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Nineteen-year-old rookie driver Jesse Love was highly emotional after his first ever Xfinity Series victory in only his ninth start on Saturday, April 20, at Talladega Superspeedway.
Coming through the ranks of the ARCA Menards Series, the teenage sensation was signed up by Richard Childress Racing following his dominant 10-win ARCA championship sweep in 2023. Having impressed so far in the campaign including numerous poles and top-5 finishes, a win was all that eluded Love's remarkable start to his rookie campaign.
That win finally arrived at Talladega Superspeedway, where Love, piloting his No. 2 Chevrolet, drove to victory in the Ag-Pro 300 NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Saturday. The California native secured the lead in the race's first overtime before fending off competition from Leland Honeyman and Riley Herbst at the 2.660-mile circuit.
Speaking to Fox Sports' Regan Smith after the race, Love was a mixed bag of emotions as he compared his finish to that of Atlanta earlier this season. He said:
"Just a great group of guys [on my team] and it’s been such a journey to get to this point. I got so many people to thank. I just wanted it so bad and I had PTSD flashbacks from Atlanta."
Despite leading the majority of the Raptor King of Tough 250 race in Atlanta, Jesse Love ran out of fuel in overtime, ultimately settling for a 12th-place finish. Fuel once again became a concern for Love at Talladega as the race stretched 11 laps beyond the scheduled distance. However, his No. 2 Chevrolet powered through to register a memorable win. Love added:
"Huge thanks to the boys at ECR for bringing the best team in the building. I love Talladega, my favorite Speedway, I love the fans. Saw a lot of great people on the boulevard last night, wearing my shirts and everything.”
Jesse Love on his bold approach towards the end of the race
Despite the risks associated with running low on fuel, Jesse Love remained undeterred, trusting in his team's expertise and his own instincts on the track. He said:
"If we run out, we run out. My team did a phenomenal job. I made some moves early, I was like 'what are you doing, dummy!' That was not smart. Then I thought I was doing a good job, then I was making dumb decisions.”
The Richard Childress Racing rookie further explained:
"Towards the end the bottom started rolling, and I don’t even know what all happened, I’d be lying if I told you I knew what happened. But, just a phenomenal car. I'm ready to go celebrate with my family. My mom and dad, they're all here. A lot of people that I love very much, that sacrificed a lot for me to get to this point."
After nine races, Jesse Love is ranked fourth in the NASCAR Xfinity Series standings. With one victory and six top-10 finishes, the 19-year-old driver has accumulated 316 points and is primed to contend for the Xfinity championship in only his first season.
