SPEEDWAY, Ind. – Though he got pinned a lap down early, Jesse Love still fought to a career-best NASCAR Cup Series finish during his Brickyard 400 debut Sunday with Beard Motorsports.

Wheeling the No. 62 C4 Ultimate Energy Chevrolet for the family-owned, Michigan-based team, Love qualified 35th but slowly worked his way forward all afternoon at the iconic 2.5-mile oval.

He advanced to 27th by the end of the first 50-lap stage, but dipped to 32nd after pit stops before climbing as high as 19th midway through the second stage.

A caution on lap 90 for Erik Jones’ crash in turn three – shortly after Love had pitted under green – caught the 20-year-old a lap behind the leaders. Though he restarted in 24th for a four-lap dash to the stage break, Love was unable to hold onto the free pass when the next caution arrived.

Love got to 25th place in the final stage and maintained that position for most of the closing run, before a brief rain shower dampened turn one with four to go in regulation and forced overtime in the crown-jewel event.

Unfortunately for the Menlo Park, Calif., native, he was caught up in a multi-car incident entering turn three during the first overtime attempt on lap 161, though able to continue with only slight front-end damage.

Love restarted 23rd for the second and final try at extra distance, and despite slipping one position, still took the checkered flag in 24th place for his best result in four career Cup Series appearances.

“It absolutely smoked us getting trapped a lap down pretty early on,” admitted Love. “We short-pitted trying to gain some track position under caution. But unfortunately, a caution came out right before the [second] stage break, and that knocked us a lap down. Super unfortunate that happened, but I felt like we could have somehow battled back into the top 20. We had a good bit of speed, and I felt like we had the right strategy after that.

“Just a bummer for the early setback, but still a really cool day in the Cup car and we felt competitive.”

Not only was Sunday Love’s first start in the Brickyard 400, it was also the first time the Beard team had competed in the prestigious event at the Racing Capital of the World.

“That’s something that always sticks with you, right? No matter how many times you get to run a big race, the first one only happens once,” Love pointed out. “It’s special to me to get to race at Indy regardless, because I grew up racing [dirt] midgets and sprint cars all around Indiana and learned exactly what this place means, as well as getting to attend several Indy 500s and experience that atmosphere as well.

“But to run my first Brickyard 400 and be part of the first one for the [No.] 62 team as well, that’s something I really value and appreciate them trusting me to be a part of.”

Love has one race remaining on his limited Cup Series schedule for this season, the Aug. 16 stop at Richmond (Va.) Raceway, where he’ll be back with Richard Childress Racing in the No. 33 Chevrolet.

Before that, however, he’ll continue his full-season duties with RCR in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Iowa Speedway and Watkins Glen (N.Y.) Int’l. Richmond falls on an off weekend for the Xfinity Series field.

Love ranks fourth in the Xfinity Series standings with five races to go in that tour’s regular season.

Broadcast coverage of Love’s final scheduled Cup Series start in 2025, the Cook Out 400 at Richmond, is slated for Saturday, Aug. 16 at 7:30 p.m. ET on USA, the Motor Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.