LONG POND, Pa. — Kyle Busch, the two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, didn’t hold back Saturday when addressing the media on X about Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s one-race stint as crew chief for Connor Zilisch in the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Pocono Raceway. Busch, known for his candid takes, labeled the move a “publicity stunt,” sparking buzz around the Tricky Triangle.
Busch, driver of the No. 8 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing, suggested Earnhardt’s role atop the No. 88 JR Motorsports pit box was more about fanfare than function. “It’s all publicity,” Busch said to reporters in Long Pond.
“Spin it how you want.
“He’s just going to be a warm body sitting on top of the box.” The comment raised eyebrows, given Earnhardt’s status as a NASCAR Hall of Famer and JR Motorsports co-owner.
Earnhardt, a two-time Xfinity Series champion with 24 career wins, stepped in for suspended crew chief Mardy Lindley, who was penalized for loose lug nuts after Nashville. Zilisch, an 18-year-old rookie locked into the playoffs with a Circuit of The Americas victory, welcomed Earnhardt’s guidance. Yet Busch, with 63 Cup Series wins, playfully questioned the practicality, implying the No. 88 team’s depth made Earnhardt’s role symbolic.
The Explore the Pocono Mountains 250, a 250-mile sprint, saw Earnhardt leveraging his 2014 Pocono Cup Series sweep to strategize. Busch, however, downplayed Earnhardt Jr’s impact, suggesting the crew’s resources would carry Zilisch, fifth in Xfinity points, regardless.
“They’ve got enough people to handle it,” Busch said.
Busch’s remarks come amid his own 2025 struggles, sitting 20th in Cup points without a win, a far cry from his championship form. The Las Vegas native, who extended his RCR contract through 2026, has clashed with peers before, notably Shane van Gisbergen at Nashville. His X comments on Earnhardt, a 15-time Most Popular Driver, reignited his polarizing persona.
Earnhardt, also a Prime Video analyst, embraced the crew chief challenge, calling it “way more fun than being the owner.” Zilisch, mentored by Earnhardt’s track insights, aimed for a top-10 finish at Pocono, his first start there. Despite Busch’s skepticism, Earnhardt’s hands-on approach drew crowds to the No. 88 hauler.
As Pocono’s Xfinity race unfolded, Busch’s X posts kept the spotlight on Earnhardt’s debut. Whether publicity or not, Earnhardt’s pit box presence and Busch’s sharp critique ensured NASCAR’s narrative stayed electric.
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