Jesse Love didn’t hold back after winning the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship. The 20-year-old driver for Richard Childress Racing fired back at critics after taking the title in the season finale at Phoenix Raceway on Saturday night.
Love led the final 24 laps to grab his first championship in just his second season. This is Richard Childress Racing’s sixth Xfinity Series driver title.
Love Wins When It Matters Most
Love secured only two victories, first at the Daytona International Speedway and the last at Phoenix Raceway. But both those victories were the difference. In the format of the playoff presented by NASCAR, the motorsport driver who comes out as the best among the four final competitors of the last race is awarded the championship.
Connor Zilisch was the favourite going into the finale. The Rookie of the Year was the star of the whole season. He completed the season with 10 wins and 20 top-five finishes in a row. However, during pit stops, Connor’s team made changes that slowed him down. That provided Love and his group with an opportunity. Love was put to the lead by a fast stop on pit with 25 laps remaining.
From there, he never looked back. Love passed the line nearly 2 seconds before Aric Almirola, who was placed second. Zilisch ended up third. Justin Allgaier also finished the fifth place, having lost the lead after a short period, and Carson Kvapil, another competitor, took 13th place.
The second-place run of Almirola gave Joe Gibbs Racing the Xfinity owners’ championship, which is the seventh in total.
Jesse Love Speaks on Critics and Social Media
After his win, Love knew not everyone would be happy. Some fans online questioned his championship because he didn’t dominate all season.
“Well, I really don’t give a shit what people think,” Love said right after the race. “I get a big old trophy. I get a nice check. I get a lot of things that come out of this.”
He later softened his tone but still stood by his words. “I’m not somebody that devalues what fans say,” he added. “It kind of sounds contradictory, but when people call me out on Twitter, their opinions are valid. The world would be a boring place if we all agreed on everything. I don’t really care at the end of the day, but I still like to see how people react. They’ll have their thoughts, and I’ll have mine. That doesn’t bother me at all.”
Love’s comments reflected what many drivers face in the social media era: constant public debate over who “deserves” a title.
NASCAR’s Playoff Format Sparks More Debate
Jesse Love’s win reignited talk about NASCAR’s playoff system. Some fans say it’s unfair because it rewards one big race instead of a full season of hard work. Zilisch’s 10 wins and season-long dominance didn’t matter once the finale started. All that counted was who finished best at Phoenix.
NASCAR has already said it plans to change the playoff format for 2026. Officials want to find a better balance between season-long performance and championship pressure. The updates could prevent situations like this year’s, where a driver with fewer wins takes home the title.
But for now, Jesse Love’s championship is official and earned under the rules. His final-race win gave him the trophy, the check, and the title of 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion.
The next season starts in February 2026, with new rules likely to shake things up. Until then, Love’s name will stay in the record books as the driver who showed up when it mattered most.
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