CONCORD, N.C. — Jesse Love showcased his trademark determination and composure in Saturday’s Blue Cross NC 250 at Charlotte Motor Speedway’s ROVAL, securing a 12th-place finish and, more importantly, advancing to the Round of 8 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs.

Driving the No. 2 Whelen Engineering Chevrolet Camaro, which proudly featured the names of fallen firefighters in partnership with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, Love and his Richard Childress Racing team executed a sharp race strategy that paid dividends at a critical time. After a well-timed call by crew chief Danny Stockman, Love stayed out late in Stage 2, capturing the Stage Win and valuable playoff points that helped solidify his position above the elimination line.

The 68-lap event — extended by a green-white-checker finish — tested every driver’s skill and patience. Love briefly cycled to the front, leading laps and battling through multiple restarts in the closing stages. Despite late-race chaos and contact throughout the field, the 20-year-old California native kept his focus, bringing home a clean car and maintaining the consistency that has defined his season.

“We had a really strong Whelen Chevrolet today,” said Love. “That Stage 2 win was huge for us — it gave us the points cushion we needed. The ROVAL is tough, it punishes mistakes, but we kept our heads down and did exactly what we needed to do to move on. I’m proud of this team and the effort everyone put in.”

Following the race, Love reflected on the special tribute carried on his No. 2 Chevrolet:

“We are humbled to carry the names of fallen firefighters on our car this weekend at the ROVAL,” Love said. “Thank you to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation for entrusting us with this honor. The race is important, but this tribute puts everything in perspective.”

With the ROVAL now behind him, Love advances to the Round of 8, where he’ll take on Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway, and Martinsville Speedway — three tracks that will determine who advances to the Championship 4.

“This next round is where it really gets serious,” Love added. “We’ve shown we can run up front, win stages, and fight through adversity. We’re going to keep building on that and bring our best to every race from here on out.”

The Round of 8 opens next weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Fans can catch all the action live on NBC and MRN Radio.

About Whelen Engineering

Whelen Engineering is a global leader in the design and manufacture of emergency warning and lighting equipment, proudly serving fire, police, EMS, and rescue personnel worldwide. With a strong commitment to safety, innovation, and community, Whelen continues to honor the courage and sacrifice of first responders everywhere. Learn more at www.whelen.com.

About the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) honors and remembers America’s fallen fire heroes and assists their families and co-workers in rebuilding their lives. Established in 1992, the Foundation works to prevent firefighter deaths and injuries and to ensure that their legacies live on. Visit www.firehero.org to learn more.

About Richard Childress Racing

Richard Childress Racing (RCR) is a renowned, multi-championship-winning organization that has been competing in NASCAR for more than 50 years. Based in Welcome, North Carolina, RCR fields entries in the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series with a tradition of excellence both on and off the track.