Brent Crews dropped a bombshell with NASCAR fans buzzing and corporations scrambling. The 17-year-old racing prodigy announced the formation of Brent Crews Motorsports, his own NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series team. What should have been a celebration of young talent quickly turned into a social media firestorm when confusion over Connor Zilisch’s involvement had fans targeting Chevrolet with accusations and conspiracy theories.
Why Did Reports Falsely Link Connor Zilisch to Crews’ New Team?
Crews unveiled his new Truck Series organization on Friday, backed by longtime partner Pristine Auction. The driver announced he would pilot his No. 70 truck at the upcoming Watkins Glen race with Pristine Auction as his primary sponsor.
However, chaos erupted when misinformed reports claimed that Zilisch, a Chevrolet-backed driver, had joined the Toyota-supported organization as an “executive.” The confusion deepened when some social media posts also incorrectly named Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Xfinity Series driver Jesse Love and Jack Baldwin as “executives” in the young organization.
The fallout was swift and brutal. Both young drivers rushed into damage control mode to set the record straight.
Zilisch quickly clarified his position, writing, “There was a misunderstanding in conversations with Brent’s new truck team and me being an executive. I’m excited to cheer him on as a friend next weekend at Watkins and I’m pumped to go for 4 in a row this weekend in Iowa with JRM, Chevy, and Trackhouse!”
There was a misunderstanding in conversations with Brent’s new truck team and me being an executive. I’m excited to cheer him on as a friend next weekend at Watkins and I’m pumped to go for 4 in a row this weekend in Iowa with JRM, Chevy, and Trackhouse! https://t.co/S3oCEEkBqc
— Connor Zilisch (@ConnorZilisch) August 1, 2025
How Did Fans React to Chevrolet Over the Zilisch Confusion?
Despite the official clarification, fans immediately jumped to conclusions and unleashed their fury on Chevrolet. Social media exploded with accusations that the manufacturer had forced the Red Bull racing development driver to distance himself from the Toyota-backed operation.
“Guessing Chevy didn’t like that press release lol,” wrote one user, while another noted, “Team fell apart after 4 hours crazy.” The conspiracy theories grew wilder as others poured fuel into the flame, suggesting an impending lawsuit with “The lawyers have entered chat.”
The accusations against Chevrolet took a darker turn as netizens painted the manufacturer as a corporate villain. One fan indirectly referred to Chevy as criminal corporate, sharing, “Chevrolet sent the black SUVs.” The situation was further complicated when FOX Sports TV made the same error, with announcers updating Zilisch’s role without fact checking. One fan noted, “Welp @FS1 just announced your leadership role. Congrats.”
Meanwhile, Crews stepped up with his official statement to clear the air. He acknowledged that the initial announcement had gotten carried away with the friendship connections. He wrote, “Connor and Jesse are great friends of mine, but we went a little overboard in exaggerating their roles. To be clear, they have no official capacity, other than they are friends who want me to do well.”
Connor and Jesse are great friends of mine, but we went a little overboard in exaggerating their roles. To be clear, they have no official capacity, other than they are friends who want me to do well.
— Brent Crews (@BrentCrews11) August 1, 2025
What Does This Mean for Brent Crews’ Racing Future?
Despite the social media controversy, Crews continues building impressive momentum in his racing career. The Hickory native has already proven himself a fearsome contender with 12 ARCA Menards Series starts under his belt and four wins to his name, including two wins in 2025 with Joe Gibbs Racing.
Crews has made three appearances in the Truck Series with Tricon Garage, where he is a part-time driver. His best performance came at Lime Rock Park, where he secured a career-best eighth-place finish that showcased his potential in the series.
Looking ahead, the 17-year-old will be splitting time between Tricon Garage and his newly formed Brent Crews Motorsports outfit. This dual approach allows him to gain experience while building his own organization, marking an ambitious new chapter in his racing career.
The formation of his own team, backed by longtime partner Pristine Auction, represents a significant step toward independence and control over his racing destiny.
The controversy may have temporarily overshadowed the announcement, but it also highlighted the intense interest surrounding young talent in NASCAR. As Crews prepares for his upcoming race at Watkins Glen in the No. 70 truck, he’ll be looking to let his driving do the talking and move past the social media storm that briefly engulfed his big news.