Dale Earnhardt Jr. will take on a new role this weekend at Pocono Raceway. He will make his debut as an Xfinity Series crew chief.
JR Motorsports announced the news on Wednesday, June 18. The organization stated that Earnhardt Jr. will guide the No. 88 team and Connor Zilisch as the Xfinity Series takes on the Tricky Triangle. This will mark the Hall of Famer's first time leading a team from the pit box.
Mardy Lindley, the full-time crew chief for the No. 88 team at JR Motorsports, will miss the trip to Pocono Raceway. NASCAR suspended him after post-race inspection at Nashville Superspeedway. The No. 88 had two loose lug nuts, which is an automatic one-race suspension for the crew chief.
JR Motorsports was able to defer the suspension by one week so that Lindley could be with the team during the race weekend in Mexico City. The team also had to pay a $10,000 fine, $5,000 for each loose lug nut.
Pocono Raceway is familiarity territory for NASCAR teams and Earnhardt Jr. The second-tier Xfinity Series has competed at the 2.5-mile track nine times since Kyle Larson won the inaugural race in 2016.
JR Motorsports celebrated a win at the Tricky Triangle with Noah Gragson during the 2022 season. The team actually put all four of its cars inside the top seven.
Pocono Raceway is also a track where Earnhardt Jr. has achieved success. He posted an average finish of 15.0 at the 2.5-mile track during his Cup Series career, and he swept the races at Pocono during the 2014 season.
This past success may not necessarily help him as he makes his crew chief debut in the Xfinity Series, but it won't hurt as he talks to Zilisch about the best ways to navigate around the track known for its three unique turns.
This debut will only add to Earnhardt Jr.'s busy weekend. He will also be at Pocono Raceway for his role as an analyst for Prime Video. He will provide commentary during practice, qualifying, the Cup Series race, and the post-race show.