TALLADEGA, Ala. — Jesse Love showcased dominant speed throughout Saturday’s NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Ag-Pro 300 at Talladega Superspeedway, but a late-race shuffle left the defending series champion with a seventh-place finish.

Love opened the weekend by earning the pole position in the No. 2 Whelen Engineering Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet and backed it up by leading a race-high 37 laps — the most of any driver in the field.

After finishing ninth in Stage 1, Love remained a factor at the front of the pack throughout the race. Stage 2 proved more challenging as track position shuffled, resulting in an 18th-place stage finish, but the No. 2 team quickly regrouped for the final run.

In the closing laps, Love worked his way back to the front and was in contention for the win before the field split three-wide behind him with six laps remaining. With cars surging both high and low, Love was shuffled out of the lead pack, ultimately crossing the line in seventh.

Despite the finish, it was clear Love had one of — if not the — strongest cars in the field throughout the day.

“We had a really fast Whelen Chevrolet,” Love said. “Proud of the effort from everyone at RCR. Superspeedway racing is tough — you can do everything right and still lose track position at the end. We’ll take the speed and move on to Texas.”

The solid result keeps Love third in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series championship standings as he continues his 2026 title defense following his 2025 championship season.

Up next, Love heads to Texas Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 2, where he’ll look to convert speed into a win.

In addition to his Xfinity Series effort, Love will also compete in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series event, starting 37th in the No. 33 1-800-Pack-Rat Chevrolet after qualifying was canceled due to weather.

About Jesse Love

Jesse Love is the defending NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Champion, having captured the 2025 title in his breakout season. Known for his race-winning speed and consistency, Love continues to establish himself as one of NASCAR’s rising stars with Richard Childress Racing.

About Richard Childress Racing

Richard Childress Racing (RCR) is one of NASCAR’s most storied organizations, with multiple championships and victories across all three national series. RCR continues to develop top-tier talent and compete for wins at every level of the sport.

About Whelen Engineering

Whelen Engineering is a global leader in emergency warning equipment and a long-time supporter of motorsports. Their partnership with Jesse Love and Richard Childress Racing highlights their commitment to performance, safety, and innovation.

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