Latane Brown, Dale Earnhardt Sr.'s first wife, got married and divorced young but quickly rebuilt her life when she split from the father of her child. Her son Kerry Earnhardt reconnected with the NASCAR legend as a teenager.
Latane Brown became Dale Earnhardt Sr.'s first wife in the late sixties, but they parted ways just as the seventies rolled in. It is not known if she had children with her second husband, but through her son with the NASCAR driver, she is a grandma of four.
Kerry Earnhardt followed his biological father's example in more ways than one, starting with dropping out of high school and starting a family. His skirmish with his stepmother, Dale Earnhardt Sr.'s third wife, resulted in a lawsuit.
Dale Earnhardt in the infield pit area at a NASCAR short track prior to the beginning of his Cup Series career, on January 1, 1970. | Source: Getty Images
Latane Brown's Second Husband Raised Kerry Earnhardt as His Own
Dale Sr. and Latane Brown were teenagers when they said their marriage vows in 1968. They welcomed their only son together, Kerry Earnhardt, the following year on December 8, 1969. The couple divorced in 1970.
Dale Earnhardt Sr.'s ex-wife remarried Jack Key, who adopted her son. Between the ages of five and 16, Jack was the only dad Kerry knew, and he had no contact with his biological father then. Jack took Kerry hunting and golfing and was on his crew when the youngster began racing late models.
"He raised me to be the way I am," Kerry said of Jack. "He supported me in my first late-model car, and he's been behind me ever since." He grew up as Kerry Key but later reverted to Earnhardt.
Kerry Earnhardt holds daughter Kaylan in the garage during practice for the Aaron's 499 on April 24, 2004, at Talladega SuperSpeedway, in Talladega, Alabama. | Source: Getty Images
Latane Brown and Dale Earnhardt Sr.'s Son Became a Race Car Driver
Unlike some former spouses of drivers like Kyle Petty's ex, Pattie Petty, Latane kept a low profile after her divorce from Dale Sr. However, their son, Kerry, became a public figure when he took up racing. Dale Sr. formed the Chance Racing team for him and his half-brother Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Dale Sr.'s third and final wife had a "falling-out" with Kerry.
He was later on a team co-owned by former quarterback and TV sports analyst Terry Bradshaw, who said it was "spooky" to be around him, "He just looks and acts so much like his father." Kerry made seven NASCAR Cup Series starts and won four ARCA races.
Latane Brown Is a Grandmother
At a young age, Kerry became a dad to two sons, Bobby Dale Earnhardt and Jeffrey Earnhardt. After divorcing his first wife, he remarried Rene Earnhardt, who worked in veterinary medicine.
"Kerry's a very reserved person. He's one of those guys who goes day by day. I don't really think he's set a goal as to what he can do," Rene said in support of her husband in a 2003 New York Times feature.
According to The Daytona Beach News-Journal, Teresa Earnhardt, Dale Sr.'s third and final wife, had a "falling-out" with Kerry when she sued to stop him from using the family name commercially.
Kerry and Rene are the co-founders of the family lifestyle brand The Earnhardt Collection™. The brand is inspired by the couple's love for the outdoors. The former race car driver had two more children, Blade and Kayla, with Rene.
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