Teresa Houston, niece of Busch Series driver, Tommy Houston. This union lasted the longest—until Earnhardt’s heartbreaking passing at the 2001 Daytona 500. Initially, they lived together on a 350+ acre farmland near Mooresville, North Carolina, separated from Dale’s other kin. But as time went by, blood found its way back home. Earnhardt had to step in for Dale Jr and Kelley at a young age after a housefire destroyed their mother’s home. But Kerry? Well, he has a different story.

The oldest of Dale Earnhardt’s kids did not know who his biological father was until he was in the 9th grade. At age 13, a phone call bridged the divide. When Kerry finally got his driver’s license at 16, one of the first things he did was drive to meet his father in person. They came face-to-face at Kerry’s grandmother’s place and reconciled. But this is where things get interesting. Kerry’s next move was to check in with his other step-siblings at his dad’s house. So, that’s what he did.

He tells the story better to his younger brother on the Dale Jr Download, “I pull up in the driveway. You’re out in the front yard, playing with a couple of guys, playing football. Kelley wasn’t out there. It was just you and a couple of kids. I walked up and knocked on the door. It wasn’t Dad that answered…” It was Teresa. And upon first interaction, she shockingly shut the door on Kerry’s face. Eventually, The Intimidator would come out front and both father and son would have a pleasant time. But Teresa’s first impression has stuck with Kerry even today.

As he explained, “That was the day [Dale Earnhardt] told me about [Dale Jr and Kelley]. And Of course, he had pictures in the house and everything. So you see all that. And he explained everything. And didn’t want to, I guess, introduce us at that time to kind of stir things up… He wanted you to slowly grow into it. And I don’t know what that meant or anything. I don’t think he was worried about that person answering the door to get along with it. I think he was more worried about you and Kelley. Y’all were going to deal with things…”

In hindsight, all three siblings had to deal with Teresa’s antics in the future on different levels. That whole DEI fallout in the 2000s showed Dale Jr. and Kelley exactly how selfish their stepmom could be on her whims. As for Kerry, Teresa sued him in 2016 after he and his wife opened a line of home and furniture products in Mooresville named the ‘Earnhardt Collection’. The lawsuit aimed to prove that Kerry had violated trademark laws, because, “the naming of any project called ‘Earnhardt Collection’ causes confusion as being associated with Dale Earnhardt,” his very biological father. It is almost astonishing, the limits that Teresa Earnhardt is willing to go to prove her point. Regardless, actions like these have made her one of the most hated personalities to have ever been around stock car racing.

Strangely enough, Kerry and Teresa butted heads even this year. Now, aged 66, the Man in Black’s widow has been trying to turn his 399-acre farmland into an industrial park east of Iredell County. And it’s no surprise that her motion has faced fierce resistance, with the likes of Kerry and his wife, Rene, leading the charge to protect Dale Earnhardt’s legacy.

A fight for family legacy in 399-acre Mooresville property battle

Trending

NASCAR Rumor: 66-YO Surprise Daytona 500 Winner Could Make a Return to NASCAR in 2025

1 Year After Heartbreak, Shane van Gisbergen Dominates Rivals in Dirt Track Return

Amid Sleepless Nights, Tony Stewart’s Wife Leah Reveals Their 1-Month-Old Son’s 4 ‘Responsibilities’

Shane Van Gisbergen Discloses a Major Problem in NASCAR After Leaving Supercars

Historic NASCAR Track Shutting Its Door After Final Run Has Racing Community Heartbroken

Because of The Intimidator’s sudden demise, he wasn’t able to hand down a will to his children. However, he had arrangements made in 1992 for Teresa to inherit everything if he ever passed away by accident. The heartbreaking reality of February 18th, 2001 still sticks with us over two decades later, but the eerie foreshadowing sure leaves a tingle in the most hard-nosed NASCAR fans’ spines. After Teresa received Dale’s inheritance, she tried to keep it all for herself, but it’s almost impossible to be content keeping so much all for oneself.

Earlier in October, news broke that Dale Earnhardt’s widow had filed a rezoning application for nearly 399 acres of farmland property, that once served as one of Sr’s many hunting grounds, to turn it into the Mooresville Technology Park. The Charlotte Observer had reported back then, “Mooresville Technology Park would sprout between Patterson Farm Road and Rustic Road near Cabarrus County. The park would be just off N.C. 3, also known as Dale Earnhardt Highway. The acreage is 2 1/2 miles from Dale Earnhardt Inc., Earnhardt’s longtime racing headquarters on N.C. 3 in Mooresville…”

This had irked many longtime fans of Dale Earnhardt, not to mention Mooresville locals, who were against Teresa’s selfish plans. What followed were meetings and plenty of political innuendo. A group of over 200, including Kerry Earnhardt and his wife, Rene, sat with the Mooresville Planning Board to “recommend denial of Teresa’s request,” informed Whiskey Riff. The Mooresville Planning Board is an advisor to the Mooresville Board of Commissioners, who has the final say on whether a project can happen in the area. When the dust settled, a clear majority voted against Teresa’s vision, and Kerry and Rene were major spokespeople for the entire process. Indeed, life does come full circle sometimes.

As of now, the ‘Commissioners’ haven’t made a decision yet. But here’s to hoping Dale Earnhardt’s legacy remains untarnished and safe for a long time.