NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s fans have found yet another reason to celebrate as he adds the crew chief title to his already stacked NASCAR resume. Earnhardt will take over pit box duties for rising star Connor Zilisch amid an unexpected suspension twist.
The JR Motorsports co-owner will climb atop the pit box at Pocono Raceway, guiding Zilisch, a promising young driver for his team, during Saturday’s Explore the Pocono Mountains 250 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
The move comes after Zilisch’s regular crew chief, Mardy Lindley, was suspended by NASCAR for failing post-race inspection at Nashville due to two missing lug nuts.
The new move marks the first time ever that Earnhardt will serve as a crew chief in a competitive NASCAR race, turning heads across the garage and sending fans into a social media frenzy.
Fans Gear Up for Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Move From Broadcast Booth To Pit Box
Since retiring from full-time racing, Earnhardt Jr. has kept busy with several new roles, including media analyst, podcast host, part-time race car driver, and co-owner of JR Motorsports. Now in his new temporary role as Zilisch’s crew chief, the shift to an active race-day strategy role is something different.
Crew chief getting us through tech today @DaleJr pic.twitter.com/OoCT6xSmRK
— Connor Zilisch (@ConnorZilisch) June 20, 2025
Zilisch posted about Earnhardt as his new crew chief for the Pocono raceway, saying on X, “Crew chief is getting us through tech today@DaleJr.”
Excited for the race and hoping to see Zilisch win, one NASCAR fan commented, “Go after the win tomorrow Connor.”
Another fan replied with a GIF video, “The crew chief when something breaks.”
“Go get em tomorrow Connor,” added another fan cheering for a Zilisch victory.
One fan responded to Zilisch’s post and shared an image of the popular 2006 animated movie Cars’ crew chief.
With the race a few hours away, the new collaboration could be a defining weekend for both the rising star and veteran racing icon. And with Earnhardt Jr. on the box and in front of cameras all weekend long, Pocono’s Xfinity Series race just became appointment viewing.
Beyond the excitement and fan support, Earnhardt Jr.’s crew chief debut adds an unexpected layer of intrigue to a challenging weekend at the “Tricky Triangle,” the nickname given to Pocono Raceway.
Fans will be watching closely as he returns not just to the garage but to direct race strategy and in-the-moment decision-making, a far cry from his usual media responsibilities.
Earnhardt Jr. is currently part of NASCAR’s Cup Series coverage on Amazon Prime Video. He will be pulling double duty this weekend as he attempts to balance his broadcast commitments with a hands-on role in the Xfinity Series.
