Earnhardt might be a household name when it comes to NASCAR, but did you that Taylor Earnhardt Putnam was born with a need for speed, choosing the back of a horse instead of a race car.
Putnam, 35, was gearing up for her second Rodeo Carolina before the devastating Hurricane Helene struck portions of the Eastern United States. BarrelRacing.com sat down with Putnam to discuss growing up in Nascar and rodeo, plus how she’s balancing family life now.
BarrelRacing.com: Have you ever had a job outside of rodeo?
Taylor Earnhardt Putnam: I worked my first job while I was in high school. I worked at a library, and I’ve never had another serious job since then.
BarrelRacing.com: You were born into the NASCAR lifestyle, so how did you get your start in horses?
Taylor Earnhardt Putnam: My family has always had horses. My dad really liked having horses to use when he would go hunting. He would use them as pack horses and to get up the mountain. Really, that’s where it all started for me. I always liked to go riding with him, just trail riding and having fun. After he died, the guy that took care of our horses invited me to a couple of barrel races. I really enjoyed it and started junior rodeo after that.
BarrelRacing.com: Have you ever taken a break from rodeo or horses?
Taylor Earnhardt Putnam: I’ve never taken a break, necessarily. I had my daughter, who is eight now, so I was off for a year and a half with her. Other than that, I try not to take breaks if I can avoid it. It’s a mental health booster for me, but my body does not always agree with it.
BarrelRacing.com: How does your family play a role in your rodeo lifestyle?
Taylor Earnhardt Putnam: My husband and I are going pretty hard this year, trying to make some association finals around us. His parents and my mom are really helpful when we need to go somewhere and Sage, our daughter, can’t go. Sage does go with us quite a bit. She’s got her own horse now and is wanting to get into it. She started tracking calves with us this week, so hopefully, she’ll want to get into it, but she’s enjoying what she’s doing right now.
BarrelRacing.com: What’s it like rodeoing with your husband?
Taylor Earnhardt Putnam: I think it’s great. He is so supportive. He’s got the talent, and he’s got the drive to do it. He’s so hard on himself. Sometimes I have to push him to get out of that mentality, but he’s going to be great. He’s got a great partner in the team roping, so he has a really good opportunity. We’ve had some horse issues with him, trying to find something that fits. I think we’ve got two horses that are going to work well for tie-down and in the heading this year.
BarrelRacing.com: Were you ever involved in the NASCAR side of the family business?
Taylor Earnhardt Putnam: I was never really involved in the racing side of things. I’ve done more with my dad’s foundation. I’ve done a lot of PR work and serve as a face and voice for the things he enjoyed. Of course, we went to the racetracks when I was younger. I was always involved just by being there. We had a good church group at the racetrack, but as far as being involved in the racing itself, not so much.
BarrelRacing.com: Earnhardt is a household name across the country. How has that affected you growing up?
Taylor Earnhardt Putnam: I mean, obviously, it does open some doors, but it also makes some things a little more difficult. Growing up with the name and being so young when I was exposed to it all, it’s just very natural. It’s very easy to assimilate in whatever kind of situation I am in. Obviously, people know my name and they ask, “Are you related?” It’s not something out of the ordinary for me, so it’s very natural for me to talk to a bunch of people and not feel awkward about it.
BarrelRacing.com: Do you have any good mental toughness tips?
Taylor Earnhardt Putnam: Yeah, that’s something that my husband and I talk about a lot. He’s the type of guy that says, “If I’m going to compete, I want to win.” Whereas I’m more like, “There’s another rodeo next weekend. Let’s try harder, work on it this week, and figure out what we did wrong.” I’m all about compartmentalizing each event so it doesn’t carry over to the next week and influence my competition.
BarrelRacing.com: Why did you choose to nominate for Rodeo Carolina?
Taylor Earnhardt Putnam: I think it’s a really good opportunity for the East Coast. Around here, it’s hard to find a rodeo that pays that kind of money. I think it’s a great opportunity to bring names you may not know, like Mallee Jones, to light. She won Rodeo Carolina last year and she’s from the East Coast. It’s a good opportunity for people who can’t necessarily haul up and down the road all the time. It gives us a way to make it to a big show with big payouts.
