Latest news with #NASCARXfinitySeriesExplorethePoconoMountains250
Newsweek
24-06-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Addresses His Future as a Crew Chief
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. 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. Connor Zilisch, driver of the #88 Registix Chevrolet, and JR Motorsports team owner, and fill-in crew chief Dale Earnhardt Jr. celebrate in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Explore the Pocono Mountains 250... Connor Zilisch, driver of the #88 Registix Chevrolet, and JR Motorsports team owner, and fill-in crew chief Dale Earnhardt Jr. celebrate in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Explore the Pocono Mountains 250 at Pocono Raceway on June 21, 2025 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. More Photo byAs 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). — 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.
Newsweek
22-06-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Opens Up About Being a NASCAR Team Owner and Crew Chief
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr. stepped in as a crew chief for 18-year-old Connor Zilisch, giving him the unique perspectives of having been a crew chief and a team owner. Earnhardt owns JR Motorsports - a racing team that gives young drivers an opportunity in the Xfinity Series. Ahead of the Pocono race, Earnhardt Jr. broke down the differences between serving as an owner and crew chief: "It's way more fun than being the owner," Earnhardt told Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic. "When you're the owner, you don't do anything, and there's nothing you provide of assistance during the race weekend. There's nothing that you do that makes or breaks a weekend or lifts a team's performance. And it sucks. "I used to be a driver and have a role, and when you win, you get out [of the car] and go, 'I was part of that.' When you're the owner, you're just kind of standing there going, 'Good job, everybody.' But this is way more fun." The former driver stepped into the role after the team's regular crew chief, Mardy Lindley, was suspended for Zilisch's No. 88 car lacking two lug nuts during the race in Nashville. Connor Zilisch, driver of the #88 Registix Chevrolet, and JR Motorsports team owner, and fill-in crew chief Dale Earnhardt Jr. celebrate in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Explore the Pocono Mountains 250... Connor Zilisch, driver of the #88 Registix Chevrolet, and JR Motorsports team owner, and fill-in crew chief Dale Earnhardt Jr. celebrate in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Explore the Pocono Mountains 250 at Pocono Raceway on June 21, 2025 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. More Photo byEarnhardt Jr. was offered the role by Lindley, who convinced him to take on the role. "There's probably over 100 people at JR Motorsports that would have been more qualified, but Mardy asked me to do it," he added. "So I was like, 'You must want me to do it.' ... We got a great team and a great organization that can handle these types of challenges. Should be no problem. "I've sat on plenty of pit boxes, but it should be cool to see it from this perspective." Great quote from Dale Earnhardt Jr. on the difference between being an owner and crew chief, and why he's finding more enjoyment in the latter role as he steps in as crew chief for Connor Zilisch this weekend. — Jordan Bianchi (@Jordan_Bianchi) June 21, 2025 Despite never working the role, Earnhardt Jr. led Zilisch to a race win. Zilisch was in third place at the restart during the final stages of the race. He managed to quickly gain a place once it got underway again and battled with Jesse Love for the wine. With four laps left, Zilisch overtook Love for the lead and delivered a race win. After getting a win in his debut, Earnhardt Jr. took the humble path and gave credit to the racing team. "When we have an issue like this with somebody being suspended, they know what to do. Just a great job putting us in a position to succeed," Earnhardt told The CW Sports broadcaster Dillon Welch. The 18-year-old opted to give his boss some props on doing a good job. "Dale Jr, not too bad on the box," Zilisch said after the win.
Newsweek
22-06-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Connor Zilisch Pokes Fun at Dale Earnhardt Jr. After Xfinity Win at Pocono
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Connor Zilisch may have taken a lighthearted jab at his team boss, Dale Earnhardt Jr., with the way he celebrated his NASCAR Xfinity Series race win at Pocono. The race marked the pair's first race together as driver and crew chief. Zilisch's second victory of the season arrived after he capitalized on a caution on Lap 71 and stayed in the battle for the top spot. Just as Justin Allgaier and Chase Elliott brought their elbows out, Zilisch was quick to take advantage of the situation. Though Jesse Love took the lead, Zilisch ensured he got a strong restart and overtook Love in just four laps to win the race. The 18-year-old executed the race calmly and showed no signs of haste. Connor Zilisch, driver of the #88 Registix Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Explore the Pocono Mountains 250 at Pocono Raceway on June 21, 2025 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. Connor Zilisch, driver of the #88 Registix Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Explore the Pocono Mountains 250 at Pocono Raceway on June 21, 2025 in Long Pond, this marked a great race day for Zilisch and Dale Jr., who was serving as the interim crew chief for the 18-year-old driver, Zilisch's post-race celebrations would have likely annoyed Dale Jr. The former NASCAR Cup Series driver has admitted on his Dale Jr. Download podcast that he isn't a fan of drivers emerging from the car's roof hatch to celebrate. However, Zilisch did just that. Was this a way of poking fun at his new boss? Only Zilisch knows that. Well, that'll be a topic on the @DaleJr Download 🤣 — Xfinity Racing (@XfinityRacing) June 21, 2025 Speaking after his Xfinity win, Zilisch addressed his race preparations and admitted that a driver must trust the simulator. He said: "There's a lot that goes on behind the scenes. I've done a lot to prepare myself for this. I never feel like I show up to a racetrack and I'm like, 'man, I'm nervous. I don't know what I'm going to do.' I always have a plan showing up to a new racetrack. I showed that today. I went out for practice and I was third on the first lap never seeing the place before. "It's not easy to do that. I was going wide open down into [turn] 1, and I was like, 'wow, this is fast.' You kind of just have to trust the simulator and trust your notes and what you've seen and watched. I try to give myself an idea of what I'm going to see when I get to the racetrack without having to overthink about it." He added: "I've folded more times than I've been able to count this year, so I wouldn't say I'm perfect. It's just a matter of preparing and not letting any situation be too big. Those restarts can be chaotic and nerve-wracking, especially when you're up there at the front racing for a win. But I treat any race the same - I run my next best corner and hope that what I do works out for me. Sometimes it doesn't and sometimes it does. Today, it worked out."
