LONG POND – Dale Earnhardt Jr. called it a “core memory.”

And for more than one reason.

The NASCAR Hall of Famer had his daughters by his side and a headset on his head Saturday at Pocono Raceway — a day that ended with a trip to Victory Lane and a milestone moment for JR Motorsports.

In his first stint as a crew chief, Earnhardt helped guide 18-year-old rookie Connor Zilisch to his first career NASCAR national series win on an oval in the Explore the Pocono Mountains 250 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Zilisch passed close friend Jesse Love on lap 96 of 100 and held on to win by 0.437 seconds, delivering a dramatic finish and an unforgettable first for both driver and its legendary team owner.

“So glad our girls can experience this great sport. Core memory,” Earnhardt Jr. shared on social media, capturing the emotion of the day from both a crew chief’s and a father’s perspective.

Earnhardt has experienced victory at Pocono Raceway before, but never quite like this.

“Pretty cool to have him (Earnhardt Jr.) up there,” Zilisch said of the NASCAR Hall of Famer. “It’s pretty funny — he was giving me a kick in the ass on some of the restarts. Advice from him was advice well taken. To get him a one-for-one win as a crew chief is pretty awesome.”

Zilisch, driving the No. 88 Registix Chevrolet, led 34 of the race’s 100 laps and earned his second victory of the season and third career Xfinity Series win. He won at Circuit of The Americas in March — after winning in his series debut last year at Watkins Glen less than two months after his 18th birthday.

The North Carolina native has quickly made a name for himself in multiple disciplines. In 2024, Zilisch won both the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring, and also claimed victories in five ARCA races and a CARS Tour event — all before his 18th birthday.

He now ranks fifth in the points standings (488), 130 points behind leader Justin Allgaier.

Earnhardt stepped in for regular crew chief Mardy Lindley, who was serving a one-race suspension for a lug nut penalty. Though new to the role, Earnhardt leaned on instinct, experience and teamwork to help guide Zilisch through a race marked by 10 cautions and multiple lead changes.

“I understand that I did not come in here and handle all of the layers Mardy usually handles,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “They put me in a position to do some light lifting. As the race went on, we got more comfortable and aggressive. It was fun. I felt like I had some involvement and some input with the energy. I have a ton of respect and admiration for all the crew chiefs and all the stress they put up with. I really have a new appreciation and level of respect and understanding of all the decisions they have to make.

A late restart knocked frontrunners Chase Elliott and Allgaier out of contention, opening the door for a final showdown between Zilisch and Love. The two launched into a tense, aggressive duel, with Zilisch ultimately clearing Love on Lap 96 and controlling the closing laps to seal the win.

“I’m very proud of our No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet team,” said Love, who drives for Richard Childress Racing. “First off, I’m happy for Connor and the No. 88 team. Finishing second bums me out, but I’m still trying to be grateful for the situation. We had a fast car and were in a position to win.”

Love, who led eight laps, sits fourth in the standings with 502 points and one win on the season. Saturday marked his 10th top-10 finish in 2025 and first at Pocono.

“At the end, Connor and I both drove into the corner way, way too deep,” Love added. “I knew he was going to try to get to my left rear free on entry, and I tried to drive him hard but couldn’t paint the line. I wish I had a couple more laps.”

Middletown, N.Y. native Christian Eckes posted a season-best third-place finish. Elliott finished fourth, while Allgaier, the current series points leader, slipped to 10th.

Zilisch, the highest-finishing rookie, also gained six playoff points with the win and two top-10 stage finishes. He was third in Stage 1 and won Stage 2, gaining a total of 58 points on the day.

“This one’s pretty special,” Zilisch said. “I’ve been so close on the ovals lately — second at Charlotte, second at Nashville. I’ve been dying for this one.”

The win also moved JR Motorsports’ No. 88 car to second in the Xfinity Series owner standings with 537 points.

It also added to JR Motorsports’ impressive legacy in the Xfinity Series. The organization has helped produce series championships for drivers like Chase Elliott (2014), William Byron (2017), Tyler Reddick (2018), and Justin Allgaier (2024) — and now celebrates an emerging talent in Zilisch with its latest triumph.

The win capped a chaotic afternoon that featured 10 cautions for 41 laps, 10 lead changes among seven drivers, and a final restart that set up Zilisch’s race-winning charge. The rookie led three different times and sealed the victory with a five-lap run to the finish at an average race speed of 103.722 mph.

“I didn’t walk in and say, ‘Hey, can I do this?’” Earnhardt Jr. said. “Mardy texted me and said, ‘Do you want to do this? I think you could.’”

Turns out, he could — and together, he and his rookie driver made the most of it.