Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s relationship with his stepmother, Teresa Earnhardt, has been far from ideal since their paths crossed for the first time. It has been one of the most complex chapters of the JRM co-owners’ lives, with branches extending into the Earnhardt family’s personal and professional lives.
Things between the two parties have turned so sour that the Earnhardt siblings are not even allowed to visit their father’s grave without the fear of legal action against them. Despite the negativity, the newly turned 51-year-old is open to reconciling with his stepmother.
What Sparked Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Hope for Reconciliation?
It all began when photos from inside the Dale Earnhardt Inc. headquarters went public on social media, the ownership of which was taken over by Teresa after the death of Earnhardt Sr.
She retained ownership of the same after financial struggles led to a merger with Chip Ganassi Racing. However, DEI had to be shut down in 2009.
The photos that had gone public became a talking point on the latest “Dale Jr. Download” episode, and in talking about it, Junior hinted at a possible reconciliation down the road between him and his stepmother.
Speaking on the podcast, Earnhardt expressed his gratitude after learning that the stuff inside DEI was being taken care of. What made him feel even better was that some of his cars were also there and in proper condition.
“I was just glad to know that stuff’s still well taken care of. It actually made me feel good that some of my cars are still there…like, in the front. They still celebrate all of the history.”
Earnhardt also opened up about not having been in any contact with Teresa over the years, so he doesn’t know how she is doing emotionally or mentally. But how she has taken care of his cars has somewhat given him hope of a reconciliation in the future.
“I haven’t talked to Teresa in so long that I don’t know really where they are emotionally about the relationship or the lack of a relationship. So, I was happy to see that some of my cars are still in there. Gives me some hope that there’s a chance of reconciliation somewhere down the road.”
Earnhardt was originally a member of the DEI driver lineup, but he soon left the team after disagreeing with Teresa over contract logistics. His stepmother’s overall business vision also didn’t sit well with Earnhardt, who ended up joining Hendrick Motorsports to pilot the No. 88 car until his retirement in 2017.