From Wikipedia:

She was born Teresa Houston, the daughter of Hal Houston, a sportsman racer at Hickory Motor Speedway and the niece of Tommy Houston, legendary Busch Series driver. She married Dale Earnhardt in 1982, and afterward partnered with Dale in building Dale Earnhardt, Inc. (DEI) into one of the most successful enterprises in NASCAR.

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By 14Falcons:

I for one am amazed at the amount of bashing that I have read of Teresa Earnhardt on this blog, in other places and from drivers like Kevin Harvick and Tony Stewart.  As I recall, Teresa was always the one with the business acumen in the marriage.  If the movie 3 is correct, Dale might have missed his first big break because he didn't have the business sense to get himself in his first good ride.  Sure the movie may be wrong, it was controlled by Teresa.  But would the rest of the family have allowed that portrayal if it wasn't at least close to being correct?

I remember learning befor Dale's death that Teresa was the person behind his image.  As I recall she was the one that had the most to do with starting their Action Die Cast Company.  The entry of Action into the die cast market with its Dale Earnhardt images led to an explosion in the die cast industry that inspired Joe Gibbs to get into it with his Team Caliber brand.

Where are the women's libbers when I need them I asked on another blog comment.  It seems to me that men and women alike are judging Teresa by her sex and not by her accomplishments.  Why should this woman give up controlling inteest in the company she owns?  What man would be expected to do this?

Where I come from the surviving spouse most often inherits the estate.  In some states this is the law if there is no will.  I have no problem with that.  If I die first, and I probably will, my wife gets controlling interest of my estate as well.  It's what my father did.  It's what my grandfather's did.

Again if the portrayal of dad in the movies is correct, he probably would not have handed the reigns to Jr. anyway.  He probably would have liked to see Jr. go out on his own.  I believe Dale Jr. feels this way.  I have heard him express the thought.

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As I see it this break up is a result of simply two roads diverging in a wood.  Dale is taking the one less traveled Teresa is taking the wider road that she is on.  DEI is in a rebuilding mode and needs a little time at a minimum and probably even a merger to get its feet solidly back on the ground.

But the Eury's are still there folks.  Martin Turex is a former Busch Champion and can drive.  Paul Menard might not be where he is if it weren't for daddy's money.  But so what?  He still does a good job of wheeling a car himself.  If my dad would have had money, I would have taken any chance he offered me and run with it too.

Jr. needs to win now if he is to have a monster career.  He needs to find that ride for himself.  Word is he will still work with DEI and that JR Mororsports will still work with DEI.  He is not burning all of his bridges.

I am back to thinking that he will land at Childress because Hendrick would prefer to not have a beer sponsor.  If he does wind up at Childress, he will have an opportunity to work for the man his father worked for.  It will be almost like family.  But it will not be family.  It will be business and it will allow Jr. a chance to grow further into manhood.

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This episode is like a divorce in the family.  I have been there.  Feelings will be hurt.  in the interim, why can't we just believe Dale and Teresa.  Why can't we show some empathy as we allow them all to work through this?

As an old Darrell Waltrip fan, I can't believe I am defending an Earnhardt.  But Dale gave Darrell one of his best last rides in the No.1 Penzoil car.  And for that I am eternally grateful.

As a Sterling Marlin fan who was blocked off of the Sterling Marlin board after the Daytona tragedy I could be resentful toward the Earnhardts.  But I am not.  The biggest reaon is that Dale Jr. made a point in his time of deepest hurt, to tell Sterling that Dale would not have approved of the death threats and other insults that were hurled at Sterling at the time by angry Earnhardt fans.  Sense then, Dale Jr. has continued to show that he is a man of character.  Largely because of that I feel it is time for me to support the Earnhardts, both of them.