LONG POND, Pa. (AP) — 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.

Aside from his duties as team owner, Earnhardt also was at Pocono for his role on the Prime broadcast for the NASCAR Cup Series race Sunday.

“Lot of fun for me today,” Earnhardt said. “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.”

Earnhardt had his wife and two young daughters in tow with him as he made the celebratory walk to victory lane. Oldest daughter Isla Rose clutched the checkered flag while youngest Nicole Lorraine soaked in the scene from her dad’s arms.

“I love that they just get to experience things about NASCAR,” Earnhardt said. “I had such a great time growing up as a kid in this sport, just running around here. I want them to have that opportunity and understand that this is a place where they could create opportunities for themselves down the road.”

The win continued a banner season for the NASCAR Hall of Fame driver — who swept two races at Pocono as a driver in 2014 — after JR Motorsports and reigning Xfinity Series champion Justin Allgaier qualified for the season-opening Daytona 500 and secured their Cup Series debut.

Earnhardt won two Daytona 500s, in 2004 and 2014, and 26 races overall.

His side hustle Saturday was made a bit easier with Zilisch behind the wheel. Zilisch, who turns 19 in July, raced to his second Xfinity victory of the season and third of his young career. He won his Xfinity debut last year at Watkins Glen International.

Earnhardt even pitched in during the race and tossed tires over the wall during pit stops.

“Midway through the race man, I was feeling it,” Earnhardt said.

Zilisch took the win down to the wire and finally passed Jesse Love with five laps left in the race. Love finished second.

“Dale Junior, not too bad on the box,” Zilisch said. “Pretty cool to have him up there. Getting him a 1-for-1 win as crew chief is pretty awesome.”

Even with the victory, it just might be one-and-done on the pit box for Earnhardt.

“I don’t know that I see myself doing it again,” he said.

___

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

NASCAR on Prime Video officially wraps up today with coverage of this year’s Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway.

The Great American Getaway 400 takes place at one of NASCAR’s more unique tracks; Pocono Raceway’s 2.5 mile circuit is a triangular oval with three distinct points. Because of that, it’s also referred to as the “tricky trangle.”

Today’s race is 400 miles, which will be split up into three stages of 30, 65, and 65 laps respectively.

Here’s everything you need to know about today’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono.

Great American Getaway 400 start time: What time is today’s NASCAR race on?

Today’s (June 22) NASCAR race, the Great American Getaway 400, begins at 2 p.m. ET.

What channel is today’s NASCAR race on?

Today’s NASCAR race won’t be on traditional television; it will air exclusively on Prime Video.

How to watch the NASCAR Cup Series at Pocono for free:

If you aren’t a Prime Video subscriber yet, you can get started with a 30-day Amazon Prime free trial, including Prime perks like the Prime Video streaming service, free two-day shipping, exclusive deals, and more. After the free trial, Amazon Prime costs $14.99/month or $139/year.

All 18- to 24-year-olds, regardless of student status, are eligible for a discounted Prime for Young Adults membership as well, with age verification. After a six-month free trial, you’ll pay 50% off the standard Prime monthly price of $14.99/month — just $7.49/month — for up to six years and get all the perks.

With Prime Video, you can also take advantage of the streamer’s Shop the Race storefront, exclusively on the Amazon mobile app, to shop gear, flags, and more for your favorite driver.

NASCAR Pocono starting lineup:

1. Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (52.144 seconds)
2. Chris Buescher, No. 17 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford (52.227)
3. Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet (52.379)
4. John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Legacy Motor Club Toyota (52.390)
5. Cole Custer, No. 41 Haas Factory Team Ford (52.436)
6. Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (52.444)
7. Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (52.464)
8. Tyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota (52.500)
9. Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (52.525)
10. Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet (52.631)
11. Erik Jones, No. 43 Legacy Motor Club Toyota (52.632)
12. Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford (52.673)
13. Ryan Preece, No. 60 RFK Racing Ford (52.727)
14. Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford (52.781)
15. Zane Smith, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford (52.803)
16. Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet (52.811)
17. Noah Gragson, No. 4 Front Row Motorsports Ford (52.813)
18. Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet (52.820)
19. Austin Cindric, No. 2 Team Penske Ford (52.836)
20. Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford (52.837)
21. Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet (52.861)
22. Justin Haley, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet (52.927)
23. Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet (52.962)
24. Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet (52.966)
25. Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet (52.978)
26. Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet (53.095)
27. Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet (53.107)
28. Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet (53.140)
29. Riley Herbst, No. 35 23XI Racing Toyota (53.159)
30. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 HYAK Motorsports Chevrolet (53.661)
31. William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet (57.645)
32. Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford (59.181)
33. AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet (64.077)
34. Bubba Wallace, No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota (no time)
35. Josh Berry, No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford (no time)
36. Cody Ware, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Ford (no time)
37. Brennan Poole, No. 44 NY Racing Team Chevrolet (no time)

NASCAR on Prime Video 2025 schedule:

Today marks Prime Video’s final race of the 2025 NASCAR schedule.

