Jump to content

Kerry Earnhardt

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by NASCARfan0548 (talk | contribs) at 21:43, 3 May 2020 (Cleanup). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Kerry Dale Earnhardt
Born (1969-12-08) December 8, 1969 (age 54)
Kannapolis, North Carolina
NASCAR Cup Series career
7 races run over 3 years
Best finish61st (2004, 2005)
First race2000 Pepsi 400 presented by Meijer (Michigan)
Last race2005 UAW-Ford 500 (Talladega)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
72 races run over 10 years
Best finish22nd (2002)
First race1998 Myrtle Beach 250 (Myrtle Beach)
Last race2009 Subway Jalapeno 250 (Daytona)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 6 0
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career
27 races run over 2 years
Best finish22nd (2006)
First race2005 Florida Dodge Dealers 250 (Daytona)
Last race2006 Ford 200 (Homestead)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 1
Statistics current as of June 7, 2012.

Kerry Dale Earnhardt (born December 8, 1969)[1] is a former NASCAR driver and the elder son of seven-time Winston Cup Series champion Dale Earnhardt. He is the half-brother of former Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. He was employed by Dale Earnhardt, Inc. as a consultant, specializing in driver development, until 2011. His younger son, Jeffrey Earnhardt, began racing for DEI in 2007, and currently competes in the NASCAR Cup Series. Kerry is known for his physical similarity to his father.[2][3]

Early life

Kerry's mother, Latane Brown, was Dale Earnhardt's first wife.[2][3] Dale Earnhardt was 18-years old and a local North Carolina dirt racer at the time of Kerry's birth.[3][4][5] The couple divorced when Kerry was only one year of age.[2] Brown eventually married Jack Key, who adopted Kerry; Kerry used his stepfather's last name for much of his life. Until he was 16, Kerry saw little of his biological father.[2][4]

Prior to his racing career, Earnhardt dropped out of high school and worked several odd jobs to support his family. This included working at a Pizza Hut, and working in the Cannon Mills in Kannapolis, North Carolina, where his grandfather Ralph Earnhardt also worked.[2][4]

Racing career

Earnhardt had driven race cars in the early 1990s, he entered the racing world as a competitor in 1992 racing street stocks. That same season Earnhardt raced in the NASCAR Goody's Dash Series Earnhardt raced various tracks in 1993 including the East Carolina Motor Speedway near Robersonville, North Carolina and Langley Speedway in Hampton, Virginia. He scored two top 5s and 8 top 10s in 11 races, and was the 1992 Rookie of the Year.

He won a pole and recorded 8 top 5s and 40 top 10s as well as 1994 Rookie of the Year Honors at his local track, Hickory Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Racing Series. Earnhardt's first NASCAR start came in the Busch Series at Myrtle Beach in 1998. After select Busch races in 1998 and 1999. Earnhardt raced in the Automobile Racing Club of America's ARCA Racing Series in 2000 and 2001 for Dale Earnhardt, Inc. (DEI), using DEI Winston Cup Series equipment formerly used by Steve Park.[4] During this stint he won 4 of his 11 starts, with 7 top 5s and 8 top 10s.[3]

In 2000 Earnhardt made his Winston Cup debut at Michigan driving for Marcis Auto Racing, racing against his father Dale Earnhardt, and half-brother Dale Earnhardt, Jr.[4][6] He wrecked out of the race on lap 5. It was the first of his seven Cup series starts. In 2001, the same year his father was killed at Daytona, Earnhardt was involved in a massive crash on October 4 in an ARCA race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. At Lap 63 of 67, Earnhardt had to dodge a lapped car by hitting his brakes, which caused Blaise Alexander's No. 75 to catch up to Earnhardt's No. 2. Alexander began to inch into the lead when Earnhardt's car made contact with Alexander's, sending Alexander's car head-on into the wall and back into Earnhardt's car causing Earnhardt to flip over onto his roof and slide into the grass. Earnhardt managed to climb out by himself. However a red flag flew for Alexander and seconds later the race director called it official which gave Earnhardt the victory. Alexander was pronounced dead in the in-field care center at 10:20 p.m.[3]

