More than two decades have passed since Dale Earnhardt’s death, but his legacy continues through his four kids and nine grandkids.
Dale Earnhardt was only 49-years-old when he was killed in a crash at the Daytona 500. Earnhardt, who earned the nickname The Intimidator, crashed into a retaining wall during the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500 and suffered a basilar skull fracture that killed him instantly.
At the time of his death, Dale left behind four children: Kerry, Kelly, Dale Jr. and Taylor. Each of them have devoted their lives to preserving their father’s legacy through their involvement with NASCAR and the Dale Earnhardt Foundation. In addition, they have each contributed to the Earnhardt family tree with children of their own. While much is known about Dale’s kids, less is known about his grandkids.
Get to know Dale Earnhardt’s kids and their offspring in the list below.
Kerry Earnhardt
Kerry Earnhardt was born in 1969 and is the oldest child of Dale Earnhardt. Kerry’s mom, Latane Brown, was Dale’s first wife. Dale was 18-years-old at the time of Kerry’s birth. Latane and Dale divorced when Kerry was just a year old and Latane’s second husband, Jack Key, adopted Kerry.
Kerry had a respectable racing career of his own, starting in 1997 driving street stocks. He retired as a competitive driver in 2007. Upon his retirement, Kerry and his wife Rene co-founded The Earnhardt Collection, “a family home lifestyle brand inspired by the strength and beauty of nature.”
Kerry Earnhardt has three children: Bobby, Jeffrey and Kayla.
Bobby Earnhardt
Bobby Dale Earnhardt is the eldest child of Kerry Earnhardt and his first wife. Born in 1987, Bobby is carrying on the family tradition as a professional stock car racer. Bobby and his wife Kimberly are parents to one son and two daughters.
Jeffrey Earnhardt
Jeffrey Earnhardt was born in 1989 as the second son of Kerry Earnhardt and his first wife. Jeffrey is an American professional stock car racing driver and competes full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. He has also raced in the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, NASCAR Pinty’s Series, and ARCA Menards Series East.
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Kayla Earnhardt
Kayla Earnhardt was born in 2003 to Kerry Earnhardt and his wife, Rene. She was a rodeo competitor with great success throughout jr. high and high school. She continued her rodeo career into college at Southeastern Oklahoma State University.
Kelly Earnhardt Miller
Kelly Earnhardt Miller, born in 1972, is the first child born to Dale Earnhardt and his second wife, Brenda Jackson. Kelly has three children of her own: Karsyn, Kennedy and Wyatt.
Kelly currently acts as chief executive officer of JR Motorsports which she co-owns with her brother, Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Karsyn Elledge
Dale Earnhartd’s granddaughter, Karsyn Elledge, was born in 2000 and is the first child of Kelly Earnhardt and Jimmy Elledge.
Karsyn inherited her grandfather’s love of racing and grew up racing go-carts. In 2019, Elledge made her Dirt Midget racing debut at the prestigious Chili Bowl, and has since participated in other Dirt Midget events. For a short time, Karsyn was a cheerleader at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, but gave up cheerleading to pursue her racing passion.
Here’s my story on Karsyn Elledge (@KarsynElledge3). She covers both ends of the spectrum as a college cheerleader AND a dirt-track racer. You’ve certainly heard of a few of her family members, but Karsyn is out to make a name for herself. @cbnationals pic.twitter.com/BtkyHSC4tj
— TJ Eckert (@TJEckertKTUL) January 16, 2019
Kennedy Elledge
Kennedy Elledge is the second child born to Kelly Earnhardt and Jimmy Elledge. Born in 2005, Kennedy shares her family passion for all things NASCAR and teamed up with her sister in 2016 to host NASCAR Hammer Down. The program was a partnership between NASCAR and Nickelodeon and featured the sisters taking viewers “to the track and back to the studio with interviews, pranks, celebrity guests and lots of fun facts.”
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Wyatt Miller
Wyatt Miller is the youngest child of Kelly Earnhardt and the only child she shares with husband, former professional stock car racing driver, L.W. Miller III. Wyatt, born in 2012, has already built an impressive racing resume with Outlaw Kart Racing. At only 11-years-old, Wyatt has numerous championships to his credit, including the title of 2021 Millbridge Speedway Beginner Box Champion and winner of the 2020 English Creek Dirt Nationals.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Born in 1974, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is the second child of Dale Sr. and his second wife, Brenda Jackson. In 2016, Dale Jr. married Amy Reimann. Dale Jr. and Amy have two daughters.
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Earnhardt followed in his father’s footsteps as a NASCAR driver and has 26 wins in the Cup Series and is a two-time champion of the Xfinity Series. He was won the Most Popular Driver Award fifteen consecutive times. Upon retirement from racing, Earnhardt Jr. worked as a broadcaster for NASCAR on NBC and hosts a podcast called The Dale Jr. Download.
Isla Rose Earnhardt
Isla Rose is the first-born child of Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Amy. Isla Rose was born in April 2018, missing her late grandfather, Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s birthday by one day.
Nicole Lorraine Earnhardt
Nicole Lorraine is the second child of Dale Jr. and Amy and was born in October 2020. In an episode of his podcast, The Dale Jr. Download, Earnhardt Jr. revealed that his new daughter is named Nicole Lorraine, Nicole coming from Amy’s middle name and Lorraine from his mom’s middle name.
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Taylor Earnhardt-Putnam
Taylor Earnhardt is the youngest of Dale Earnhardt’s children. She was born to Dale and his third wife, Teresa, in 1988.
Taylor dabbled in stock car racing, but her true passion is horses. In fact, she acquired an impressive rodeo resume. In 2003, she earned top honors as the Junior Southern Rodeo Association Champion. Five years later she was named All-Around Champion at Josey Ranch. Other career honors include a NBHA South Carolina District championship in 2010 and the All-Around Cowgirl crown at the SRA Southern Finals Rodeo in 2015. Taylor has also served as spokesperson for her father’s Dale Earnhardt Foundation.
Sage Nicole Putnam
In 2012, Taylor married Brandon Putnam and the couple welcomed Sage Nicole in 2016. Sage is the youngest of the Earnhardt grandchildren and appears to be following in her momma’s footsteps as quite the little equestrian.
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Dale Earnhardt’s four children and his widow came together to honor the late NASCAR driver during his induction in the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2006. See the Earnhardt family press conference in the videos below.
