Though widely recognized for carrying forward the Earnhardt racing legacy, Dale Earnhardt Jr. wasn’t the only one to inherit the family’s competitive edge. His elder sister, Kelley Earnhardt Miller, also made her name in motorsports during the mid-1990s.
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Competing in late-model stock cars at regional venues such as Hickory Motor Speedway and Myrtle Beach Speedway, Kelley quickly earned respect as a challenging presence for her peers on the track. While she never pursued a long-term career at NASCAR’s highest levels, many viewed her as a rising star.
Even her father, Dale Earnhardt, believed she had the makings of the next great Earnhardt behind the wheel, given her fearless approach and readiness to test the car’s limits. Her driving career, however, came to a close in 1996, shortly after she graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Although her departure from racing has often been attributed to a full-time role with Action Performance, Kelley recently offered a more personal account of the decision. Speaking alongside her brother in an interview with Entertainment Tonight, she recalled, “I went to college. That was very important for my dad, that I go to college. He quit school early and so I did that and started racing.”
She shared how her father struck a deal with her during her time away at college in Wilmington, explaining, “Really, it was kind of an agreement we made because I was off in college in Wilmington and I would never come home. And so he’s like, ‘What will it take to get you home?’ And I was like, ‘Well, I want to live on my own and I want to drive a race car.’ And so he’s like, ‘Okay, done.'”
Reflecting on the era, Kelley added, “In that day and time in the 90s, you know, it was a lot — it’s not even today as easy for a girl to be a racer — but it was definitely not something that was encouraged and everything back then.”
Current roles and responsibilities of Kelley Earnhardt Miller
Having completed her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Kelley Earnhardt Miller has long served as the business backbone of JR Motorsports. She stepped into the role of general manager in 2001 and now operates as the team’s co-owner and chief executive officer. In that capacity, she oversees not only the day-to-day operations of its racing efforts but also the broader business portfolio the organization commands.
Over the years, Kelley’s role has steadily expanded beyond the conventional scope of motorsports management. In a conversation with Shannon Spake on NASCAR Daily, she outlined her responsibilities, which include managing sponsor relations and coordinating Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s diverse business ventures.
Although she does not participate directly as a team owner in Dale Jr.’s CARS Tour Series, Kelley maintains an active presence in the Late Model division through her ownership stake in JR Motorsports.
She emphasized the effectiveness of the organization’s internal structure, noting that a highly capable staff handles everything from marketing and operations to sponsorships, allowing her to focus on strategic oversight without getting bogged down in the details.
Kelley and Dale Jr. now run the team in tandem. While their sibling bond has adapted under the weight of shared business responsibilities, it occasionally gives rise to disagreements over key decisions, as is often the case in high-stakes ventures managed within a family dynamic.