In late November 2001, it was announced that Earnhardt would run the full 2002 Busch Series for FitzBradshaw Racing, owned by Armando Fitz and Terry Bradshaw. The entry was sponsored by Supercuts and 10-10-220, with a technical alliance with DEI. The car was initially numbered 8 but later numbered 12.[7][8][9][10] Earnhardt finished 22nd in points, scoring three top 5s and six top 10s. This was one of Earnhardt's only two full season in any of NASCAR's top three series (Cup, Busch, and Truck). Earnhardt also attempted to make several Winston Cup races in 2002 and 2003 in the No. 83 Aaron's, Inc./Hot Tamales Chevrolet for FitzBradshaw, but failed to qualify for every race he attempted.[11][12][13][14][15] Midway through the 2003 season, Earnhardt was released by FitzBradshaw, replaced by Tim Fedewa.[2][3][11]

In 2004 and 2005, he raced in six Nextel Cup races, for Richard Childress Racing in the No. 33 car.[16][17] All six starts were restrictor plate races (Daytona and Talladega). His highest finish was a 17th-place run at Talladega in the 2005 Aaron's 499. Also in 2004, Earnhardt made eight starts in the K&N Pro Series West for Bill McAnally Racing, scoring two Top-5s, and five Top-10s.[18]

For 2005, Earnhardt joined Billy Ballew Motorsports in the Craftsman Truck Series, replacing Shane Hmiel.[18] Earnhardt won the pole for the season opening Florida Dodge Dealers 250, but he lost his ride after two races due to lack of sponsorship, with Hmiel returning to the ride.[19] For the 2006 season, Earnhardt signed with ThorSport Racing and drove the No. 13 Chevrolet the full season with occasional sponsorship from the National Pork Board. His best finish of the season was an 11th at Nashville and Las Vegas. At the conclusion of the season, Kerry and ThorSport Racing went their separate ways.[20]

In December 2007, he announced, in a year-end letter to his fans on his website, kerryearnhardtonline.com, that he had retired as a competitive driver. He is still an active test driver for DEI, and occasionally drove in the Nationwide Series (NNS). His last appearance in a national touring series was the NNS' Subway Jalapeño 250 on July 3, 2009 at Daytona International Speedway driving the No. 31 car for Rick Ware Racing. In 2016, Kerry drove one of his father's original race cars, a No. 3 1995 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in England.[21]

Family life

He and wife René married in 1999. They have a daughter, Kayla. From their previous marriages, Kerry has two sons, Bobby and Jeffrey, and René has a daughter, Blade.[2][3][4][5] In 2017, Bobby Earnhardt raced part-time in the ARCA Racing Series, driving the number 3 Chevrolet for Hixson Motorsports and the number 96 Ford for Brian Kaltreider Racing. Bobby made his NASCAR debut in the Xfinity Series, driving the No. 40 Chevy Camaro for MBM Motorsports at Richmond in 2017.[22] As of 2019, Jeffrey Earnhardt races part-time in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR Xfinity Series driving in the 81 for XCI Racing and the 18 for Joe Gibbs Racing.[23][24] Bobby and Jeffrey are the fourth generation of Earnhardts in professional motorsports.[25]

