Dale Earnhardt Jr’s Mother Brenda Jackson Passes Away At Age 65

Brenda Lorraine Jackson, the mother of former NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt, Jr., has passed away at age 65. The news was announced on Monday, April 22, in an official statement on the driver’s website. Jackson was married to Dale Earnhardt from 1972 to 1979.

Jackson had been battling stomach cancer.

“Known for her wit, charisma and unparalleled ability to cut to the heart of any matter, Jackson became an instant favorite to her friends and colleagues at JR Motorsports when she joined the company as an accounting specialist in 2004,” an official statement from JRM Racing read.

“Her sarcastic musings and straightforward approach injected a brand of humor at JR Motorsports that became part of its fabric as it grew into a full-time NASCAR racing operation in 2006 and a championship-winning organization in 2014.”

Brenda was very active in the Dale Jr. Foundation.

“I am a very, very lucky woman, as I get to interact with my kids almost every day,” she said a year ago. “I’ve got two bright, beautiful kids that I am very proud of. Kelley’s standards are very high. She conducts herself that way and she expects that of everyone else. Dale Jr. just gets bigger and bigger. I am very proud of his accomplishments, but as a mother I am proudest of the way he handles himself with honesty and the way he cares about his family and his friends.”

She is survived by her husband; her children Dale Earnhardt Jr. (wife Amy), Kelley Earnhardt Miller (husband L.W.), step-daughter Meredith Davis (husband Jonathan); her grandchildren Karsyn Elledge (18), Kennedy Elledge (13), Wyatt Miller (7), Callahan Davis (16), Claudia Davis (13), and Isla Rose Earnhardt (11 months); her brothers Robert Gee (wife Beverly) and Jimmy Gee; and her beloved Pekingese dog, Scully.

Our deepest condolences are with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the family and friends of Brenda Jackson who are struggling during this difficult time.