Kyle Busch reacts to backlash from Dale Earnhardt Jr. comments, spotlights Jeff Gordon

In a big first for both Connor Zilisch and Dale Earnhardt Jr., the newest driver-crew chief pairing walked away on top following their Pocono win on Saturday. And the win served as vindication for Earnhardt Jr., who dealt with criticism from fellow NASCAR legend Kyle Busch prior to the race.

“It’s all publicity, but spin it how you want it,” Busch told Dalton Hopkins of Frontstretch. “[Earnhardt Jr.] is just going to be a warm body sitting on top of the box. You know, they’ve got enough stuff from the shop and enough technology these days of being able to have the crew chief still involved. So, um, I could say I could do the same thing with one of my truck teams, but the guys at the shop would be the ones handling it. 

“Still, great, you know, cool. Eyeballs, and putting some attention on their team, and stuff like that. I mean, JRM is one of the top two, three teams in the Xfinity Series. So, let the best man win.”

Busch walked back on his comments following Zilisch’s big win. He posted the following on his X/Twitter account:

“This has nothing to do with any animosity towards Dale Jr. I’m referencing how silly the suspensions for crew chiefs are these days with all the technology they have to stay in contact with their teams. I’d say the same thing if [Jeff Gordon] went on a [Hendrick Motor Sports] box as a crew chief.”

This has nothing to do w any animosity towards Dale jr. I’m referencing how silly the suspensions for cc are these days w all the technology they have to stay in contact w their teams. I’d say the same thing if JG went on a HMS box as a cc. https://t.co/tEpT2xACXD

— Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch) June 21, 2025

Zilisch, who has been on a roll since the wreck at Talladega and his one-week absence from Texas to mend his back, joins Denny Hamlin and Ryan Blaney as drivers to have breakthrough moments at the Pocono Raceway. Saturday’s win marked his third in the Xfinity series, with his other two coming in the 2024 Mission 200 at The Glen and the 2025 Focused Health 250.

The win will go down as a historic one for Earnhardt Jr., who earns his first win as a crew chief. The NASCAR Hall of Famer and 15-time Cup Series Most Popular Driver is just the latest racing legend to make the transition to crew chief, joining Glen Wood, Donnie Allison and Lee Petty to name a few.

Busch however doesn’t appear to be heading that route, as he humorously shot it down earlier on Saturday.

“Crew chiefing? No, no,” Busch said. “I already crew chief enough with a 10-year-old driver, and it’s enough of a headache.”

On3’s Jonathan Howard contributed to this article.