Connor Zilisch and crew chief Dale Earnhardt Jr. w...

18-year-old Connor Zilisch earned his first oval win Saturday at Pocono Raceway, and he did it with assist from ‘rookie’ crew chief and JR Motorsports co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. atop the field. Zilisch made the move for the win on Jesse Love with only a few laps to go earlier than hanging on to seize the checkered flag.

“I have been dying for this one for some time now,” stated Zilisch. “I do know it hasn’t felt like that lengthy however man, I have been so shut on the ovals recently. I completed second at Charlotte, second at Nashville and yeah, Dale Jr.’s not so dangerous on the field. Fairly cool to have him up there. Thanks a lot to your entire JR Motorsports staff. 

About working with Dale Jr., Zilisch added: “It is fairly humorous, he [Earnhardt] was kicking me within the ass on a few of these restarts, giving me some recommendation. The recommendation from him is recommendation nicely taken from me so it is actually cool to have him and get him 1-1 with a win as a crew chief. That is fairly superior as nicely. However yeah, Marty did all the things proper to set this automobile up as nicely and I want he might have been on the field as we speak.”

As for the profitable crew chief, Earnhardt stated of the expertise:  “(Common crew chief Mardy Lindley) did a terrific job placing us ready to succeed and we had a whole lot of issues go our means, a whole lot of good luck and nice technique. Had just a little assist from [Steve] Letarte up right here … he was a giant assist. However everyone on this staff, simply superb all weekend lengthy. And one nice race automobile driver in Connor Zilisch. He will be a giant deal on this sport for a very long time. Numerous enjoyable for me as we speak.”

Earnhardt continued: “I miss the joys of competitors. I like broadcasting, do not get me mistaken, however nothing compares to driving or simply being a part of the staff. Being an proprietor does not actually ship like this. It was a whole lot of enjoyable.”

Christian Eckes ended up with a career-best end of third, pole-sitter Chase Elliott in fourth, and Ryan Sieg fifth. Carson Kvapil, Sam Mayer, Sammy Smith, Taylor Gray, and Justin Allgaier stuffed out the rest of the highest ten.

The run to the end

The NASCAR Xfinity race at Pocono featured a document ten cautions with varied incidents all through the 100-lap occasion. The ultimate stage of the race began the way in which issues ended up ending with Zilisch main Love, however quite a bit occurred in these closing 45 laps.

As drivers labored to hit their gasoline quantity, Zilisch stayed out till Elliott was about to run him down, diving to the pits. Earnhardt, who was already working because the crew chief, got here down off the pit field to assist as a tire catcher. 

However earlier than Elliott might reply, there was a warning for a single-car spin. That pushed Zilisch again to the lead and put Elliott on the second row for a restart with 25 laps to go. Elliott managed to get again to the race lead in time for the following restart, which got here with 15 laps to go. However one more incident pressured the leaders to do it over again.

Whereas Elliott was robust on each restart, this one wouldn’t go his means. With 13 laps to go, he lined up alongside Allgaier. The reigning NASCAR Xfinity Sequence champion obtained sideways as the sphere entered Flip 1. He hit Elliott’s door and whereas each drivers managed to keep away from an incident, additionally they misplaced a number of spots because the automobiles slid up the observe.

This cleared the way in which for Love, who now led the race with simply six laps to go. Zilisch gave him a pleasant push to get away from Eckes on what could be the ultimate restart earlier than taking the lead for himself quickly after.

Whereas that is Zilisch’s first win on an oval, it’s his third profession win as a NASCAR Xfinity Sequence driver. And based on reporter Seth Eggert, Dale Jr. is simply the ninth particular person in historical past have received in NASCAR as a driver, proprietor, and crew chief.