Why Trust Post Wanted by the New York Post

This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Writer/Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping and New York Post’s streaming property, Decider. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews

Marc Marquez extended his dominance in the riders’ championship with a hard-fought victory at the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday, edging out his brother Alex in a thrilling battle at Mugello.

Gresini Racing’s Alex briefly led the race early on before Marc took control, while Fabio Di Giannantonio of VR46 Racing claimed third place after snatching the final podium spot from his Italian compatriot Francesco Bagnaia.

Home favorite Bagnaia also led the race in the initial stages but the Italian, who had won the last three races at Mugello, was overshadowed by the Marquez brothers and could only finish fourth in front of his home fans.

Marc’s victory was also the 93rd win of his career across all classes, matching his motorcycle number, and the Spaniard celebrated by planting a Ducati flag in front of the home fans who once saw him as a rival when he was with Honda.

“Amazing feeling … three Ducatis on the podium, to win here (at Mugello) in the red,” said Marc, who now leads Alex by 40 points while Bagnaia is 110 points back in third.

“I already understood this morning that was super special for them, even for me, because I feel part of them. Super happy.

“We managed the race… I was calm and then when the tyres dropped a bit, I started to give everything. Happy to take the 37 points in this amazing weekend.”

Fresh from claiming his historic 100th career pole with a blistering lap record and Saturday’s unlikely sprint victory, Marc found himself locked in a fraternal battle with Alex – a running theme this season.

The opening laps unfolded as a masterclass in close-quarter racing between the two factory Ducati machines – their special Italian Renaissance livery flashing through Mugello’s sweeping turns – while Alex stayed on their tail.

High-speed drama

The crowd erupted when Bagnaia briefly snatched the lead from Marc after turn one but what followed was high-speed drama as they traded positions, occasionally making heart-stopping contact with each other.

Disaster nearly struck when Bagnaia, pushing his bike to the limit, touched Marc’s rear tyre as he was forced to brake hard and surrender his position to Alex.

Fans in the grandstand witnessed a spectacular moment when all three riders thundered into turn one abreast, a three-wide gamble that saw Alex briefly seize control, drop to third on the brakes and then reclaim the lead moments later on the exit.

But Marc eventually broke free, leaving brother Alex to doggedly defend second position against a relentless Bagnaia.

However, the Italian did not have the late-race pace to catch up and he was soon forced to defend the final podium place, with Di Giannantonio looking to upstage his compatriot.

With two laps to go, Di Giannantonio made his move on turn seven as he squeezed past the twice champion and raced away to claim his first podium finish at Mugello.

“I knew that I had to risk a lot to take him but at the end, the last lap, I said, ‘Okay, let’s go for it,’ and we’ve done it,” Di Giannantonio said.

“My first podium in MotoGP Mugello, in front of this fantastic group of fans.”

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Jimmie Johnson’s Unstoppable Rise to Glory at Hendrick Motorsports Unveiled

In a career spanning 22 years and 700 races, Jimmie Johnson has solidified his name as one of the all-time greats in motorsports history. With seven Cup Series championships and 83 wins under his belt, his journey at Hendrick Motorsports has been nothing short of legendary.

What sets Johnson apart from the rest? The answer lies in his unwavering partnership with the mastermind behind his success, Chad Knaus. As Johnson reminisces about his early days at Hendrick Motorsports, he credits Knaus as the driving force that propelled him to greatness.

Their collaboration was nothing short of extraordinary, clinching an unprecedented five consecutive championships from 2006 to 2010, followed by two more. Johnson attributes his success not only to Knaus but also to the core group of individuals who stood by his side throughout his illustrious career.

Despite their undeniable chemistry and track record of victories, Johnson and Knaus faced a bittersweet separation when team dynamics took a toll on their relationship. However, their story came full circle when they were both enshrined in the NASCAR Hall of Fame together, sealing their legacy in the annals of racing history.

