NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr. stepped up as the crew chief for JR Motorsports and led Connor Zilisch to a race win at Pocono Raceway.
Earnhardt is a co-owner of the racing team, but when Zilisch’s crew chief, Mardy Lindley, was banned from participating in the race, the NASCAR Hall of Famer stepped up and took on the responsibility.
Lindley proposed the idea to the co-owner after finding out he was suspended due to loose lug nuts. Earnhardt was hesitant at first, but eventually came around to the idea.
As a driver, he won several races, and as an analyst, he has seen other drivers do the same, but this time, as a crew chief, he got a different look at what goes on during a race.
After the race, Earnhardt said he had fun in the role and enjoyed competing again, albeit in a different position.
“I love owning race cars, and I love racking up statistics and championships, but it does not have the competitive sort of skin in the game, if you will, that (today) does,” Earnhardt said at the post-race press conference.
“If you’re in the car, it’s on you to make sure you’re doing everything right. And when you’re the crew chief, you’re under a ton of pressure. I understand that I did not come in here and handle all of the layers that Mardy usually handles or any given crew chief manages.
“They certainly were putting me in a position to do some light lifting, but as the race went on, we got more comfortable and more aggressive.
“It was fun. I felt like I really had some involvement, some input in the energy that the crew and team had. Keeping them pumped up, everybody executing, and keeping Connor aware of what are goals were and what our expectations were on the restarts. He wanted to deliver.”
Dale Earnhardt Jr. leaves the door open to be an interim crew chief again. But only if the absent crew chief wants him to do it (as Mardy Lindley did today). pic.twitter.com/4EHvENDPfi
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) June 22, 2025
Zilisch showed impressive driving chops at the age of 18, keeping his cool and adjusting to hearing a new voice in his ear.
Earnhardt wasn’t the reason he won the race, but the racing legend did play a part, and he would do it again if the situation arose.
“I would not ever walk in the shop and say I’d be up for doing but if we find ourselves unfortunately where somebody gets suspended, if they want me to do it, I would happily do it,” Earnhardt added.
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