Ron Howard, the well-known actor and director, has taken on a new challenge with the release of his Dale Earnhardt Jr. and father documentary series, “Earnhardt,” now streaming on Prime Video. This four-part series sheds fresh light on NASCAR legends Dale Earnhardt and Dale Jr., diving deeply into their personal lives, professional challenges, and family legacy on and off the racetrack.
Ron Howard’s Passion for Racing and Storytelling
Many audiences remember Ron Howard for his roles as Opie on The Andy Griffith Show and Richie Cunningham on Happy Days, but his connection to motorsports runs deep. While he later became a celebrated director and producer, only a select few knew about his genuine love for racing. Howard previously directed “Rush,” the acclaimed film about the intense rivalry between Formula 1 drivers James Hunt and Nikki Lauda. Building on that experience, Howard was drawn to the story of the Earnhardt family, believing it would captivate not just racing fans but a much wider audience.
It’s still the relationships and the challenges that each generation had to overcome and deal with and cope with are they’re rich, they’re relatable and they mean a lot,
—Ron Howard, Director and Executive Producer
Delving Into the Earnhardt Family’s Legacy
“Earnhardt” distinguishes itself by exploring aspects of Dale Earnhardt’s life that earlier documentaries often overlooked. The series examines his rise to prominence as “The Intimidator,” as well as his complex family dynamics, particularly with his son, Dale Jr. The show also addresses how Earnhardt’s relentless drive made him such a formidable competitor, and it does not shy away from the tragic events of the 2001 Daytona 500, where Earnhardt lost his life in a last-lap crash.
Howard takes pains to ensure the documentary offers more than just racing highlights. The intimate focus on the Earnhardt family’s relationships, marriages, and personal struggles brings a new emotional depth to their story, making it accessible even to those who have little knowledge or interest in NASCAR. The documentary’s goal is to deliver an engaging narrative for longtime motorsports enthusiasts and newcomers alike.
But you also then want to say, ‘Wow, you had no idea what NASCAR was about, did you? Wow, well look here.’
—Ron Howard, Director and Executive Producer
Commitment to Authentic Storytelling
Howard, serving as executive producer, insists that the strength of the series lies not in dramatization but in presenting the facts and allowing the history to speak for itself. The filmmakers believed that by showing real events as they happened, the inherent drama would naturally arise, and audiences would be drawn into the complexity and humanity of the Earnhardt family.
I love history, I love documentaries and I like movies based on real events,
—Ron Howard, Director and Executive Producer
He acknowledges the unique appeal of this format, emphasizing the power of stories from real life to communicate emotional truths and expand the viewer’s understanding of extraordinary individuals and events.
These stories are liberating because you choose stories that are out of the ordinary, you choose events where human beings have together or separately somehow achieved something remarkable or experienced something in a really intense way and you want to expand people’s understanding of the human experience.
—Ron Howard, Director and Executive Producer
Why “Earnhardt” Matters for Viewers
The release of “Earnhardt” on Prime Video not only preserves the legacy of two of NASCAR’s most influential figures but also introduces their journey to new generations of audiences. By focusing on the highs and lows, triumphs and tragedies within the Earnhardt family, Ron Howard delivers a heartfelt look at how perseverance, family bonds, and an unyielding competitive spirit can shape both personal destinies and sports history. As more viewers discover this Dale Earnhardt Jr. and father documentary series, the true depth of the Earnhardt story stands to resonate far beyond the world of racing.
