Dale Earnhardt Jr. proved he’s still got the magic touch at Pocono. Well, it’s just not from behind the wheel this time. In a plot twist NASCAR fans couldn’t have predicted, Junior stepped in as crew chief for rising star Connor Zilisch at the Xfinity Series race, and together they landed in Victory Lane.
But before the checkered flag ever waved, Kyle Busch threw some major shade in Dale Jr.’s direction. The remark sparked debate and brought even more eyes to what seemed like a fun, one-off gig for Junior. Now, Dale Jr. has revealed what actually went down behind the pit box. And let’s just say it paints a much different picture than Busch’s cheeky narrative. Far from a cushy “remote control” job, Dale Jr.’s version is raw, chaotic, and full of peanut-fueled confusion.
Dale Jr. blows apart Kyle Busch’s Pocono assumptions
Kyle Busch didn’t mince words heading into Pocono. When asked about Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s crew chief debut for Connor Zilisch in the Xfinity Series, he dismissed it with a sharp jab: “It’s all publicity… He’s just gonna be a warm body sitting on top of the box.” In Busch’s eyes, Dale Jr. was more figurehead than strategist. Just there to smile for the cameras while the real race-day calls came from suspended crew chief Mardy Lindley behind the scenes.
Turns out, Busch couldn’t have been more wrong. After leading Zilisch to a win, Dale Jr. peeled back the curtain on what really happened. And it was far from a glorified cameo. “I’ll be honest. Mardy was not as hands-on as I would have been in his position,” Dale Jr. said of Lindley.
“It was difficult, it was delayed… The vibe that I got from Mardy was almost like he gave us the playbook on Wednesday, and then he just kinda sat back,” Dale Jr. further revealed Lindley’s nonchalant approach during the Pocono race week. There was no war room. No behind-the-scenes command center. “People are like, he’s in a w– room. B——-,” Junior continued.
Lindley, instead, was having a leisure time eating peanuts and drinking beer while Dale Jr. and Connor Zilisch were working hard towards ensuring nothing went wrong throughout the race. Basically, as Dale Jr. put it, “Man, we’re on our own.” Luckily, everything fell into place and Zilisch won the race, ahead of his best friend, Jesse Love.
But, at the end of the race, the results and the reality spoke for themselves. Dale Jr. wasn’t just window dressing. He made the calls, handled the pressure, and brought home a win. Definitely more than a warm body.
Kyle Busch explains the reason behind his comments
To some fans and media, Busch’s words came across as dismissive of Dale Jr.’s contribution. Quickly, it sparked a wave of backlash on social media and NASCAR forums. A large portion of the NASCAR community interpreted Kyle Busch’s remarks as disrespectful toward a beloved figure in the sport.
Busch wasted little time in clarifying his stance. “This has nothing to do w any animosity towards Dale Jr. I’m referencing how silly the suspensions for cc are these days with all the technology they have to stay in contact with their teams. I’d say the same thing if JG went on a HMS box as a cc,” he stated.
Busch emphasized that his criticism was directed at the current suspension rules for crew chiefs, and not at Dale Jr. personally. His point centered on how modern technology allows suspended crew chiefs to remain involved in race strategy, making some penalties seem outdated or ineffective. Even Dale Jr. mentioned that he was in touch with Lindley throughout the race. “Yes, I could communicate with Mardy,” Dale Jr. said.
In the end, what started as a lighthearted “publicity stunt” turned into a meaningful win for both Connor Zilisch and Dale Earnhardt Jr. It served as a reminder that passion, adaptability, and trust in your driver still matter in NASCAR. Whether or not Kyle Busch intended to throw shade, Dale Jr. proved he was more than capable on the box. And while the crew chief role might’ve been temporary, the impact and memories from Pocono will last much longer.
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