Kriti Mehrotra
While hardcore racing fans need no introduction to Dale Earnhardt, some newcomers might not know that he was arguably one of the best professional stock car drivers in history. He actually won seven championships with not only hard work and determination, but he was also so aggressive that he earned the nicknames “the Intimidator”, “the Man in Black,” and “Ironhead.” This much has even been evidenced in Amazon Prime Video’s ‘Earnhardt,’ which also delves deep into his complex familial relationships with the help of exclusive interviews from loved ones. Amongst them are his sisters, Cathy Earnhardt Watkins and Kaye Earnhardt Snipes.
Cathy and Kaye Earnhardt Vividly Remember Growing Up in a Strict Household
In 1947, Ralph Lee Earnhardt tied the knot with Martha Coleman in a beautiful ceremony, following which they settled down in Kannapolis, North Carolina. The former reportedly worked in a cotton mill for a while, but he soon decided to follow his passion and begin racing in the hopes of bringing his family some much-needed financial stability. Little did the couple know he would go on to become one of NASCAR’s all-time winningest drivers with over 350 victories throughout his 2-decade career, yet he reportedly never wanted any of his five kids to follow in his footsteps, even if most of them showed interest from an early age. Ralph and Martha had blissfully welcomed their first child, a daughter they named Kaye Earnhardt, in 1948, who was followed by another daughter, Cathy Earnhardt, a mere two years later in 1950.
They then went on to have three sons, with the first being Ralph Dale Earnhardt in 1951, followed by Randy Eugene Earnhardt in 1952, and then finally Danny Ray Earnhardt in 1955. The two girls, though, have since come forward to allege that although the siblings always had one another, there wasn’t much support offered to them from their parents’ side. In fact, as per the sisters, their father sacrificed close familial relationships to succeed as a racer, which is a path Dale reportedly also followed. Cathy has also claimed that they all behaved differently when he was at home in between races, especially as they’d been taught to “be seen and not heard” when they were just kids. Nevertheless, despite everything, Cathy and Kaye are unequivocally proud to carry on the Earnhardt name.
Cathy Earnhardt Watkins is a Retired Racer Herself
From an early age, Cathy wanted to be one of the boys and could often be found in her father’s backyard racing shop, either learning tricks of the trade or simply washing parts to help out. However, as she began growing older, her father, Ralph, forbade her from being a part of the shop in any way, shape, or form as he believed the all-male environment was not suitable for her. He was being protective, yes, but it devastated the teenager for whom racing was her entire life at this point – the way it brought the family together was also one thing she loved about it. Therefore, when Ralph passed away from a heart attack in 1973 and their family shop actually closed its doors, it hurt Cathy even more, that is, until her brother Dale stepped up to race as well as re-open the shop.
Shortly after, she also found a way to be involved in the industry by partaking in the Powder Puff Derbies, which were specifically designed for female competitors. According to reports, Cathy competed in 10 races over a period of 10 years and won every single one, earning her the title of the “only undefeated Earnhardt.” Cathy is extremely proud of this achievement, but it’s imperative to note that she has dabbled in various other professions too. She was a supervisor turned manager at a textile mill in her hometown for a few years, following which she and her husband decided to establish one of NASCAR’s first souvenir trailers. But then, she eventually retired from the road to become a manager of the JR Nation retail store, established by Dale’s kids, Dale Jr. and Kelley Earnhardt, as a part of their JR (pronounced junior) brand.
She is an animal lover, a beach enthusiast, and a music fan, too. She is actually married to Mike Watkins, who was one of her brother’s crew members when he was racing. They reportedly did try to keep their relationship hidden for a while, but once they knew they were in it for the long term, there was no point in them sneaking around. They have been together for over four decades as of writing, so it was with him that she operated those NASCAR souvenir haulers for years, all the while also building a family. They are proud parents to 2 daughters, have four grandkids, and five great-grandsons.
Kaye Earnhardt Snipes Prefers to Lead a Quiet Life Today
Although Kaye Earnhardt Snipes is the eldest of the Earnhardt children, she is also the most removed from the limelight; it is just a personal preference. However, we do know that like her sister, she has built a loving family over the years and is also likely a proud partner, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She reportedly also continues to reside in North Carolina, close to her sister, her nieces, her nephews, and all other loved ones, all the while keeping the memories of those they have lost alive in their hearts.
While Ralph passed away from a heart attack at the age of 45 on September 26, 1973, Kaye lost her brother Dale at 49 on February 18, 2001, from a freak accident during the Daytona 500 race. Then, in 2013, Randy passed away from complications related to his battle with cancer at the age of 60 on July 28, 2013, leaving behind his mother, wife, two daughters, three grandkids, and four siblings. It was on December 10, 2021, that Danny suddenly died at his home in North Carolina at the age of 66, and merely 15 days later, on Christmas evening, his mother Martha followed him at age 91. Kaye and Cathy are thus the last of the original Earnhardts, and they remain eternally grateful for all of it, which is why they even agreed to be a part of Amazon Prime Video’s ‘Earnhardt.’
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