Dale Earnhardt’s grandson: My MMA debut shows racers are athletes
The grandson of legendary NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt, Jeffrey Earnhardt has been working his way towards the sport’s major league…
The grandson of legendary NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt, Jeffrey Earnhardt has been working his way towards the sport’s major league circuit for years. At 22 years old, that’s a goal he’s still chasing.
But like many young athletes, Earnhardt has fallen in love with mixed martial arts, first as a fan, and now as a fighter. And on Tuesday, Earnhardt will become a two-sport athlete when he makes his amateur MMA debut at Fight Lab 25 on May 27, in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Earnhardt has no illusions about a bigtime MMA career.
Around the track, some think he’s crazy to take the risk of fighting; others are impressed at his courage to do so.
“A lot of people don’t see race car athletes as true athletes,” he said. “They don’t think we’re capable of doing anything other than sitting in a car and driving in a circle. A lot of people don’t understand the reality of it. This is an opportunity to prove to people that race car drivers are athletes. It’s a lot harder than people realize. Hopefully this MMA fight will help people realize that, and that we can hold our own as athletes.”