He may not have been the odds-on-favorite to win the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship, but that didn’t stop Jesse Love from becoming one. Taking the lead with 24 laps remaining, Love stayed out front to win the race and claim the crowning achievement at Phoenix Raceway on Friday Night.
He and the No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet team overcame a slow start and improved their car via pit stops to get better.
And better and better they got as Love battled two different JR Motorsports championship contenders for the title and race victory. It’s his first, sixth for RCR and second for crew chief Danny Stockman.
After winning 10 NXS races this season, the favorite of Connor Zilisch was passed by his best friend Love with 24 laps remaining and finished third. Reigning champion Justin Allgaier led a race high 83 laps, won Stage 2 and ran up front enough to look like he could repeat. He faded after a long pit stop and finished fifth. His JRM teammate and fellow contender Carson Kvapil was 13th at the checkered flag
Love’s last victory was the season opener at Daytona International Speedway.
Overcoming Adversity
The struggles for Love and the RCR team really started at Martinsville Speedway last weekend. After starting 21st, they didn’t move the needle much and finished a disappointing 23rd. Having enough playoff points enabled him to make the Championship 4 for Phoenix.
Things looked better after posting the third-fastest practice speed on Friday and then qualifying sixth. However, once the race started, Love started to go in the wrong direction befuddling both himself and crew chief Stockman.
“We were so bad to start, I couldn’t believe how bad we were,” Love observed. “I mean, we were awful. Danny (Stockman) threw one of his magic wrenches in there and we came to life. So grateful to everyone at ECR, everyone back in Welcome, NC and Chevrolet.
“This means the world to me. Thanks to everyone who has been with me on this journey the last 10 years, and especially the last eight months. I really just tried to rebuild myself and come back better.
“I feel just so clean and relieved.”
Passing Best Friend for Title
Zilisch and the No. 88 JRM Chevrolet team led five times for 34 laps. After taking the lead from Love on Lap 159, he was passed by Love on Lap 176 who stayed there until the checkered flag. Off the track, Love and Zilisch spend a lot of time together.
But, when the green flag drops, the friendships stop.
“He’s my best friend in the whole world, just not when we’re racing each other,” Love said. “We raced each hard and fair. I feel I had to take it there, he was at my door and I just had to throttle up and get my nose ahead.
“He ran a really good race, my car was just better tonight. During those closing laps, I was just getting ready for a caution and I can’t believe it didn’t come out. I was as shocked as anybody when it didn’t happen.”
Family Affair
It was an emotional victory for the 20-year-old driver who has made no secret of his family’s influence on his career. His dad, Jesshill Love, raced midget cars in their native state of California and used one of his companies to support his son’s early racing days.
“We have put so much work into this and people like my dad and this whole No. 2 team,” Love said in Victory Lane. “They have worked as hard for my dream as I have for my own. It really hasn’t set in yet.
“This doesn’t feel real, this doesn’t feel real at all.”
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