Rookie Connor Zilisch captured his first-ever oval victory in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Pocono Raceway on Saturday, benefiting from the experience of Dale Earnhardt Jr. as his unexpected crew chief—a storyline that put the Dale Earnhardt Jr crew chief Xfinity Pocono race in the spotlight. Zilisch held off strong competition in a late dash to the finish, making this a landmark win both for the young driver and for Earnhardt, who stepped in for the suspended Mardy Lindley to call race strategy and help on pit road.
Intense Final Laps Decide the Outcome
The Explore the Pocono Mountains 250 at Pocono Raceway was marked by variable strategies and a wave of dramatic restarts, creating unpredictable moments among the race leaders. The deciding moment arrived with only a handful of laps left, as Zilisch’s No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet pulled alongside Jesse Love, the previous year’s Rookie of the Year and one of his closest friends. With four laps to go, Zilisch made his move, securing the lead just before the three-to-go mark, ultimately finishing .437 seconds ahead of Love and the rest of the field.
Earnhardt, a two-time Daytona 500 winner and NASCAR Hall of Famer, played a hands-on role throughout the event. Not only did he make critical calls as crew chief in his first official outing in the role, but he also physically assisted with pit stops. His influence was clear as Zilisch executed a poised and calculated race, marking Earnhardt as the fifth crew chief this Xfinity season to notch a debut win.
“Just a great job putting us in position to succeed, we had a lot of things go our way, a lot of good luck, good race strategy, had a little help from [his former NASCAR Cup Series crew chief Steve] Letarte,”
— Dale Earnhardt Jr., Team Owner & Crew Chief
Earnhardt continued his praise for the organization and Lindley’s preparation, adding,
“Hat’s off to everybody on this team,”
— Dale Earnhardt Jr., Team Owner & Crew Chief. He expressed excitement about Zilisch’s potential by stating,
“It’s been amazing all weekend long. Great race car driver. Connor Zilisch is going to be a big deal in this sport for a long time. A lot of fun for me today.”
— Dale Earnhardt Jr., Team Owner & Crew Chief
Zilisch’s Determination and Key Rivalries
Zilisch, age 18, recognized the significance of this achievement and the effort required to prevail. He explained that the race’s ten caution flags forced drivers and teams to constantly adapt strategies, especially during repeated restarts that tested nerves and techniques. After coming close to victory at Charlotte and Nashville, Zilisch felt relief and satisfaction at finally breaking through on an oval track.
“I’ve been dying for this one for a while now, I’ve been so close on the ovals lately,”
— Connor Zilisch, Driver
Zilisch credited Dale Earnhardt Jr. for his leadership, saying,
“And Dale Junior, not too bad on the box,”
— Connor Zilisch, Driver. He also shared his appreciation, stating,
“Pretty cool to have him up there. Thank you so much to the entire JR Motorsports team. … this one is definitely special. I’ve been chasing an oval win for a while now.”
— Connor Zilisch, Driver
Chase Elliott, the former NASCAR Cup Series champion and a key presence at both Pocono events this weekend, posed the biggest challenge for much of the race. Elliott led 38 laps, more than any other competitor. On a crucial restart with 13 laps left, he and JR Motorsports driver Justin Allgaier almost came together, each taking evasive action and losing ground—an opportunity that allowed Jesse Love to grab the lead briefly before the final caution.
Friendship and Rivalry in the Race to the Finish
The final duel unfolded between Zilisch and Love, best friends off the track but fierce rivals in the closing laps. Love started the last restart from the front row in the No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, with Zilisch behind him. Their friendly but relentless competition provided extra drama as the outcome was determined by their racing prowess right at the front.
“That’s the most focused I’ve ever been inside a race car, I did not want Connor to beat me because I’ll have to hear about it for a long time,”
— Jesse Love, Driver. Love also remarked,
“Hats off to him. He ran a good race. Once I was able to get a draft I was able to get back to him. But that bums me out, I’m not going to lie, but I’m still trying to be grateful we have fast race cars and are in position to win. Hats off to Connor.”
— Jesse Love, Driver
Race Results and Current Standings
Christian Eckes, another rookie, finished a career-best third place driving the No. 16 Chevrolet for Kaulig Racing, while Elliott rebounded for fourth and Ryan Seig secured fifth in his family-owned Ford. The rest of the top 10 included Carson Kvapil, Sam Mayer, Sammy Smith, Taylor Gray—another rookie—and Justin Allgaier.
Allgaier, the reigning series champion, now commands an 82-point lead in the championship standings over Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Hill, who suffered misfortune with an early accident, resulting in a 35th-place finish.
Looking Ahead to Atlanta and Season Implications
After this energetic victory at Pocono—a major confidence booster for Zilisch, JR Motorsports, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. in his new crew chief capacity—the Xfinity Series now shifts focus to the next race. The teams travel to Atlanta’s EchoPark Speedway for the Focused Health 250, set for Friday night. Austin Hill, despite his setbacks at Pocono, enters as a favorite, having won the last three Xfinity events at Atlanta, including the most recent earlier this year.
This Pocono win not only highlights Zilisch’s growing status among rising talents, but also showcases Earnhardt’s adaptability and leadership. With the season far from over, this breakthrough performance boosts both driver and team confidence as the chase for playoff positioning continues.