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Nextel Cup Series

NASCAR Nextel Cup Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 NNCC Pts Ref
2000 Marcis Auto Racing 71 Chevy DAY CAR LVS ATL DAR BRI TEX MAR TAL CAL RCH CLT DOV MCH POC SON DAY NHA POC IND GLN MCH
43 		BRI DAR RCH NHA DOV MAR CLT TAL CAR PHO HOM ATL 72nd 34 [26]
2002 FitzBradshaw Racing 83 Chevy DAY CAR LVS ATL DAR BRI TEX MAR TAL CAL RCH CLT DOV POC MCH SON DAY CHI NHA POC IND GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH NHA DOV KAN TAL
DNQ 		CLT
DNQ 		MAR ATL
DNQ 		CAR PHO HOM NA - [27]
2003 DAY CAR LVS ATL DAR BRI TEX
DNQ 		TAL MAR CAL
DNQ 		RCH CLT DOV POC MCH SON DAY
DNQ 		CHI NHA POC IND GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH NHA DOV TAL KAN CLT MAR ATL PHO CAR HOM NA - [28]
2004 Richard Childress Racing 33 Chevy DAY CAR LVS ATL DAR BRI TEX MAR TAL
35 		CAL RCH CLT DOV POC MCH
DNQ 		SON DAY
28 		CHI NHA POC IND GLN MCH
DNQ 		BRI CAL RCH NHA DOV TAL
24 		KAN CLT MAR ATL
DNQ 		PHO DAR HOM 61st 228 [29]
2005 DAY
DNQ 		CAL LVS ATL BRI MAR TEX PHO TAL
17 		DAR RCH CLT DOV POC MCH SON DAY
42 		CHI NHA POC IND GLN MCH BRI CAL RCH NHA DOV TAL
39 		KAN CLT MAR ATL TEX PHO HOM 61st 195 [30]
Daytona 500
Year Team Manufacturer Start Finish
2005 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet DNQ

Nationwide Series

NASCAR Nationwide Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 NNSC Pts Ref
1998 Specialty Racing 40 Chevy DAY CAR LVS NSV DAR BRI TEX HCY TAL NHA NZH CLT DOV RCH PPR GLN MLW MYB
23 		CAL SBO
26 		IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV GTY
39 		CAR ATL HOM 72nd 225 [31]
04 CLT
DNQ
1999 Galaxy Motorsports 40 Chevy DAY
20 		CAR
43 		LVS
36 		ATL
33 		DAR
DNQ 		TEX NSV BRI TAL CAL NHA RCH NZH CLT DOV SBO GLN MLW MYB PPR GTY IRP MCH 81st 256 [32]
Whitaker Racing 76 Chevy BRI
DNQ
7 DAR
DNQ 		RCH DOV CLT CAR MEM PHO HOM
2001 Michael Waltrip Racing 99 Chevy DAY CAR LVS ATL DAR BRI TEX NSH TAL CAL RCH NHA NZH CLT DOV KEN
20 		MLW GLN CHI GTY PPR
24 		IRP MCH
26 		BRI DAR RCH DOV KAN CLT MEM PHO CAR HOM 73rd 279 [33]
2002 FitzBradshaw Racing 12 Chevy DAY
41 		CAR
28 		LVS
19 		DAR
18 		BRI
28 		TEX
23 		NSH
8 		TAL
18 		CAL
21 		RCH
33 		NHA
18 		NZH
20 		CLT
28 		DOV
16 		NSH
18 		KEN
7 		MLW
27 		DAY
38 		CHI
43 		GTY
12 		PPR
18 		IRP
35 		MCH
21 		BRI
31 		DAR
28 		RCH
27 		DOV
39 		KAN
2 		CLT
31 		MEM
5 		ATL
41 		CAR
31 		PHO
10 		HOM
27 		22nd 3145 [34]
2003 DAY
14 		CAR
15 		LVS
14 		DAR
33 		BRI
34 		TEX
31 		TAL
17 		NSH
26 		CAL
40 		RCH
19 		GTY
17 		NZH
14 		CLT
35 		DOV
14 		NSH
30 		KEN
34 		MLW
15 		DAY
33 		CHI
41 		NHA PPR IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV KAN CLT MEM ATL 27th 1767 [35]
Innovative Motorsports 48 Chevy PHO
25
BACE Motorsports 74 Chevy CAR
23 		HOM
2004 Richard Childress Racing 29 Chevy DAY CAR LVS DAR BRI TEX NSH TAL CAL GTY RCH NZH CLT DOV NSH KEN MLW DAY CHI NHA PPR IRP MCH BRI CAL RCH DOV
23 		KAN CLT MEM ATL PHO DAR HOM 120th 94 [36]
2005 Michael Waltrip Racing 98 Chevy DAY CAL MXC LVS ATL NSH BRI TEX PHO TAL
5 		DAR RCH CLT DOV NSH KEN MLW 94th 189 [37]
99 DAY
43 		MEM
DNQ 		TEX PHO HOM
Red Cactus Racing 73 Chevy CHI
DNQ 		NHA PPR GTY IRP GLN
DNQ 		MCH BRI CAL RCH DOV KAN CLT
2007 Jeff Spraker Racing 63 Chevy DAY CAL MXC LVS ATL BRI NSH TEX PHO TAL RCH DAR CLT DOV NSH KEN MLW NHA DAY
25 		CHI GTY IRP CGV GLN MCH BRI CAL RCH DOV KAN CLT MEM TEX PHO HOM 134th 88 [38]
2008 Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 8 Chevy DAY CAL LVS ATL BRI NSH TEX PHO MXC TAL RCH DAR CLT DOV NSH KEN MLW NHA DAY
17 		CHI GTY IRP CGV GLN MCH BRI CAL RCH DOV KAN CLT MEM TEX PHO HOM 150th 0 [39]
2009 Rick Ware Racing 31 Chevy DAY CAL LVS BRI TEX
DNQ 		NSH PHO TAL
12 		RCH DAR CLT DOV NSH KEN MLW NHA DAY
38 		CHI GTY IRP IOW GLN MCH BRI CGV ATL RCH DOV KAN CAL CLT MEM TEX PHO HOM 101st 176 [40]

