A recently released four-part docuseries on Amazon Prime Video explores Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s complicated relationship with father Ralph Earnhardt, offering rare insight into how the celebrated NASCAR driver’s upbringing shaped him. The series examines how both admiration and distance influenced Dale Sr.’s path to racing stardom and fame as the “Intimidator.”
Revealing the Earnhardt Family Story
Much public discussion has focused on Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s bond with his own son, Dale Earnhardt Jr., with Junior having shared openly about his father‘s absences during childhood. However, this docuseries, titled Earnhardt, shifts attention to the previous generation, providing a deeper understanding of how Dale Sr. endured similar emotional gaps with his father, Ralph Earnhardt.
Ralph Earnhardt, known as “Mr. Consistency,” was a formidable presence in NASCAR. He achieved over 350 victories across the Modified, Sportsman, and Grand National series, establishing a powerful family legacy. The respect and reputation Ralph garnered made him a role model for Dale Sr., who grew up aspiring to achieve comparable greatness in motorsports.
A Bond Marked by Admiration and Emotional Distance
Dale Earnhardt Sr. often expressed deep respect for his father, and moments of recognition revealed just how much Ralph meant to him. One notable incident in the series recalls NASCAR historian Ken Martin presenting Dale Sr. with footage of his father racing, highlighting the genuine awe and admiration he felt for Ralph, despite the complexities lurking beneath the surface.
Though the relationship appeared strong, friends and family in the docuseries describe a persistent yearning for approval. According to Dale Sr.’s longtime friend, Hank Parker:
“One thing that I know about Dale more than anything else, he was starved for Ralph Earnhardt’s approval.”
—Hank Parker, longtime friend
The exploration of Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s complicated relationship with father Ralph Earnhardt is further supported by the creators‘ promise to share previously untold stories. Cathy Earnhardt Watkins, Dale Sr.’s sister, sheds additional light:
“He maybe wanted a relationship, daddy wasn’t capable of giving.”
—Cathy Earnhardt Watkins, sister
Watkins also recalls a poignant childhood memory illustrating their father‘s strictness and lack of overt encouragement:
“For Christmas one year, Dale got a model motor. It comes in pieces, and Dale put it together all by himself. And my daddy looked at it, he said, ‘Well, wasn’t that supposed to be on this side?’ and walked out of the room. He never said, ‘Good job, boy.’ nothing.”
—Cathy Earnhardt Watkins, sister
Legacy and Unanswered Questions
Ralph Earnhardt passed away in 1973, when Dale Earnhardt Sr. was only 22, never witnessing his son‘s future as a seven-time NASCAR Cup champion and international sports icon. Despite accumulating more than 75 career wins and amassing millions of devoted fans, Dale Sr. was left to wonder if his father would have been proud of what he accomplished.
The relationship between Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Ralph Earnhardt, as illuminated in this Amazon docuseries, underscores both the burdens and inspirations inherited through family. The story encourages reflection on how approval, or the absence of it, can shape lives—not just on the racetrack, but far beyond.
