Kelley Earnhardt Miller is a successful entrepreneur and a well-known figure in NASCAR. As the daughter of legendary driver Dale Earnhardt Sr., she has forged her own path as the CEO of JR Motorsports.
Speaking to Leader’s Magazine, she discussed her success in such a competitive industry.
Kelley Earnhardt Miller Reveals How Her Father’s Education Inspired Her
Kelley oversees JR Motorsports in the Xfinity Series, working alongside her brother, Dale Earnhardt Jr., her husband, L.W. Miller, and Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick. The University of North Carolina alumna also serves on the board of directors for the agricultural company Brandt.
In an April 2020 interview with Leader’s Magazine, Kelley explained that her father’s limited education motivated her to prioritize her studies before joining the NASCAR family business.
Her father, a seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, only completed eighth grade, but she graduated from one of the most prestigious universities in the U.S.
“I figured I would do something in racing,” Kelley said.
“But I was focused on going to college because my dad was focused on me going to college. I was the first kid in my family to go to college. My father only finished the eighth grade, and he was very disappointed in that and wished that he had gone further.
“I started working in the sport while I was in college and worked for a marketing firm since my dad didn’t want us working directly in his business. Most of my early career was spent at Sports Image and Action Performance.”
Kelley also discussed her involvement with JR Motorsports.
“I oversee about seven or eight different entities. One of these is our race teams, JR Motorsports, which is the top dog of what I do. We race in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and have four race teams. I focus on the relationship piece of it with the sponsors.
“I am involved in negotiating contracts and understanding what our sponsors’ marketing plans are, why they want to be in the sport, and how they want to use our assets to meet the goals they’ve established within their own organizations.
“My other primary role is serving as Dale’s agent and brand manager. We also have ownership in a bar and restaurant concept at several locations in airports across the United States.”
Challenges of Being a Woman in NASCAR
Kelley also spoke about the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated sport like NASCAR.
“Our sport has changed as the world has changed, and there is more acceptance of women in different areas. I had a leg up when I came into the business — I was an Earnhardt.
“I feel like it would have been much more difficult if I had come into the sport as a female without the Earnhardt name. My dad had a very good reputation as a common-sense businessperson and a no-BS kind of guy. It helped that he had so much respect and was such a leader in the sport.
“I have seen opportunities grow for women in the sport, but they are still mainly in PR, marketing, and other similar areas. When you get into the competition side of it — such as being on the pit crews, tire specialists, or working within the shops — it is still very challenging for women in our sport.”