As Johnson embarks on a new chapter in IndyCar, his bond with Knaus remains unbreakable, transcending beyond the confines of the racetrack. Their enduring friendship serves as a testament to the indelible mark they have left on the sport.

The tale of Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus is not just a story of wins and championships but a narrative of resilience, camaraderie, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. Their legacy will continue to inspire generations of racing enthusiasts for years to come.

LONG POND, Pa. — Eight of the top 10 staters in today’s Cup race at Pocono Raceway have not won this season, making today’s race one that could potentially alter the playoff standings.

Ten races remain in the regular season, including today’s event before the playoffs begin.

While Denny Hamlin, a three-time winner this season, has the pole, Chris Buescher, who holds the final playoff spot, starts second.

Others without a win this season starting in the top 10 today are: Carson Hocevar (starting third), John Hunter Nemechek (fourth), Cole Custer (fifth), Chase Briscoe (sixth), Ty Gibbs (seventh), Tyler Reddick (eighth) and Daniel Suarez (10th).

Buescher, Briscoe and Reddick enter today’s race in a playoff spot.

The 160-lap event will set the seedings for the In-Season Challenge.

Go further into the field and 15 of the top 18 qualifiers have not won this season. That includes Erik Jones (starting 11th), Ryan Preece (13th), Brad Keselowski (14th), Zane Smith (15th), Austin Dillon (16th), Noah Gragson (17th) and Chase Elliott (18th).

Here is what else to watch for in today’s race (2 p.m. ET on Prime):

Differing strategies

Teams will be able to pit at Pocono without losing a lap provided they are no more than about 12 seconds behind the leader. That means those further behind likely will have to use a different strategy.

The back half of the field will be worth keeping an eye on.

William Byron had the fastest car in practice and wrecked in qualifying. The team was repairing the car with work to be finished this morning.

Bubba Wallace had a starter issue and didn’t even make a lap in qualifying. He’ll also be at the rear when the green flag waves. He enters the race 57 points above the cutline but starting this deep might keep him from scoring points in the first stage. He ranks sixth in the series in stage points.

“I don’t think you can get to panicked about it, you can’t change it,” said Denny Hamlin, co-owner of Wallace’s 23XI Racing car, about the possibility of Wallace not getting points in the first stage. “If you are Bubba Wallace it’s not something you did. I’m confident it’s not something the team did, it’s just one of those mechanical things where the anvil fell on your this time. It happens to others as well.

“It’s very easy for drivers and teams to get down about their bad luck, but everyone has it and usually washes itself out over time. I think they are running fast enough to be a playoff car and a lot of that is going to depend on who jumps up on the wild card races over the next 10 weeks, but I feel confident the 23 team will be a part of it.”

Denny Hamlin scored his 44th career Cup pole.

Another strategy to watch will be if anyone tries a three-stop strategy. Most teams pitted four times in last year’s race. Austin Cindric’s team pitted three times but finished 18th.

“We had a caution every time that I was on a tire disadvantage last year,” Cindric said. “ … I’m not sure it’s going to discourage us from, maybe not necessarily that strategy, but from going and trying to make up spots.”

Can Chase Elliott build momentum?

Chase Elliott seeks to score back-to-back top-10 finishes for the first time since late March and early April at Martinsville and Darlington.

Elliott is coming off a third-place finish at Mexico. Although he is on a 43-race winless drought, he’s been consistent enough to rank fourth in the points this season.

Cliff Daniels said he was ready to park Kyle Larson when they could gain no other positions in the finishing order.

So with 16 of 36 races run, has this been a good season for Elliott?

“That is a good question,” Elliott said. “Good? Sure, but it’s not where I want to be no doubt.

“I think for us there have been some high spots and to be honest, there have been weeks where we have run well where we have had a good finish… and I can go home and be like, ‘Man, we were in the mix, and we had good pace today.’

“… It’s the days and weekends where we are just not even relevant that I think are the most frustrating to me. We have had more of those than I would want to have and that we would want to have as a team.

“So, I think it’s been good but not satisfactory for myself or to our team, but there is still a lot of racing left in the season, and I think we have ourselves in a position to make a mediocre day alright. We can build from it, and we still have a chance.”

Denny’s unique double

Denny Hamlin seeks to score his second consecutive win of the season with a catch.

He won at Michigan, skipped the race in Mexico City for the birth of his son, and will look to win at Pocono — where his seven wins here make him the track’s all-time winningest driver.