JESSE LOVE — FOREVER A NASCAR XFINITY SERIES CHAMPION
Under the bright lights of Phoenix Raceway, 20-year-old Jesse Love captured the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship, driving the No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing. It was the culmination of a season defined by resilience, faith, and sacrifice — a year where every setback was met with a deeper drive, and every ounce of effort poured out in the quiet moments away from the cameras finally came to light.
The Race That Defined a Champion
Love started the night with everything on the line. After slipping back in Stage One, crew chief Danny Stockman made a pivotal adjustment that turned the No. 2 Chevrolet into the car to beat. From there, Love methodically worked his way through the field, saving his best for the final stage.
The defining moment came with 25 laps to go, when Love made the championship-winning pass on his best friend and closest rival, Connor Zilisch, to seal his first NASCAR title.
“He’s my best friend in the whole world, but not when we’re racing each other,” Love said. “We race each other hard, but fair. I had to take it though. I knew he was going to put [his car] on my door. I knew I had to throttle up and just get my nose ahead of him. He was running a really good race. My car was just better tonight … allowed me to roll off the center and get off the corner better. But hats off to the No. 88 team and Connor for all they’ve done this year. They made us earn it, especially tonight.”
When he crossed the finish line, it wasn’t just the end of a race — it was the realization of a dream built over a decade of unwavering commitment.
What No One Sees Off the Track
For every lap Jesse Love led this season, there were thousands more that no one saw — in the gym, in the simulator, in the quiet hours studying film or talking through setups with his team. The foundation of this championship wasn’t laid under the lights of Phoenix — it was built in the unseen grind of preparation and perseverance.
“I just feel so clean, relieved, to be in this moment,” Love said. “It’s been a tough year for me. I’ve just put so much work into it. My dad, Scott Speed, my whole No. 2 team, have all worked just as hard for my dream as I have for my own. Thank you to Whelen, too. For one last time, this car was as fast as Xfinity Mobile. It really hasn’t set in yet. I just tried to tune out all the emotion.”
What most will never fully understand is the work behind the win — the unseen moments that forged a champion long before the trophy was lifted.
A Journey Forged in Family, Faith, and Sacrifice
This championship is as much about family as it is about racing. Jesse’s father, Duke Love, has been beside him every step of the way — often behind the scenes, quietly carrying the weight so his son could chase a dream.
“I know how much he sacrificed, how much he’s had to dig deep to help me and get me going,” Jesse reflected with emotion.
At 12 years old, Jesse’s parents — Duke and Elizabeth Love — made a decision that would define their family’s future. They told him they would support his dream completely, but only if he was willing to give it everything. From that moment, their lives revolved around preparing Jesse for every aspect of being a professional racer.
There were mock interviews at the kitchen table, practice autograph sessions in the living room, and late nights managing his website and social media. Every detail mattered. Every lesson was about more than just racing — it was about character, humility, and work ethic.
That foundation, built in love and sacrifice, became the unshakable base of his championship season.
What Champions Are Made Of
Inside the walls of Richard Childress Racing, Jesse became part of a family that shared his values — hard work, loyalty, and an unrelenting desire to win for each other. His focus wasn’t just on what he could achieve for himself, but what he could do for others: for RCR, for Richard Childress, for the men and women who turned wrenches on his car and believed in him even when the results didn’t come easy.
Because when your motivation shifts from personal glory to collective purpose, that’s when greatness happens.
This championship is proof that excellence isn’t born from talent alone — it’s forged through faith, family, and the willingness to outwork everyone else when no one is watching.
Forever a NASCAR Champion — And Just Getting Started
With this win, Jesse Love becomes a NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion — forever etched into the history books. But for those who know him best, it feels like just the beginning.
Love’s journey is still being written. The lessons learned, the people who believed, and the values that carried him here will fuel every lap to come.
“Sometimes you feel like the only way to say thank you is to win,” Love said. “This means the world to me and everybody that’s been on this journey with me over the last few years.”
“I think you’re going to see several championships come out of Jesse Love,” said Richard Childress. “He’s a brilliant young man — really good, and a heck of a race driver. He reminds me of Kevin Harvick; he just hates to lose.”
One championship down — and by all accounts, this will be the first of many.
What’s Next — RISING
Jesse Love’s inspiring journey continues this month as he will be featured in the upcoming YouTube docuseries RISING, premiering November 17–21, 2025, on the NASCAR YouTube Channel.
The five-episode digital series takes fans behind the scenes with three of NASCAR’s most promising young drivers — Jesse Love, Carson Hocevar, and Rajah Caruth — capturing the determination, sacrifice, and defining moments that shape the next generation of NASCAR stars.
Filmed on and off the track, RISING offers an intimate look at the mental and physical grind required to reach the sport’s highest levels — from personal sacrifices and family support to the drive that separates good from great.
The series highlights NASCAR’s growing commitment to authentic storytelling, connecting fans to the humanity behind the helmets and giving the world a deeper look at what it truly takes to rise.
RISING premieres on the NASCAR YouTube Channel beginning November 17, with new episodes released daily through November 21.
About Jesse Love
Born January 14, 2005, Jesse Love is a California-native driver of the No. 2 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. At just 20 years old, he becomes one of the youngest champions in series history, adding another chapter to RCR’s storied legacy.
About Richard Childress Racing
Founded in 1969, Richard Childress Racing (RCR) is one of NASCAR’s most successful organizations, with over 200 victories and multiple championships across NASCAR’s top series.
