Although Dale Earnhardt Jr. started in NASCAR as a driver, he has broken that shell over the years and has stepped into various other roles. Even after years of retirement, he is still one of the most respected figures in the sport. With his ventures as a podcaster, team owner, and broadcaster, Earnhardt is seldom away from the track.
However, despite wearing many feathers on his NASCAR hat, Earnhardt was missing one. And last week, he fulfilled that as well. The NASCAR Hall of Famer decided to step in as the crew chief of his driver, Connor Zilisch, as Mardy Lindley (Zilisch’s crew chief) served a one-race suspension penalty.
After Earnhardt flew with flying colors, his former contemporary, Kevin Harvick, had some interesting comments to make about the JR Motorsports co-owner’s passion for racing.
Kevin Harvick Admires Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Undying Passion for Racing
As the 18-year-old Zilisch started his run in the Explore the Pocono Mountains 250, he had Earnhardt guiding him from the pit road. While it was his first day at the job, like most of his other ventures, Earnhardt gave it his all as a crew chief as well.
Under Earnhardt’s guidance, Zilisch arrived in the victory lane for the second time in 2025. After the contest, the No. 88 driver called Earnhardt’s energy “intense” but highly effective.
Earnhardt’s co-owner of the zMAX CARS Tour, Harvick, brought the topic up in his podcast, “Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour,” and had an interesting take. It started when Harvick’s co-host Mamba Smith referred to Earnhardt’s remarks after the Pocono race.
Earnhardt, who still found himself close to the track, did so in a team owner’s capacity. However, in his role as the boss man, he was out of the competitive mix, and getting the thrill of competition as a crew chief was an enjoyable experience for him.
This led Harvick to add, “Well, the unique part about Dale Jr. is he just has a huge passion for everything about racing. He’ll step in and be the crew chief. He’ll step in and run the CARS Tour races, Xfinity races.” The 2014 Cup Series champion further explained how Earnhardt was one of the few people he knew who shared the same amount of love and passion for racing as he does.
Harvick said, “He [Earnhardt] lives his life around racing and has lived his life around racing since he was born. And that’s what my family does. That’s what his family does.”
The Kevin Harvick Incorporated owner further stated that, because Earnhardt has spent his life around the racetrack, it is truly something that the NASCAR legend still wishes to be actively involved in the sport.
Future Possibilities for NASCAR Legends
Here, Kaitlyn Vincie chimed in and added, “So maybe we’ll see Kevin as a crew chief filling in. Can we make that happen?” Harvick and Smith responded, “We got to have a team first. Once we get a team, we can work on that.”
The crew chief role was a natural fit for Earnhardt, who has successfully transitioned between multiple roles in NASCAR while maintaining his competitive edge.
His ability to adapt and excel in new positions within the sport demonstrates the passion that Harvick highlighted, showing that true racing legends never really retire from the sport, they simply find new ways to contribute to its success.
