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.

The win serves 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.”