Craftsman Truck Series

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 NCTC Pts Ref
2005 Billy Ballew Motorsports 15 Chevy DAY
35 		CAL
17 		ATL MAR GTY MFD CLT DOV TEX MCH MLW KAN KEN MEM IRP NSH BRI RCH NHA LVS MAR ATL TEX PHO HOM 67th 175 [41]
2006 ThorSport Racing 13 Chevy DAY
18 		CAL
29 		ATL
34 		MAR
20 		GTY
27 		CLT
20 		MFD
27 		DOV
29 		TEX
34 		MCH
29 		MLW
35 		KAN
25 		KEN
23 		MEM
28 		IRP
23 		NSH
11 		BRI
20 		NHA
19 		LVS
11 		TAL
36 		MAR
33 		ATL
21 		TEX
29 		PHO
27 		HOM
19 		22nd 2199 [42]

ARCA Re/Max Series

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

ARCA Re/Max Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 ARMC Pts Ref
2000 Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 2 Chevy DAY
39 		SLM AND CLT
2 		KIL FRS MCH
3 		POC
1* 		TOL KEN BLN POC
2 		WIN ISF KEN DSF SLM CLT TAL ATL
6 		30th 1150 [43]
2001 DAY
14 		NSH WIN SLM GTY KEN CLT
20 		KAN MCH
1* 		POC MEM GLN KEN MCH POC NSH ISF CHI DSF SLM TOL BLN CLT
1* 		TAL ATL
1* 		35th 1005 [44]
2007 Jeff Spraker Racing 37 Chevy DAY USA NSH SLM KAN WIN KEN TOL IOW POC MCH BLN KEN POC NSH ISF MIL GTW DSF CHI SLM TAL
DNQ 		TOL 185th 25 [45]

