What a debut! Dale Earnhardt Jr. couldn’t have hoped for a better outcome as he took over crew chief responsibilities at Pocono Raceway. Sitting atop the pit box for Connor Zilisch’s No. 88 team, the NASCAR legend guided his prodigy to Victory Lane in the absence of crew chief Mardy Lindley, who was suspended for a loose lug nut at Nashville. And after the checkered flag was waved, Junior, along with his wife and two young daughters, made the celebratory walk. It was a special moment, and the 50-year-old was pleased that both Isla and Nicole Lorraine could soak in the experience.

Afterwards, Dale Jr. revealed his aspirations for his daughters. Having grown up in the world of stock car racing, the JR Motorsports co-owner wants both Isla and Nicole to feel a sense of belongingness in NASCAR. Even though they will always have the choice to pursue whatever they see fit in the future.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is keeping the door open for his daughters

Dale Jr. fit right into the NASCAR world. Being the Intimidator’s son, and having the words ‘Dale Earnhardt’ in his name would do that. Growing up, his dream was a simple one. He wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps, win championships, and live up to the legacy of his famous surname. While he wasn’t as successful as his father on the track, it’s fair to say that Junior surpassed expectations in many areas, especially off the track. And if given the chance, he would want his daughters to carry on that heritage as well.

Sharing his thoughts in the post-race press conference, Dale Earnhardt Jr. said, “I want them to have that opportunity and understand that this is a place that they could, you know, create opportunities for themselves down the road. I’ll let them do what they want to do with their lives and steer themselves where they want to go and support everything that they want to do. But I certainly want them to know that NASCAR is an option. It exists, and there are so many possibilities. If they enjoy being around it, they can find ways to, you know, make a living at it.”

After the race in Pocono, Dale Earnhardt Jr’s oldest daughter, Isla, was seen tightly clutching the checkered flag in Victory Lane, while Nicole Lorraine soaked in the atmosphere while safely nestled in her dad’s arms. While it’s unlikely that either of them will see their father win a race live, instances such as these are the closest they’ll come to it. That’s why Junior said, “These are memories. Core memories that they make, I believe. Walking down pit road, going to Victory Lane.” Perhaps these experiences might inspire them to take over JR Motorsports one day? Time will tell.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. played a big role in Connor Zilisch’s win. He made a strategy call to pit him under green flag conditions, and a well-timed caution allowed the No. 88 to get ahead while the rest of the grid went into the pit lane later. Even though Chase Elliott took the lead temporarily, the 18-year-old got his breakthrough when the Hendrick Motorsports driver had an incident with Justin Allgaier. That proved to be the difference maker, and when the race ended, journalist Dustin Long said, “Dale Jr. and Amy’s oldest daughter, Isla, was proud to display the checkered flag after Connor Zilisch’s finish win at Pocono.”

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Dale Jr. missed the adrenaline rush

When Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced his retirement in 2017, there were shockwaves sent through the NASCAR world. Just a year before he closed the curtains, Junior was forced to miss 18 races in 2016 because of concussion-related problems. The time had come to prioritize health and family, and the North Carolina native wasted no time, moving on to a color commentator role for NASCAR on NBC in 2018. But his newfound responsibilities didn’t give him the same thrill as the one he experienced at Pocono Raceway.

Speaking after the race, Junior said, “Lot of fun for me today. I missed the thrill of competition. I love broadcast, don’t get me wrong. But nothing compares to driving or just being part of the team. Being an owner doesn’t really deliver like this. This is a lot of fun.” Even Connor Zilisch was full of praise for his boss, saying, “Dale Junior, not too bad on the box. Pretty cool to have him up there. Getting him a 1-for-1 win as crew chief is pretty awesome.”

While Dale Earnhardt Jr. shut down speculation about returning as a crew chief, he didn’t completely close the door. “If we find ourselves, unfortunately, where Jim or somebody gets suspended or even Marty again, if they want me to do it. I would happily do it,” he said. While he is the co-owner of JR Motorsports, it’s well within the realm of possibility that Junior will secretly hope to get that opportunity once again. Do you think Dale Jr. will get back in the pit box before the 2025 Xfinity Series season is over? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!