Kyle Busch forced to clarify 'warm body' comments about Dale Earnhardt Jr. role
Kyle Busch went online to clarify comments he made about Dale Earnhardt Jr. filling in as crew chief ahead of Connor Zilisch's victory in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
Kyle Busch has clarified his comments after he bluntly downplayed Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s role as crew chief for JR Motorsports in the NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Saturday.
With usual crew chief Mardy Lindley suspended for one race for a loose lug nuts violation at Nashville two weeks ago, team owner Earnhardt filled in at Pocono Raceway.
It was a moment to remember for the 50-year-old, who guided Connor Zilisch to victory in the Explore the Pocono Mountains 250 in Pennsylvania.
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Eighteen-year-old talent Zillisch started from ninth place in the No. 88 Chevy, but he claimed the third victory of his young career, beating Jesse Love to the checkered flag by 0.437 seconds.
Ahead of the race, Richard Childress Racing star Busch talked down the impact Earnhardt Jr. would have on the race from the pit box, saying he would merely be a “warm body.”
“It’s all publicity, but spin it how you want it,” he told reporters at Pocono Raceway, which hosts The Great American Getaway 400 on Sunday in the Cup Series.
“He’s just going to be a warm body sitting on top of the box. They’ve got enough stuff from the shop and enough technology these days to have the crew chief still involved.
“So I could say I could do the same with one of my truck teams, but the guys at the shop would be the ones handling it. But it’s still great, cool, eyeballs and putting some attention on their team. JRM is one of the top two or three teams in the Xfinity Series, so may the best man win.”
Shortly after the race began, Busch took to social media to clarify his comments. He told his followers: “This has nothing to do with any animosity towards Dale Jr.
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“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 box as a crew chief.”
Earnhardt Jr. described the winning moment as a “core memory,” and he admitted the job was much more difficult than he expected.
“I felt like I really did have a role today that was probably even more than I anticipated,” he said. “But I did get a big assist from out of the gate.
“Mardy, Pat and all the guys on this team, we all sat down at meetings early in the week, understood what we needed to accomplish, had an idea in a game plan, right? We’d come off the trailer fast, car’s comfortable. That was helpful. So we were ready for the race.”
