2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series champion Jesse Love opened up about his surprising title win, the emotions that came with it, and his friendship with runner-up Connor Zilisch. Love’s victory came after winning both the season opener and the finale in a 33-race schedule, even though Zilisch won 10 races across the year.
The 20-year-old driver admitted the moment hadn’t fully sunk in yet. He said he began writing his championship speech on Tuesday after a simulation session and spent the rest of the week editing it. “I always go into an event thinking that way,” Love said. “I am either right or confident.”
A Victory to Remember
Love’s victory lane celebration was something he’ll never forget. He chose Foo Fighters’ “Everlong” as his song for the moment and said hearing it play as he climbed out of the car was pretty cool.” That was when it finally hit him that he’d become a NASCAR champion.
As he told Racing America’s Matt Weaver, the celebration was followed by a quiet talk with Zilisch later that night. “Not like heart to heart,” Love said, “but I just wanted to hear what he had to think about it. It would be awkward if we didn’t talk,” Love added. Their conversation, though private, ended on good terms.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Reflections
Love also spoke to Weaver about the weekend’s other big storyline, Denny Hamlin’s heartbreaking loss in the Cup Series championship. Love said he could relate to Hamlin’s situation, describing it as “a similar dynamic.”
He called Hamlin one of his childhood heroes and said, “He’s just been very good to me… Whenever I need something, he always picks up the phone and gives advice.” Love admired Hamlin’s effort in the race, saying, “He ran just a ridiculously good race,” even though fate didn’t go his way.
He also revealed that he grew up liking Hamlin’s “villain” image and saw similarities between their paths. “Me and my dad are really close, and Denny’s story with his dad is kind of similar,” Love said. “I feel invested in his story.”
Handling the Playoff Debate
Love didn’t avoid the talk around the playoff system. He said he understood why fans felt Zilisch, who led most of the season, deserved the championship.
“Conor was the best all year as a whole,” Love admitted. “And they can be upset about it, probably rightfully so.” Still, he reminded fans that the format was the same for everyone from the start. “It wasn’t like this format was tailored to me or anyone else,” he told Weaver. “There wasn’t a fluke caution or anything. This is what we all signed up for.”
Love also mentioned seeing videos online of Zilisch’s reaction after the race. “I didn’t know until I got on TikTok after,” he said. “People were making edits, and it must have been really hard for him.”
Looking ahead, Love wants to silence any doubts by winning more races next season. “That’s the goal, right? To go win multiple, more races next year,” he said. “Idiots are the ones that come at me personally, right? But the ones that are upset with the format, that’s fair.”
Jesse Love gives fans an honest and human look at the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series champion, a young driver learning to balance victory, friendship, and the pressures that come with success.
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