Could Dale Earnhardt Jr. consider another career change?
Evolving from a NASCAR National Series driver to JR Motorsports co-owner, Earnhardt has made his mark as a Hall of Famer, in the shadow of his iconic late father, Dale Earnhardt.
Following Saturday’s experience as a substitute crew chief, Dale Jr. displayed his team-wide versatility at Pocono Raceway, leading rookie Connor Zilisch, a road-course ace, to his first career oval win.
Earnhardt Jr. filled in for Mardy Lindley, who served a one-race suspension. Lindley will be back in the box during Friday night’s event at EchoPark Speedway and Earnhardt will be back in the owner’s box, which he admitted was not as exciting as winning his first race as chief.
“Yeah, it sure was (fun),” he told CW immediately after the checkered flag. “When we have an issue like this with somebody being suspended … Mardy and everybody, they know what to do. Just a great job, putting us in a position to succeed.
“And we had a lot of things go our way. (We) had a little help from Letarte up here. I wasn’t not gonna have Steve Letarte not get on this pit box after the races we won together in 2014. So, he was a big help… And what a great race car driver. Connor Zilisch is going to be a big deal in this sport for a long time.
“So, a lot of fun for me.”
Will Dale Jr. attempt to go 2-for-2 as chief soon?
.@DaleJr 's most important job of the day, Girl Dad! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/seS9KMpokh
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) June 21, 2025
NASCAR National Series, ARCA Series Weekend Schedule
Here is a list of NASCAR National Series events this weekend at EchoPark Speedway and Lime Rock Park (All Times ET):
Friday
- 1:05 p.m.: Truck Series practice
- 2:30 p.m.: ARCA Series practice
- 3 p.m.: Xfinity Series qualifying
- 3:45 p.m.: ARCA Series qualifying
- 5:05 p.m.: Cup Series qualifying
- 7:30 p.m.: Xfinity Series Focused Health 250 race
Saturday
- 9:30 a.m.: Truck Series qualifying
- 1 p.m.: Truck Series LiUNA! 150 race
- 4 p.m.: ARCA Series Lime Rock Park 100 race
- 7 p.m.: Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart race
Mood because it's Friday & we are ONE week away from #FocusedHealth250! 🥳
Get 🎟️ NOW! https://t.co/9UP6vOObPp
Kids get in FREE plus don't miss the Peach Pit Party featuring Tim Dugger! 🍑 pic.twitter.com/EkmhqSMWMp
— EchoPark Speedway (@EchoParkSpdwy) June 20, 2025
Focused Health 250 Entry List
NASCAR Xfinity Series officials released the entry list for Saturday’s Focused Health 250 at EchoPark Speedway:
Entry, Driver, Car No.
- 1, Sheldon Creed, No. 00 Ford
- 2, Carson Kvapil, No. 1 Chevrolet
- 3, Jesse Love, No. 2 Chevrolet
- 4, Parker Retzlaff, No. 4 Chevrolet
- 5, Kris Wright, No. 5 Chevrolet
- 6, Nick Leitz, No. 07 Chevrolet
- 7, Justin Allgaier, No. 7 Chevrolet
- 8, Sammy Smith, No. 8 Chevrolet
- 9, Daniel Dye, No. 10 Chevrolet
- 10, Josh Williams, No. 11 Chevrolet
- 11, Garrett Smithley, No. 14 Chevrolet
- 12, Christian Eckes, No. 16 Chevrolet
- 13, William Sawalich, No. 18 Toyota
- 14, Aric Almirola, No. 19 Toyota
- 15, Brandon Jones, No. 20 Toyota
- 16, Austin Hill, No. 21 Chevrolet
- 17, Patrick Staropoli, No. 24 Toyota
- 18, Harrison Burton, No. 25 Ford
- 19, Dean Thompson, No. 26 Toyota
- 20, Jeb Burton, No. 27 Chevrolet
- 21, Kyle Sieg, No. 28 Ford
- 22, Blaine Perkins, No. 31 Chevrolet
- 23, Katherine Legge, No. 32 Chevrolet
- 24, Joey Gase, No. 35 Toyota
- 25, Ryan Sieg, No. 39 Ford
- 26, Sam Mayer, No. 41 Ford
- 27, Anthony Alfredo, No. 42 Chevrolet
- 28, Brennan Poole, No. 44 Chevrolet
- 29, Mason Massey, No. 45 Chevrolet
- 30, Nicholas Sanchez, No. 48 Chevrolet
- 31, Jeremy Clements, No. 51 Chevrolet
- 32, Mason Maggio, No. 53 Ford
- 33, Taylor Gray, No. 54 Toyota
- 34, Leland Honeyman, No. 70 Chevrolet
- 35, Ryan Ellis, No. 71 Chevrolet
- 36, Connor Zilisch, No. 88 Chevrolet
- 37, CJ McLaughlin, No. 91 Chevrolet
- 38, Matt DiBenedetto, No. 99 Chevrolet
An extra point for the next time the @TeamHendrick No. 17 comes to #XfinitySeries.@chaseelliott had the #FastestLap at @PoconoRaceway. pic.twitter.com/oTF8xLmIdj
— Xfinity Racing (@XfinityRacing) June 21, 2025