References

  1. ^ Kerry Earnhardt Career Statistics
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Plenty of dad to be found in Kerry Earnhardt". The Herald (Everett). Monroe, Washington. July 17, 2004. Archived from the original on 23 May 2006. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Hinton, Ed (July 17, 2003). "Name can't help this Earnhardt". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Korth, Joanne (June 30, 2002). "Family tradition drives 'other son' forward: Once estranged from his half-brother and late father, Kerry Earnhardt has come full circle". St. Petersburg Times. Daytona Beach, Florida. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  5. ^ a b Caldwell, Dave (February 22, 2003). "AUTO RACING; Kerry, the Other Earnhardt, Is Coming On". The New York Times. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  6. ^ "Middle E Gets Another Shot". Motor Racing Network. Huntersville, North Carolina. October 2, 2000. Archived from the original on 21 November 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  7. ^ "Its Kerrys Turn". Motor Racing Network. New York. November 29, 2001. Archived from the original on 21 November 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  8. ^ "BUSCH: Kerry Earnhardt signs with newly formed FitzBradshaw Racing". Motorsport.com. December 1, 2001. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  9. ^ Berger, Ken (February 14, 2002). "Changing Lanes / Bradshaw backs Kerry Earnhardt". Newsday. Daytona Beach, Florida. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  10. ^ "Terry Bradshaw, Kerry Earnhardt team up". Autoweek. December 4, 2001. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  11. ^ a b "BUSCH: Kerry Earnhardt out at FitzBradshaw Racing". Motorsport.com. Mooresville, North Carolina. July 15, 2003. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  12. ^ FitzBradshaw Racing (April 27, 2003). "Busch driver Kerry Earnhardt to race at Texas". Motorsport.com. Mooresville, North Carolina. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  13. ^ "Daytona II: Kerry Earnhardt preview". Motorsport.com. Mooresville, North Carolina. July 2, 2003. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  14. ^ "Sauter A Star In Dega; Earnhardt Lands Cup Ride". Motor Racing Network. Talladega, Alabama. April 18, 2002. Archived from the original on 21 November 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  15. ^ "Kerry Earnhardt gets DEI prepped car at Talladega". Crash.net. 2002. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  16. ^ McKee, Sandra (April 23, 2004). "Childress' car may put K. Earnhardt on track: Car owner's Chevy gives driver leg up at Talladega Auto Racing". The Baltimore Sun. Welcome, North Carolina. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  17. ^ Zenor, John (April 16, 2004). "Kerry Earnhardt again strives for racing stardom". Peninsula Clarion, Associated Press. Birmingham, Alabama. Archived from the original on 21 November 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  18. ^ a b Hilderbrand, Brian (November 30, 2004). "Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Kerry Earnhardt replaces Hmiel in truck". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  19. ^ "Hmiel Back In Trucks". Motor Racing Network. March 2, 2005. Archived from the original on 21 November 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  20. ^ "Thorsport Releases Earnhardt". Motor Racing Network. Mooresville, North Carolina. December 5, 2006. Archived from the original on 21 November 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  21. ^ "GRR talks FoS and the legend of 'Number Three' with Kerry Earnhardt". goodwood.com. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
  22. ^ "2013 ARCA Truck Series Rookie of the Year Bobby Dale Earnhardt to drive for Hixson Motorsports at Toledo – ARCA Truck Racing". Retrieved 2017-05-23.
  23. ^ "Jeffrey Earnhardt makes the field for Sprint Cup debut". motorsport.com. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
  24. ^ Long, Dustin. "Jeffrey Earnhardt to run 13 races with Gaunt Brothers Racing". NBC Sports: NASCAR Talk. NBC Sports. Retrieved 2018-09-24.
  25. ^ Crooks, Jim. "A Fourth Generation Of The Family Earnhardt Takes To The Track". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2018-09-24.
  26. ^ "Kerry Earnhardt – 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
  27. ^ "Kerry Earnhardt – 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
  28. ^ "Kerry Earnhardt – 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
  29. ^ "Kerry Earnhardt – 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
  30. ^ "Kerry Earnhardt – 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
  31. ^ "Kerry Earnhardt – 1998 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
  32. ^ "Kerry Earnhardt – 1999 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
  33. ^ "Kerry Earnhardt – 2001 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
  34. ^ "Kerry Earnhardt – 2002 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
  35. ^ "Kerry Earnhardt – 2003 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
  36. ^ "Kerry Earnhardt – 2004 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
  37. ^ "Kerry Earnhardt – 2005 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
  38. ^ "Kerry Earnhardt – 2007 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
  39. ^ "Kerry Earnhardt – 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
  40. ^ "Kerry Earnhardt – 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
  41. ^ "Kerry Earnhardt – 2005 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
  42. ^ "Kerry Earnhardt – 2006 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
  43. ^ "Kerry Earnhardt – 2000 ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
  44. ^ "Kerry Earnhardt – 2001 ARCA Re/Max Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
  45. ^ "Kerry Earnhardt – 2007 ARCA Re/Max Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kerry_Earnhardt&oldid=954708445"