When racing runs in the family, can anything stop it? As NASCAR kicks off a new season, Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s youngest daughter, Nicole Lorraine, is already showing signs that the family’s racing DNA is alive and well. The Earnhardt name is synonymous with stock car racing, from Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s legendary seven Cup Series championships to Dale Jr.’s incredible NASCAR popularity. But while Dale Jr. might be thrilled to see his daughters take an interest in racing, his wife Amy is tapping the brakes—at least for now.
The Next Generation: Isla and Nicole Step Into the Family’s Racing Roots
It all started when Dale Jr. and Amy gifted their eldest daughter, Isla Rose, a go-kart for her third birthday. Now 7 years old, Isla has already shown a competitive spirit, even getting emotional when her father didn’t win the 2023 Bristol Xfinity Series race—a reaction that eerily mirrors Dale Jr.’s childhood memories of watching his own father race.
Now, 5-year-old Nicole Lorraine is making her own sneaky moves, and her mother caught her in the act.
Amy Earnhardt shared the moment on Instagram:
📸 Nicole was sitting in Dale Jr.’s iRacing simulator, decked out in a sparkling blue dress, wearing a headset, and mimicking her father’s every move.
Amy’s reaction? A mix of amusement and caution.
“She didn’t know I was watching her. And Dad needs to close his critter gate,” Amy captioned the photo.
But Nicole wasn’t fazed. When she spotted her mother behind her, she flashed a cheeky smile, prompting Amy to jokingly label her a “criminal.”
A Racing Family at a Crossroads: Will the Earnhardt Girls Follow in Their Father’s Footsteps?
While Dale Jr. seems excited about the idea of his daughters exploring racing, Amy has been more hesitant.
✔ She prefers Isla and Nicole to focus on other pursuits like reading.
✔ Dale Jr., on the other hand, is already planting the seeds for a racing future.
In fact, Dale Jr. even wrote a children’s book titled Buster Gets Back on Track as a tribute to his father.
“‘Buster’ is a unique character—that’s my dad’s nickname. The car that Buster is, his character, is derived from a car that my father raced in the ’70s at a local racetrack.”
Dale Jr. has always been proud of his family’s legacy, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him gently nudging his daughters toward the sport.
Debate: Should the Earnhardt Legacy Continue?
With Isla already behind the wheel of a go-kart and Nicole sneaking onto the iRacing simulator, the question is no longer if they will show interest in racing—it’s how far they’ll go.
❓ Is it inevitable that one or both of Dale Jr.’s daughters will follow in his footsteps?
❓ Should Amy’s caution outweigh Dale Jr.’s enthusiasm?
❓ Will the Earnhardt legacy continue with a female racer at the forefront?
One thing is certain: The passion for racing is already alive in the Earnhardt household. Whether Isla and Nicole take the wheel in the years to come is a story still waiting to be written. 🚗💨