"I've lived vicariously through her" - When Kelley Earnhardt discussed the importance of Danica Patrick's onboarding at JRM

In a 2018 interview, Kelley Earnhardt discussed the impact of Danica Patrick when the latter joined JR Motorsports. Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s elder sister Kelley was thought to be full of potential during her brief stint racing in late-model stock cars, however, ended up in a completely different operation in the world of racing.

JR Motorsports co-owner Kelley Earnhardt has played a vital part in extending the family legacy through all these years. From managing NASCAR legend Dale Jr. to being the CEO of JRM.

During a conversation with Graham Bensinger, Earnhardt shared her thoughts on IndyCar Series winner Patrick's impact on the Xfinity Series team as a full-time driver. She recalled her experience as a female driver competing in a male-dominated sport.

"It was such a different time for me when I raced in the mid-90s. It was weird to go to the race shop because the guys were hanging out there and they were telling stories or doing whatever they were doing. That was the time that they go guy talk and the girls weren't supposed to be around," Kelley said. [3:20]

Talking about Patrick making a mark in NASCAR, Kelley also said:

"The society was kind of that way too, I mean a girl wasn't supposed to be driving race cars for boys. So I do wonder and I think that's why the Danica thing was so important to me. To be able to do that with her and I've joked back then when I did interviews, I lived vicariously through her because that would have been awesome to be doing that."

Patrick made her Xfinity debut in 2010 driving the #7 Chevy for JRM. She competed in this division before transitioning to the Cup Series.

In her full-time rookie season in NASCAR's premier division, Patrick competed for Stewart-Haas Racing and became the first woman to win pole position in the Cup Series at the 2013 Daytona 500.

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"I'm completely satisfied with that" - When Kelley Earnhardt spoke about switching roles in the racing industry

Kelley Earnhardt Miller raced at the historic Hickory Motor Speedway and Myrtle Beach Speedway, driving the late-model stock cars.

Reflecting on her decision to switch from racing to a managerial role, Kelley said in March 2019 (via racingnews.co):

"Looking back on that situation, I’m really grateful. There’s so many times that I miss the adrenaline of racing. I think about what could have been."

The death of legendary Dale Earnhardt also became a major factor in her switching roles and managing her younger brother and two-time Daytona 500 winner Dale Jr.

"I honestly thing that I could have been something good and big on the race track. But, knowing now that we lost my dad and not knowing then that’s what was going to happen… I was primed and in the perfect position to be able to take over Dale’s career and be who I am today. I’m completely satisfied with that," Kelley Earnhardt said.

Now working as the CEO of a four-car operation, Kelley's JRM has achieved great success in NASCAR's second-tier division, including three championship titles.