Interview performed and written by Kathleen Woodin of Burnin’ Rubber Radio. Image Credit: Andy DeLay
I recently did an interview with Bobby Dale Earnhardt, and it was exciting! Being a huge NASCAR fan myself, this was a “Oh Wow” dream-come-true moment for me. I was nervous at first, but I was told Bobby Dale was easy-going and not to be nervous. You know what? He is!
Bobby Dale is a fourth-generation stock car driver of the Earnhardt bloodline. His family’s name is synonymous with NASCAR, and you can’t think of one without the other. His Grandfather, Dale Earnhardt Sr., was the best known,
most recognized and arguably the most revered driver in the history of the sport.
Dale Earnhardt Sr. earned the nickname ‘The Intimidator’ due to his forceful, aggressive style of driving. When an unlucky competitor saw that Black No. 3 Chevy growing larger in the rearview mirror, the hairs would stand up on the back of a driver’s neck! Dale would be bearing down, closer and closer, and you’d know the driver was gripping the steering wheel a little tighter and saying a little prayer, because Dale’s bold maneuvers combined with his incredible driving skills and unwavering determination put the fear of God in them. Very simply put, he was the Intimidator, and every driver that competed against him would tell you that he was… Well, intimidating!
Three of Dale Sr’s four children followed in his footsteps and pursued racing, all with various levels of success. Bobby Dale’s father, Kerry Earnhardt, is the eldest of Dale’s sons and from Dale’s first marriage to Latane Brown. Kerry began driving in 1992 behind the wheel of a street stock, then advanced through different series until 2007, when he retired from competitive racing. In all, he started 11 races over 2 years in The ARCA Menards Series, 27 races over 2 years in The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, 72 races over 10 years in The NASCAR Xfinity Series, and 7 Races over 3 years in the NASCAR Cup Series. In total, Kerry amassed a total of 14 career top fives, 27 career top tens, 2 career poles, 2 Rookie of the Year titles, and 5 career wins. Kerry has two sons, Bobby Dale and his younger brother Jeffrey.
Bobby Dale Earnhardt was born on September 1st, 1987, in Mooresville, North Carolina. He got his start in racing in go-karts, but that was a blip in time compared to what he describes
as his real start. It was this next type of racing that really raises an eyebrow. It’s definitely
different and unique (at least to me). In 2010, Bobby Dale raced lawn mowers! Yes, you read that right… Lawn
mowers! Lawn mower racers take regular riding lawn mowers, remove the mower deck and the governor so that they
were no longer used for cutting. They lower them down to the ground replacing the friendly Briggs & Stratton engines with a tricked out go kart
engine. These souped-up mowers reach speeds of up to 80 mph! On one hand, you’re thinking ‘That’s crazy’ as you’re trying to get a mental picture of what that would be like to watch them on the track, and on the other hand, your mind goes wild picturing it in a very hysterical and comical way!
Bobby Dale raced mowers for about 3 years at Ellerbe Lions Club, a track in North Carolina nicknamed ‘The Lions Cage’.
He was 3rd in the standings in year 3 when he had his final wreck. Bobby Dale said, “I stopped because I got hurt
too many times”
Describing his final wreck, Bobby Dale said, “All I remember is looking at the sky and then my lawn mower landing on top of me.”
He had a mild head injury and was pretty banged up with numerous abrasions. Bobby Dale said that they wear
helmets, but don’t wear full racing suits. Their racing attire is blue jeans, boots and a long sleeve shirt.
Bobby Dale would trade his lawn mower for a pickup truck and went racing in the ARCA Truck series (which no longer exists) between 2013 and 2016. He won the ARCA Truck Series Rookie of the Year award in 2013.
On May 21st, 2017, Bobby Dale made his national stock car racing debut in the ARCA Racing Series at Toledo Speedway in the Menards 200, driving the No. 3 Chevy for Hixson Motorsports. He started 24th and finished 21st after a crash on lap 165. He would run a total of 3 ARCA races in 2017, with his best finish being 19th at Elko Speedway. His last race in the ARCA Series was the General Tire 200 at Pocono Raceway, driving the No. 96 Ford for Brian Kaltreider, finishing 25th.
On September 8th, 2017, Bobby Dale made his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut in the No. 40 Chevy for MBM Motorsports at Richmond International Raceway. He qualified 40th and finished 34th, bringing out the first caution on lap 52 in stage 1 when he slid up the track and into the wall after the right front tire went down, having all the markings of a melted tire bead, sending a spray of sparks flying. Originally, he had been scheduled to make his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut on July 29th at Iowa Speedway for MBM Motorsports in the No. 13 Chevy, but he failed to qualify. In 2018, Bobby Dale returned to the NASCAR Xfinity Series in the Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway, piloting the No. 66 HABCO ride for MBM Motorsports. He started 27th and ran much of the afternoon in the top twenty and on the lead lap, but a faulty fuel pump would ultimately put him out of the race. The next week, he ran the Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 at Texas Motor Speedway and finished 34th.
2019 would see Bobby Dale scheduled to run the 4 final NASCAR Xfinity Series races of the season for MBM Motorsports in the No. 66 Toyota Camry at Kansas Speedway, where he finished 31st, Texas Motor Speedway, where he finished 37th, Phoenix Raceway, where he finished 28th, and Homestead-Miami Speedway, where he didn’t make the field.
Bobby Dale announced on September 1st, 2025, that he is returning to the now ARCA Menards Series after an 8-year absence, driving the No. 31 Toyota Camry for Rise Motorsports at Bristol Motor Speedway in the Bush and Beans 200 on September 11th. It will be the first time Bobby Dale has raced at Bristol, and he’s told me that he is super excited about racing there! When I asked what was most special to him about Bristol, he said, “The fact my Granddad ran there, and a lot of his most known memories are from that track, roughing up other drivers. I don’t know if they are good memories or bad, but a lot of people refer back to when Terry Labonte and him got together, and Rusty Wallace threw a water bottle at him in victory lane. Bristol’s always been an aggressive track for drivers, so it’s going to be interesting to see how that pans out in the ARCA Series. Hopefully, I don’t have to use the bumper too much.”
Bobby Dale is also scheduled to run the upcoming ARCA Menards Series Reese’s 150 at Kansas Speedway on September 26th. When I asked him where he sees himself moving forward in racing, He replied, “To race full time. That’s always the goal; unfortunately, it doesn’t always work out like we hope. It’s tough because it comes down to a matter of sponsorship, and even the big teams are
struggling with that nowadays”.
So what has Bobby Dale been doing during his 8 years away from the track? Bobby Dale said that he’s been busy being a dedicated husband and father of his four children. He’s been helping his son, Brylon Earnhardt, by turning wrenches and being his crew chief as he gets his start in Outlaw-Karts Racing. Bobby Dale has been teaching Brylon about his family’s legacy, too. Brylon’s not quite there yet when it comes to working on his cart, but he’s been watching and learning. Brylon’s been racing for about 3 years now, and he’s currently in the beginners box stock series. Bobby Dale says that it’s been a great family experience and something the entire family enjoys doing. Next year, Brylon is moving up to the box stock class, and they’re also looking at doing some Bandolero racing to get Brylon out on asphalt and help him to learn and grow as a racer.
Aaah tradition… It’s a remarkable thing, don’t you think?