Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads Pocono Xfinity team to victory after taking over as interim crew chief for JR Motorsports at Pocono Raceway, stepping in while regular crew chief Mardy Lindley served a one-week suspension for a lug nut issue. Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR Hall of Famer and team co-owner, called race strategy while rising talent Connor Zilisch drove the No. 88 car to the checkered flag on Saturday.
Earnhardt Jr. Steps In as Crew Chief and Connects with Team Legacy
The move to assign Earnhardt Jr. as crew chief was orchestrated by Mardy Lindley, who texted him to take on the role during his absence. The relationship between the Lindley and Earnhardt families goes back decades, with Dale Earnhardt Sr. having raced against Butch Lindley, Mardy’s father, back in the 1970s. Both Earnhardt Jr. and Lindley have faced personal loss, having lost their fathers to the sport, creating a deep connection between their families.
Connor Zilisch, driving for JR Motorsports, was paired with Earnhardt’s leadership at Pocono. Lindley had previously achieved notable success, winning nine Xfinity races with three different drivers for JRM since 2023, making the expectations for the weekend particularly high. For Earnhardt Jr., stepping into a high-stakes, hands-on role was a return to intense competition after largely focusing on team ownership and broadcasting recently.
“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,”
—Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR Hall of Famer and Interim Crew Chief
The role brought new pressure to Earnhardt Jr., who noted the difference between overseeing from the sidelines and leading from the pit box. As the race progressed, he and the team grew more confident and dynamic in their approach, focusing on execution and adapting strategies as needed.
“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., NASCAR Hall of Famer and Interim Crew Chief
Earnhardt Jr. Guides Strategic Decisions During Race
Earnhardt Jr. clarified after the race that significant aspects of car setup and technical strategy continued to be led by JR Motorsports’ engineering team. However, he played a key role in devising in-race tactics and served as a mentor to Zilisch during pivotal moments, such as restarts and pit strategy. His responsibilities were more focused on guiding the driver and managing race flow than deeply technical crew chief duties.
“I’m not a fool to think — I didn’t have control of all the buttons and levers and stuff,”
—Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR Hall of Famer and Interim Crew Chief
“But mid-way through the race, I was feeling it. Me and the engineers on the box we’re in a great conversations around what we should do, how far we could make it, whether we were going to have enough for the green-white-checkered…all those things.”
—Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR Hall of Famer and Interim Crew Chief
Despite the pressures, Earnhardt Jr. adapted quickly, collaborating closely with the engineers and supporting the team. When asked if he would step in as crew chief again, he expressed openness to helping in such situations if needed:
“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,”
—Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR Hall of Famer and Interim Crew Chief
A Supportive Role with Attention to Detail
One of the tasks that made Earnhardt Jr. most nervous was coming off the pit box to prepare and position the right-front tire for the pit crew — a job he practiced earlier in the week with Trackhouse Racing. His concern for getting every detail right and not slowing down the pit stop shows his respect for the team’s regular processes and the fast-paced nature of NASCAR competition. This focus allowed the team to maintain their edge during critical parts of the race, and provided reassurance to everyone involved.
Earnhardt Jr. was also quick to credit Connor Zilisch, describing him as an “old soul” and praising his composure in the fast-paced environment of an Xfinity race. Working closely with the driver, he helped Zilisch stay focused and navigate restarts, which ultimately led to Zilisch earning his first victory on an oval track with JR Motorsports.
“It was fun to help him understand what I thought would be the best scenario on some of those restarts.”
—Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR Hall of Famer and Interim Crew Chief
Earnhardt Jr.’s Impact and What Lies Ahead
The victory at Pocono Raceway underlined Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s leadership ability and competitive drive, even when stepping into an unfamiliar role. The teamwork between Earnhardt Jr., the JR Motorsports engineering staff, and promising driver Connor Zilisch proved pivotal in securing the win, reinforcing JR Motorsports’ strength and versatility. Mardy Lindley, the regular crew chief, set the stage by entrusting Earnhardt with the job, and the collaboration between both families added a layer of depth to the occasion.
The result strengthens Earnhardt Jr.’s legacy in the sport and highlights his ability to quickly adapt and excel under pressure. The emotional undertones tied to family history, as well as the collective effort from engineers, pit crew, and driver, contributed to a memorable day for JR Motorsports at Pocono. For fans and the NASCAR community, the event showcased both the importance of teamwork and the value of experienced leadership, hinting at similar possibilities in the future should circumstances require Earnhardt Jr. to take the helm once more.
