"We want to control our business" - Kelley Earnhardt on JR Motorsports' cautious approach to Cup Series expansion

JR Motorsports co-owner Kelley Earnhardt recently elaborated on the Earnhardt family's approach to becoming a Cup Series team owner, emphasizing that they wish to maintain control rather than relinquish it to financial backers.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kelley are the co-owners of JR Motorsports, a championship-winning organization at the Xfinity level. Both Dale and Kelley have previously expressed interest in buying a Cup Series charter, but the right opportunity has not presented itself yet.

In a recent conversation with Kenny Wallace, Kelley Earnhardt discussed the current situation of Cup Series charters and JRM's interest in acquiring one. She explained that they aim to have complete control over the team and want to be the architects of their success at the premier level of competition.

After Wallace asked if JR Motorsports could partner with any team or organization, the 52-year-old co-owner said,

"That would be easy, we have talked to investors, we could get the money. Like I say, it's not about that, we could get the money all day long. We are the kind of people that want to be responsible for our own success. We have skin in the game." [at 1:21:42]

"People ask me, 'How often do you go to work?', I go to work every single day. My day starts at 6:00 AM, my first cup of coffee. I'm in this office at 8:30, I leave this office at 5:00 PM, except when I'm traveling with Wyatt. That's the kind of people we are. We just want to control our business, we want to influence our business. I want to be here for my people. I want my people to know me, they know who they work for. That's just how we operate," she added.

Here's the video that Wallace shared on his YouTube channel:

Increased interest from private equity and sports funds in NASCAR has fueled rumors of Dale Jr. and Kelley Earnhardt partnering with such funds to make the jump to the Cup Series.

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Kelley Earnhardt lists other factors influencing their decision to enter Cup Series

With Dale Earnhardt Jr. turning 50 soon and balancing his family responsibilities, 52-year-old Kelley Earnhardt pondered whether it’s feasible for them to dedicate the next decade to building a competitive Cup Series team while still hoping to enjoy retirement.

Having worked tirelessly to build JR Motorsports into a top-tier Xfinity Series organization, Kelley wondered if she could replicate it in the coming years. She acknowledged the long-term benefits of owning a Cup charter but acknowledged that it would come at the cost of time away from her family.

"If you think about what it means to be a Cup owner today, I need a very valuable charter to make it work. Do I put out the money for that charter today at 52 and Dale's turning 50. I hope I get to retire at 65, I hope that I can go enjoy some life," she said [at 1:19:36]

"You have this asset over here that can appreciate and provide value long-term, but how hard you have to work to make the business model work. Do you want to work that hard for the next 10-15 years, when you already worked 25 years really hard to do what we do now, and to be what we are now," she added.

The JR Motorsports co-owners also manage Dirty Mo Media and the CARS Tour series among their various assets, which keeps them occupied.