NASCAR star Kyle Busch clarifies comments on Dale Earnhardt Jr

Two-time Cup Series champion Kyle Busch has moved to clarify comments made regarding former NASCAR driver and rival Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Heading into this weekend's action at Pocono Raceway, it emerged that Earnhardt Jr was set to make his debut as a crew chief, overseeing the No. 88 of Connor Zilisch during Saturday's Xfinity Series race.

READ MORE: NASCAR Race Today: Pocono start times, schedule and how to watch live on TV

Zilisch drives for JR Motorsports, the team owned by Earnhardt Jr, and his usual crew chief is serving a one-race suspension this weekend, having been hit with a penalty in recent weeks.

However, when asked about Earnhardt Jr stepping into the crew chief role for the weekend, Busch sounded less than impressed, labeling the move 'publicity'.

“It’s all publicity, but spin it how you want it,” Busch told the media at Pocono. “He’s just going to 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 so. 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, you know, cool, eyeballs, and putting some attention on their team, and stuff like that. I mean, JRM is one of the top two, three teams in the Xfinity Series, so may the best man win.”

READ MORE: NASCAR announce quadruple Cup Series penalty at Pocono

Kyle Busch: No animosity towards Dale Jr

As you can imagine, those comments quickly made the news and caught the attention of NASCAR fans, with Busch seemingly critical of the former racer.

However, the two-time champion has now moved to clarify his comments on social media, revealing that his words were not a personal slight on his former Cup Series colleague and were instead aimed to show how silly NASCAR's current rules are.

"This has nothing to do w any animosity towards Dale jr," Busch posted on X.

"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."

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

Whatever the case, Earnhardt Jr did very well on his crew chief debut, with Zilisch winning Saturday's Xfinity Series race at Pocono Raceway.

That, however, perhaps strengthens Busch's argument even more.

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