"It's really big with the parachute": Kelley Earnhardt admires NHRA racers' bravery while recalling her firsthand drag bike experience

During a recent episode of Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Dirty Mo Media podcast, Kelley Earnhardt shared her admiration for NHRA racers while hosting four-time NHRA Top Fuel Champion, Antron Brown. The conversation, centered around the business aspect and challenges of motorsports, also touched on the adrenaline-fueled nature of drag racing.

Kelley Earnhardt talked about her limited firsthand experience with the sport, also mentioning how physically and mentally demanding it can be.

The discussion began with Brown talking about how he became a top NHRA racer, including the influence his motocross background had on him early on. He also shared stories of competing at over 300 miles per hour. Following this, Kelley recalled her encounter with drag bikes years ago.

"I sat on Angelle Seling’s Pro Stock bike, and it’s big, but it’s really big with the parachute and everything. I thought, ‘How in the world do these guys and girls go down that straight line as fast as they go?’" Earnhardt said [at 12:00 onwards].

After this, she admitted being awestruck by the courage and skill that is needed to control such powerful machines at high speeds.

Kelley Earnhardt concluded this segment of the conversation by talking about the mental toughness that NHRA racers must have and also drew a parallel to NASCAR in that regard.

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"If you want to be great at something, you have to get uncomfortable": Antron Brown in conversation with Kelley Earnhardt, talks about success

Later in the same episode of the podcast, Brown gave a philosophy that has driven his career. Antron Brown is the first African American drag racing champion. He won the dragster champion title 4 times (2012, 2015, 2016, and most recently in 2024). Along with this, he also has 80 NHRA wins to his name with 64 in Top Fuel and 16 in Pro Stock Motorcycle.

The conversation in the podcast shifted towards the topic of the sacrifices and hard work required to reach a certain high stage of this motorsports. Brown talked about how stepping outside one’s comfort zone and pushing through challenges was very important to succeed. Brown said,

"If you want to be great at something, you got to put yourself out there, get uncomfortable, and then when you get used to being uncomfortable, that’s when you start breaking barriers and leveling up."

He also added how this was the mindset that helped him make the change from Motocross to NHRA racing and start his own team, AB Motorsports later on.

In an interview with WTHR in 2022, Brown talked about what made him start his own team. When thinking about what comes next for him and his family, he said:

"If you have a dream — a dream is only a dream unless you actually do the things that get you toward that goal. And for me, I never stop working. I always put the work in,"

"I was like, 'What's the next thing, the next evolution of Antron Brown and family?' With my wife, myself, and our family, we took a hard look at it, and said, 'You know what, it's time to do it on our own.'"

The team AB Motorsports took formation in Brownsburg in the year 2022 and is aimed at providing opportunities for upcoming NHRA drivers.