Dale Earnhardt Jr. recently stepped into the crew chief role for JR Motorsports at Pocono, guiding Connor Zilisch to an Xfinity victory, making him one of the special people in NASCAR history to notch wins as a driver, owner, and crew chief. He said he enjoyed the experience and “If they want me to do it, I would happily do it,” but clarified he won’t lobby for crew chief duties regularly, only stepping in if the team truly needs him. Despite that triumphant debut, he remains focused on ownership, open to the mantle again but without seeking it.
As a Hall of Famer with 26 wins, Earnhardt’s perspective carries weight among JRM staff. He’s guided JRM’s Chevrolet to multiple Xfinity championships (2014, 2017, 2018, and 2024) and understands the teamwork behind those titles. His recent hands-on role at Pocono offered a fresh lens on team preparedness and operations.
Earnhardt Jr. celebrates JRM’s collective strength
“We really do have a very special thing going on here, and we’ve talked about that for years, but it was so apparent to me having a new group…seeing behind some curtains I never looked behind before. It really was impressive…and it just made me very happy.” This reflects JRM’s evolution from a small late-model outfit in 2002 to a powerhouse in Xfinity, with four championships and over 100 wins. His fresh vantage confirmed that individual contributions, engineers fine-tuning setups, pit crews executing stops, and data teams analyzing lap times combine to sustain momentum week after week.
This team is special. pic.twitter.com/cIcVDeSPOv
— JR Motorsports (@JRMotorsports) June 23, 2025
He pointed out how “every single individual in this building doing their job as well as they can allows all of us to succeed. If somebody falls behind or lags behind…everybody’s trying to pick up that slack.” This aligns with JRM’s documented culture. After Mardy Lindley’s suspension at Nashville, the team prepared meticulously for Pocono, enabling Jr.’s smooth entry as interim crew chief and Zilisch’s win. Historically, JRM’s depth, evident in developing drivers like Chase Elliott, William Byron, and Tyler Reddick, stems from that collective ethos. Earnhardt’s words underscore that legacy. Success arises not from one star but from a collective effort across departments.
He noted the “momentum” they’re carrying. “We’re really cruising down the road with a lot of momentum,” a nod to JRM’s recent performance, including Justin Allgaier’s 2024 Xfinity championship and Zilisch’s rapid ascent. This momentum is built on strategic continuity, stable leadership. The team also made their Cup Series debut this year at the Daytona 500, and with drivers like Carson Kvapil and Connor Zilisch rising from the ranks, the future looks bright for them.
While the Pocono milestone was a special one for Jr., Kyle Busch wasn’t sold on his abilities as a crew chief and made a controversial statement. And this gesture wasn’t appreciated by Denny Hamlin, who shared his take on Jr.’s new role at the top of the pit box.
Denny Hamlin comes out in Dale Jr.’s defense
When Kyle Busch dismissed Jr.’s crew chief debut as mere “warm body” duty, Denny Hamlin spoke up. “I think we gotta give Dale Jr. a little bit of due. Certainly don’t want to undersell the fact that the team was doing the heavy lifting. Listen, I think the answer is somewhere in between… But still, you gotta be responsible, right?” Hamlin pointed out that Jr. contributed strategy insights and communicated opportunities to Zilisch, backed by his two Pocono Cup wins, validating that his presence mattered beyond optics.
Hamlin also stressed respect for Jr.’s multifaceted role. As owner, broadcaster, and occasional crew chief, he brings a unique perspective. The Pocono win illustrated how Dale Jr. identified strategic calls, like staying out late in Stage 2, to secure track position. By defending him against Busch’s jibe, Hamlin reinforced that experience and observational skill translate into value in the pit box.
As we have recently seen in the Cup race in Pocono, even a smaller miscommunication in the pit crew can lead to losing positions and also the race, sometimes (Brad Keselowski’s case). In NASCAR’s environment, where reputation and respect hinge on tangible contributions, Hamlin’s support underscores that Dale Jr.’s message to JRM is grounded in real impact, not just legacy.
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