Dale Earnhardt Jr. might already be NASCAR's most popular crew chief.
He's certainly an undefeated one.
Pressed into unexpected service, Earnhardt called the shots for 18-year-old prospect Connor Zilisch in the No. 88 Chevrolet and they landed in victory lane Saturday in the second-tier Xfinity Series race at Pocono Raceway.
"It felt good to have some input and decision-making power," Earnhardt said. "And then helping Connor understand what our plan was so he knew when to push and what he was expected to do."
Earnhardt - who won NASCAR's most-popular driver award 15 times - made a pit stop from his day job as team owner at JR Motorsports with normal crew chief Mardy Lindley suspended one race because of a lug nut infraction this month at Nashville.