Jesse Love has made significant progress in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, and now he is setting his sights on a future move to the Cup Series. As he continues to develop with Richard Childress Racing, Love’s NASCAR Cup ambitions are gaining momentum fueled by his recent experiences and promising results.
Building a Strong Case for Advancement
At just 20 years old, Jesse Love has stood out as the driver of the #2 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing, showing noticeable growth over his past two Xfinity seasons. Sitting down for an in-depth interview with Jeff Gluck for The Athletic’s “12 Questions” feature, Love shared his thoughts on his evolving career and how success at the Xfinity level often ignites speculation about a future Cup Series debut.
The buzz around his potential promotion comes not just from fans but also from various online discussion threads, with Love expressing appreciation for these conversations. Transitioning directly from ARCA to Xfinity presented a substantial challenge, but Love notes measurable improvement in his performance.
“It’s been a dream forever, so to finally see that light is cool. I’ve progressed a lot over the last two years. Jumping straight to Xfinity from ARCA was a big jump, but I feel like I’ve started to turn the corner in terms of maximizing my car each week. I definitely want to win more races. My stats are really good all around — lots of second-place finishes, top-fives, the most top-10s in the series — but it’s hard to win at this level. I feel like we can accomplish that at RCR.”
Jesse Love, Driver
Love’s steady rise includes two Xfinity Series wins and numerous top finishes, validating his status as a competitive contender. So far, he’s started five Cup races, splitting his experience between Richard Childress Racing and Beard Motorsports, bolstering his readiness for a bigger stage.
“I feel like I’m well-prepared for a Cup seat. The biggest thing for me was proving I could make lap time in the Cup car, and I can definitely do that. With a couple more races, I can start to execute more and learn the flow of the weekend, and I’ll be really happy,” Jesse Love said.
Jesse Love, Driver
Pursuing a Playoff Breakthrough in Xfinity
As speculation mounts about a possible jump to the NASCAR Cup Series, Love is focused on making an impact in the Xfinity Series playoffs. Heading into the Round of 8 at Las Vegas, he stands fifth in the points, just two points below the cutoff for the Championship 4.
This season, Love captured his first Xfinity win of 2025 at the Daytona opener, followed by an impressive streak of eight top-five finishes and maintaining an average finish position of 11.2. These achievements highlight his consistency and potential as a driver on the rise.
Reaching the Championship 4 would mark a significant milestone, as Love aims for the first such appearance in his career. Last year, his rookie season, he concluded eighth in the points, showing clear progression and setting up higher expectations for this postseason run.
Looking Ahead: A Future Set on the Cup Series
Jesse Love’s continued performance with Richard Childress Racing, along with his Cup race experiences at teams like Beard Motorsports, has positioned him as one of the top young talents in the sport. Mentored and acknowledged by industry figures such as Jeff Gluck and organizations including Chevrolet and The Athletic, Love is using every opportunity to both refine his craft and make a strong case for his NASCAR Cup ambitions.
With the playoffs underway and a Cup Series future looming, Love’s next steps could define the trajectory of his career, influencing not only his personal journey but also the competitive landscape of stock car racing. The coming races may well determine if he can finally translate his growth and promise into top-tier series success.
