Inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Class of 2021, Dale Earnhardt Jr is undoubtedly among the most prominent figures in NASCAR’s modern era. Living up to the legacy left behind by his late father Dale Earnhardt, Junior has earned many accolades throughout his NASCAR career, including two Xfinity Series championships. Given his family’s prominence in the motorsports world, it’s easy to believe that Junior may have enjoyed a joyous childhood, but the truth was quite the opposite.

Frequently bullied, Junior’s childhood was rough, to say the least. Dealing with his dad’s absence didn’t make it any easier for Junior, who spent most of his childhood under the shield of his elder sister, Kelley Earnhardt. The siblings joined Graham Bensinger recently for an interview, where Kelley revealed how she spent her juvenile years protecting her troubled younger brother.

Dale Earnhardt Jr had his sister when he had no one else

Born to Dale Earnhardt and Brenda Lorraine Gee, Kelley and Junior only had each other to lean on growing up. Their parents divorced shortly after Junior’s birth, and Brenda took custody of the kids. When Junior was 6 years old, Brenda had to give up the custody of her children to Dale Sr, after a fire destroyed her home, leaving her with no financial support.

While Dale Earnhardt Sr enjoyed a lavish and abundant life, he couldn’t be present to watch his kids grow up. Always away living his life on the racetrack, Kelley and Dale Jr were looked after by maids. With no one to turn to for advice or shelter, Junior turned to his sister. She became the only constant in his life, always by his side. Kelley made sure Junior always had money for lunch, his homework and chores were completed, and also took the time to dress him aptly for school. 

Speaking on the “In Depth with Graham Bensinger” show, Dale Jr said, “Dad wasn’t taking care of me. I mean he was racing and gone, and Teresa was with him. But Kelly was there, Kelly was the one that was there with me every day.”

As the years passed, things kept getting worse for Junior at school, to the point that he was going to be kicked out of his school. He added that at that point, “Dad and Teresa [his stepmother] sent me to military school. I was there a month and Kelly came on her own accord. Like who goes to military [school]? Military school is like punishment right? She’s halfway through high school, she leaves her friends and everybody to go to military school in the 10th grade. What kind of 10th grader says, you know what, I miss my brother. I’m going to go to military school where he’s at!“

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While Dale Jr was bullied frequently in military school by his classmates and Kelley took on the role of Junior’s protector, shielding him from getting picked on.

“Chicken legs”: Kelley looked out for her scrawny little brother, and still does

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When questioned by Graham regarding her role in protecting Junior from bullying, Kelley Earnhardt revealed, “I don’t know what propelled me really to kind of be his protector. But, other than to say that Dale just always chose a different path for attention. So he always got in trouble […] I always was just protecting and protecting […] Just looking out for him and feeling sorry for him.

“He was a scrawny little bud, I mean, have you seen pictures of him then? He was a tiny little thing, and he got called names all the time at school, you know, they call him chicken legs and all this kind of stuff because he had these little white scrawny legs. […] I just always looked out for him. I followed him around the military school and a lot of other things.”

Read More: The Magnificent NASCAR Career of Dale Earnhardt Jr

Post their troublesome youth, Dale Jr quickly followed in his father’s footsteps, and Kelley too made her presence known on NASCAR’s circuits. Kelley entered the NASCAR world, looking after Dale Jr’s finances as his racing career progressed. Now she is the Chief Executive Officer of JR Motorsports, which she also co-owns with her brother, her husband, and Rick Hendrick. Overseeing business ventures and the race and management teams, Kelley’s involvement in JR Motorsports has made her an indelible part of the organization. 

Currently married to former NASCAR driver LW Miller III, Kelley has three children. Her daughter, Karsyn, participates in midget car racing, carrying forward the Earnhardt family’s racing legacy.