Dale Earnhardt Jr. openly discussed his most memorable pit road error, providing a candid look into how even NASCAR greats can misjudge the fundamentals. The topic surfaced as Earnhardt returned to the crew chief’s seat at Pocono Raceway, reviving memories of his own notorious pit road mishap—a story that now stands as an important lesson in the unpredictable world of racing.
When Veterans Overlook Pit Road Details
Returning as crew chief for Connor Zilisch at the Xfinity Series Explore the Pocono Mountains 250, Dale Earnhardt Jr. played a pivotal role, ultimately guiding Zilisch to victory. As Earnhardt steered the team from atop the pit box, Chase Elliott highlighted how complicated pit stops can get, missing his pit stall during a critical moment in the race. This prompted Earnhardt Jr. to share his personal experience of making one of the “dumbest” mistakes of his career at Bristol, revealing how pit road mishaps can happen regardless of experience.
On an episode of the Dale Jr. Download, Earnhardt Jr. recalled the chaos that can come with radio communication and spotter directions, ultimately leading to costly errors. He recounted how lapses in information, or spotters giving incorrect guidance, could hamper a driver’s race day.
“It can happen in a number of ways..somebody can talk on top of somebody and the information doesn’t get to the driver and he doesn’t know what to do. The spotter can give you the wrong information and tell you to come down pit road when it’s close. I remember one of the dumbest things. I think it’s Bristol… I can’t believe I did this even today, so dumb. Caution comes out, going down the back straightaway, immediately get on the microphone mash the button and I’m talking to Tony (Eury) Jr and I’m telling him all the things that I want him to fix on the race car,” Earnhardt recalled. —Dale Earnhardt Jr., Driver
During that Bristol incident, Earnhardt was laser-focused on relaying details about wedge, balance, and handling to his crew chief, Tony Eury Jr., instead of paying attention to pit entry signals. In his recollection, Earnhardt Jr. admitted that his intention to help actually resulted in him missing his pit opportunity entirely.

“I’m giving him all this great information, man. I’m like ‘Oh man I’m really helping here, we’re going to get this car adjusted and we’re going to haul a*s.’ And I get off the button and he goes ‘Well all that’s great, but I needed you to come down pit road with everybody else.’ And I had talked on the microphone all the way around the racetrack past the entrance to pit road and missed the opportunity to come and pit,” Earnhardt added. —Dale Earnhardt Jr., Driver
New Challenges in Crew Chief Role at Pocono
Modern racing still suffers from pit road complications, with technology unable to eliminate human error entirely. Strict NASCAR rules about pit road procedures, including proper timing and safe entry, continue to trip even seasoned drivers, leading to rear restarts or outright penalties. During the Pocono race, Chase Elliott suffered from these very pitfalls. Despite leading 38 laps in the No. 17 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, a late miscalculation led him to overshoot his pit box and collide with Justin Allgaier, costing both top track positions. Additional infractions, including speeding, eventually booted Elliott to the back and resulted in his disqualification after post-race inspection.
The day was a test for everyone on pit road, echoing Earnhardt Jr.’s prior experience where a moment of distraction and a flood of information led to the Dale Earnhardt Jr. pit road mistake that haunts him to this day. Yet, during Earnhardt’s one-off stint as Zilisch’s crew chief—substituting for the suspended Mardy Lindley—he led the young driver to his first career oval win and second overall Xfinity Series victory. For Earnhardt, the result underscored the duality of racing: mistakes loom large, but redemption is always possible from a different role in the sport.
The Rush and Reality of Leadership on the Pit Box
Reflecting on his new perspective atop the pit box, Earnhardt described the intensity and excitement of crew chief duties. The switch from driver to strategist brought new pressures but also a resurgent passion for competition and leadership.
“It was fun as s**t running that deal. And I’m telling you by the third stage I was f***king running it. Sorry for my language. Dude, I was on that, I was on that, I was on it. It was my team by that point. It was awesome.” —Dale Earnhardt Jr., Crew Chief
Despite his successful foray, Earnhardt was quick to clarify that spotting from above isn’t his preferred role, referencing a past attempt that ended in disaster and making it clear he wouldn’t want the responsibility or the discomfort again.
“I spotted for my friend Brad Means, that’s Jimmy Mean’s son, he was racing a late model at Tri County in 1997 or eight. I spotted for him and drove him right into a wreck. So, I don’t want to spot. Spotting is miserable, man. They’re up on the roof, you gotta wear long sleeves, it’s a 100 degrees, and you get blamed for everything.” —Dale Earnhardt Jr., Crew Chief
The Earnhardt Family Makes It a Team Affair
The Pocono win marked more than just a pit box triumph for Earnhardt Jr.; it was a celebration shared with his wife Amy Earnhardt and daughters Isla and Nicole in Victory Lane. The day represented a full-circle moment for the Earnhardt family, as all four JR Motorsports cars finished within the top 10, highlighting the depth and strength of the organization with drivers like Carson Kvapil and Justin Allgaier also delivering strong performances.
Yet, the following weekend proved more challenging for JR Motorsports at EchoPark Speedway. In the Focused Health 250, only two of the team’s entries—Carson Kvapil, coming in a close second behind Nick Sanchez, and Connor Zilisch in fourth—finished inside the top 10. Sammy Smith and Justin Allgaier had tough races, both failing to finish and winding up outside the top 30.
Why the “Dumbest” Mistakes Still Matter
Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s honesty about his blunders serves as a reminder that even the most experienced competitors are not immune to lapses in judgment, especially under pressure. The Dale Earnhardt Jr pit road mistake at Bristol was not just a personal embarrassment, but also a powerful teaching moment about how focus and communication must align for success. This theme proved central, from Chase Elliott’s late-race misfortune to Zilisch’s breakthrough driven by Earnhardt’s guidance.
As NASCAR continues to evolve, the unpredictable nature of high-stakes racing means pit road errors are likely to persist, regardless of advances in technology or experience. For JR Motorsports and their competitors, each race remains an opportunity to learn, recover, and chase victory—even when the basics go wrong.