LAS VEGAS (October 4, 2026) — Jesse Love entered Las Vegas Motor Speedway needing a strong night to put himself back in the heart of the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series championship battle.

He delivered.

Love drove the No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing from a 10th-place starting position to a third-place finish in Saturday night's Focused Health 302, turning a 41-point championship deficit entering Las Vegas into just 21 points following post-race inspection.

With five races remaining, the defending series champion is right back in the fight for another title.

Love qualified 10th at 177.713 mph for the 201-lap race on the 1.5-mile Las Vegas Motor Speedway oval. From there, the 21-year-old steadily worked his way forward as the race unfolded, positioning the No. 2 Chevrolet for another strong Chase finish.

While Corey Day controlled much of the race from the pole, the championship picture continued to change around Love.

A major incident early in Stage 2 eliminated defending title contender Justin Allgaier and Brandon Jones after Jones lost control following a pit stop with a loose wheel. Allgaier's early exit created an opportunity in the standings, and Love capitalized.

As the race moved into its closing stages, Love continued working toward the front while Day and Carson Kvapil waged a dramatic battle for the victory.

Day and Kvapil traded the lead in the closing laps before Day prevailed by just 0.287 seconds. Love crossed the finish line third, completing a podium sweep by three Chase contenders and earning another valuable points night for the No. 2 team.

The result marked Love's fifth top-10 finish in six career starts at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

More importantly, it dramatically changed his championship outlook.

Love entered Las Vegas fourth in The Chase standings, 41 points behind leader Sheldon Creed. He leaves Nevada third and just 21 points from the top.

Creed continues to lead, with Carson Kvapil second, 19 points back. Love is just two points behind Kvapil in third, while Justin Allgaier falls to fourth following his early exit.

For Love and the No. 2 Richard Childress Racing team, a podium finish was another important step in the championship fight — but the defending champion left Las Vegas knowing there was potentially even more available.

That mindset may become increasingly important over the final five races.

Love knows what it takes to close out a championship. He captured the 2025 NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series title and entered 2026 with the opportunity to become a back-to-back champion.

Now, after gaining 20 points on the championship leader in a single weekend, that opportunity is very much alive.

Five races remain.

Twenty-one points separate Love from the championship lead.

The title fight heads next to Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Blue Cross NC 300 on Saturday, October 10. The race is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET on The CW.

About Jesse Love

Jesse Love is the defending NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series champion and currently competes in his third season driving the No. 2 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing.

One of NASCAR's most accomplished young competitors, Love captured the 2023 ARCA Menards Series championship before advancing to NASCAR competition with Richard Childress Racing. He claimed the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series championship in 2025 and returned in 2026 with the opportunity to become a back-to-back series champion.

With five races remaining in the 2026 season, Love sits third in The Chase standings, just 21 points from the championship lead.

About Richard Childress Racing

Founded in 1969 by NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Childress, Richard Childress Racing is one of the most storied organizations in American motorsports.

Based in Welcome, North Carolina, RCR has earned championships and victories across NASCAR's national series during more than five decades of competition. In the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series, RCR fields the No. 2 Chevrolet for defending series champion Jesse Love.

For more information, visit rcrracing.com.

About Friends of Jaclyn Foundation

The Friends of Jaclyn Foundation (FOJ) is a nonprofit organization founded by Denis Murphy dedicated to improving the quality of life for children and young adults battling pediatric cancer and other serious illnesses.

Through its signature adoption program, Friends of Jaclyn connects children and their families with college, high school and professional sports teams, creating lasting relationships that provide love, support and a team behind them throughout their journey.

Jesse Love and Race Face Brand Development proudly support the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation and its mission.

Media Contact:
Rod Wortham
Race Face Brand Development
rod@racefacebd.com