Rising NASCAR talent Connor Zilisch secured a thrilling win at the Explore the Pocono Mountains 250 held at Pocono Raceway on June 21, 2025, marking a remarkable moment in his career with rookie crew chief Dale Earnhardt Jr. guiding the effort. Their winning debut partnership drew praise from former NASCAR crew chief Rodney Childers, who praised the duo after the race.
Zilisch showed strong performance in qualifying, earning ninth place with a lap time of 54.36 seconds and reaching a top speed of 164.74 mph on the 2.5-mile tri-oval. The pole position was claimed by Chase Elliott of Hendrick Motorsports, clocking a faster 54.14-second lap at 166.02 mph in his #17 Chevy. Earnhardt Jr., making his debut as the crew chief for Zilisch’s #88 Chevy, stepped in due to the suspension of the regular crew chief, adding an unexpected dynamic to the race weekend.
Zilisch Leads Key Laps and Executes Final Move for Victory
After a solid start, Connor Zilisch commanded the race by leading 34 laps. In a decisive final move, he edged past Jesse Love to capture his first oval track victory. Love, driving for Richard Childress Racing, finished a close second, while Christian Eckes of McAnally-Hilgemann Racing secured third place. Chase Elliott and Ryan Sieg of RSS Racing completed the top five, finishing fourth and fifth respectively.
Rodney Childers expressed admiration for both Zilisch and Earnhardt Jr., highlighting the importance of this victory for the young driver and acknowledging the former driver’s impact in his new role as crew chief.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Reflects on Stepping into Crew Chief Role Despite Experienced Staff
Dale Earnhardt Jr. accepted the challenge of serving as crew chief for Connor Zilisch after regular crew chief Mardy Lindley was suspended for one race due to a loose lug nut found during post-race inspections at Nashville Superspeedway. Earnhardt Jr. agreed to take over the #88 Chevy team at Lindley’s request, despite numerous qualified personnel within JR Motorsports.
“There’s probably over 100 people at JR Motorsports that would have been more qualified, but Mardy asked me to do it. So I was like, ‘You must want me to do it.’ … We got a great team and a great organization that can handle these types of challenges. Should be no problem.”
—Dale Earnhardt Jr., Crew Chief
“It’s way more fun than being the owner. When you’re the owner, you don’t do anything, and there’s nothing you provide of assistance during the race weekend. There’s nothing that you do that makes or breaks a weekend or lifts a team’s performance. And it sucks. When you’re the owner, you’re just kind of standing there going, ‘Good job, everybody.’ But this is way more fun,”
—Dale Earnhardt Jr., Crew Chief
His decision to step into this hands-on role allowed Earnhardt Jr. to actively contribute throughout the race weekend, an experience he described as far more engaging than ownership duties.
Current Season Overview Highlights Zilisch’s Strong Performance
Connor Zilisch stands fifth in the Xfinity Series points standings with a total of 488 points. His impressive campaign includes two wins, seven top-ten finishes, five top-five placements, and four pole positions across 15 starts this season. Additionally, Zilisch has led a total of 240 laps, maintaining an average starting position of 6.333.
Implications of the Victory for Zilisch and the Team
This breakthrough victory at Pocono Raceway illustrates Connor Zilisch’s rising potential within NASCAR, signifying his ability to perform under pressure with a new crew chief partnership. The collaboration with Dale Earnhardt Jr. could bring fresh momentum and strategic insights to JR Motorsports as the season progresses. Their success at such a notable event may encourage further opportunities for Earnhardt Jr. in a crew chief capacity and strengthen Zilisch’s confidence on oval tracks moving forward.