Connor Zilisch Wins NASCAR Cup Series Race At Pocono In Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Crew Chief Debut

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Jun 21, 2025
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Connor Zilisch at Pocono
Credit: NASCAR via Getty Images

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is officially the most successful NASCAR Xfinity Series Crew Chief of all time. Based on winning percentage, that is.

The JR Motorsports owner filled in for Connor Zilisch’s suspended crew chief at Pocono Raceway on Saturday and helped his driver score his third career win and first on an oval track in his first time in the crew chief role.

Earnhardt said on The CW after the race that he got some advice from his former crew chief and fellow broadcaster Steve Latarte, who was in the chair when he won at Pocono in the Cup Series, but said the rest of the team made it easy for him.

“What a great race car driver, Connor Zilisch, he’s gonna be a big deal in this sport for a long time,” Earnhardt said.

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“A lot of fun for me today,” he added. “I’ve missed the thrill of competition, you know, I live broadcasting, don’t get me wrong, but nothing, nothing compares to driving or just being kind of part of the team and being an owner doesn’t really deliver like this.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Pocono
(NASCAR via Getty Images)

Zilisch finished third in Stage One and won Stage Two. After a late restart, he passed Jesse Love for the lead on lap 96 of the 100-lap race and held on to win by a half-second lead.

Read Also: LAYNE RIGGS WINS NASCAR CUP SERIES RACE AT POCONO AS COREY HEIM BLOWS TIRE

“I’ve been dying for this one for a while now, I know it hasn’t felt like that long, but man, I’ve been so close on the ovals lately,” Zilisch said.

“I finished second at Charlotte, I finished second at Nashville and, yea, Dale Jr. not to bad on the box, pretty cool to have him up there.

Full Results:

  1. (9)  Connor Zilisch #, Chevrolet, 100.
  2. (10)  Jesse Love, Chevrolet, 100.
  3. (15)  Christian Eckes #, Chevrolet, 100.
  4. (1)  Chase Elliott(i), Chevrolet, 100.
  5. (5)  Ryan Sieg, Ford, 100.
  6. (22)  Carson Kvapil #, Chevrolet, 100.
  7. (6)  Sam Mayer, Ford, 100.
  8. (13)  Sammy Smith, Chevrolet, 100.
  9. (7)  Taylor Gray #, Toyota, 100.
  10. (8)  Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet, 100.
  11. (20)  Jeb Burton, Chevrolet, 100.
  12. (21)  Jeremy Clements, Chevrolet, 100.
  13. (28)  Anthony Alfredo, Chevrolet, 100.
  14. (16)  Harrison Burton, Ford, 100.
  15. (26)  Josh Williams, Chevrolet, 100.
  16. (19)  Brennan Poole, Chevrolet, 100.
  17. (25)  Dean Thompson #, Toyota, 100.
  18. (2)  Brandon Jones, Toyota, 100.
  19. (11)  Matt DiBenedetto, Chevrolet, 100.
  20. (29)  Mason Massey, Chevrolet, 100.
  21. (4)  William Sawalich #, Toyota, 100.
  22. (23)  Parker Retzlaff, Chevrolet, 100.
  23. (31)  Josh Bilicki, Chevrolet, 100.
  24. (36)  Leland Honeyman Jr., Chevrolet, 100.
  25. (37)  Kyle Sieg, Ford, 100.
  26. (32)  Garrett Smithley, Chevrolet, 100.
  27. (38)  Logan Bearden, Chevrolet, 100.
  28. (3)  Nick Sanchez #, Chevrolet, 100.
  29. (27)  Blaine Perkins, Chevrolet, 100.
  30. (35)  Patrick Emerling(i), Chevrolet, 100.
  31. (18)  Daniel Dye #, Chevrolet, 100.
  32. (24)  Ryan Ellis, Chevrolet, 100.
  33. (34)  Dawson Cram, Chevrolet, 99.
  34. (33)  Carson Ware, Ford, 99.
  35. (14)  Austin Hill, Chevrolet, 96.
  36. (12)  Sheldon Creed, Ford, Accident, 88.
  37. (30)  Kris Wright, Chevrolet, Suspension, 69.
  38. (17)  Justin Bonsignore, Toyota, Engine, 7.