Dale Earnhardt Jr. is opening up in a powerful and deeply personal documentary series, set to premiere on May 22 on Prime Video, that promises unprecedented access into his relationship with his father, NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt. The four-part series, titled Earnhardt, goes beyond the racetrack to explore the complex and often challenging bond that defined much of their lives, drawing viewers into the intensity and unresolved emotions that shaped the Earnhardt family legacy.
During a recent interview with TODAY, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his sister Kelley previewed the documentary, offering glimpses into their childhood with their father, a man celebrated for his fearless racing style but remembered by his children as someone who was often distant and demanding. A clip shared on the show features Dale Earnhardt Jr. recalling,
This memory highlights both the admiration and the emotional distance that shaped his upbringing.
While the world revered Dale Earnhardt for his relentless spirit on the racetrack, at home he was a father who demanded discipline and resilience from his children. Dale Earnhardt Jr. describes their connection as difficult, saying,
These words reveal a struggle familiar to many families, where generational differences and expectations create profound misunderstandings.
The documentary aims to bridge the gap between public myth and private reality, bringing the nuanced father–son relationship into sharper focus for a new generation of fans. Dale Earnhardt Jr. emphasized the urgency of revisiting his father’s legacy: with younger fans who never witnessed Dale Earnhardt’s iconic successes, he believes it is time to retell the story in a more thorough and honest way. He acknowledged,
but stressed that none have explored their family’s emotional truth as deeply.
Kelley Earnhardt, reflecting on what it meant to grow up with a famous father, shared,
She admits that reconciling the public persona with the man they knew personally is both complicated and deeply meaningful, underlining the intense yet unresolved emotions that continue to shape their memories.
Adding further depth, the series features interviews with racing legends Kyle Petty, Richard Childress, Jeff Gordon, and the late Martha Earnhardt, offering a rare mix of perspectives on Dale Earnhardt’s life. For viewers, the documentary provides an unfiltered window into the private world of Dale Earnhardt Jr., the struggles of their father–son relationship, and the lingering impact of an icon whose legacy endures in both triumph and tension. As the Earnhardt story is retold for a new era, it resonates as much with those who knew the legend as those who are only now discovering his complexity.
