Kyle Busch Clears the Air After Dale Jr. ‘Shade’ Sparks Fan Backlash originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Kyle Busch is known for not sugarcoating what’s on his mind. Throughout his career, that’s often included taking aim at his fellow competitors or the sanctioning body.
On Saturday at Pocono Raceway, the two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion met with reporters and didn’t mince words when asked for his thoughts on Dale Earnhardt Jr. serving as a substitute crew chief for Connor Zilisch in the Xfinity Series race, replacing Mardy Lindley, who was serving a one-race suspension for loose lug nuts in the Nashville race two weeks earlier.
”It’s all publicity, but spin it how you want it,” Busch said. “He’s just gonna be a warm body sitting on top of the box. They’ve got enough stuff from the shop and enough technology these days of being able to have the crew chief still involved.
“I could say I could do the same thing with one of my Truck teams, but the guys at the shop would be the ones handling it. But still great, cool, eyeballs and putting some attention on their team and stuff like that.”
Unsurprisingly, many online viewed Busch’s remarks as throwing shade at Earnhardt.
This has nothing to do w any animosity towards Dale jr. I’m referencing how silly the suspensions for cc are these days w all the technology they have to stay in contact w their teams. I’d say the same thing if JG went on a HMS box as a cc. https://t.co/tEpT2xACXD
— Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch) June 21, 2025
The Richard Childress Racing driver saw his remarks on X, the resulting fan reaction and replied to his interview.
“This has nothing to do w any animosity towards Dale jr.,” he clarified. “I’m referencing how silly the suspensions for cc are these days w all the technology they have to stay in contact w their teams. I’d say the same thing if JG went on a HMS box as a cc.”
Kyle Busch remembers Richmond 2008.
Related: Kyle Busch and Chase Elliott Make List No Cup Series Driver Wants to Be On
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 21, 2025, where it first appeared.
