Jesse Love secured the NASCAR Xfinity championship in Phoenix, capping off the season in dramatic fashion and marking a significant achievement for both himself and his team. The 20-year-old standout delivered a bookend season, winning at Daytona to start the year and closing with a victory at Phoenix, highlighting his journey and drive for the Jesse Love NASCAR Xfinity championship.
Strong Season Finale Sees Jesse Love Triumph
Love’s win at the Phoenix season finale delivered his first NASCAR Xfinity Series championship and brought Richard Childress his sixth driver title in the series. Throughout the season, Love struggled to capture another victory after Daytona, but found his stride at the most crucial moment, overtaking Connor Zilisch with only 25 laps to go and ultimately taking the checkered flag.
Reflecting on the intense year, Love commented,
“I just feel so clean, relieved,”
Jesse Love, driver. He candidly shared,
“It’s been a tough year for me. Man, I’ve just put so much work into it.”
Jesse Love, driver.
Intense Competition and Final Standings
Connor Zilisch, who had led the series with ten victories and performed strongly for most of the year, finished third at Phoenix, narrowly missing the championship. Expressing his disappointment, Zilisch acknowledged the dedication his team put into the season:
“You work so hard for 38 weeks, yeah, coming up short sucks,”
Connor Zilisch, driver.
Despite the outcome, Zilisch remained grateful for his team’s overall achievements, stating,
“Yeah, it cost us a championship … we’ll keep our heads high. We are walking home with more than three times as many trophies as anybody else. We won the most races, had the most top 10s, top fives, poles. There’s no reason we should be upset because of this outcome.”
Connor Zilisch, driver.
Aric Almirola clinched second place in the final race, leading Joe Gibbs Racing to the Xfinity owners championship—the team’s seventh. Following Zilisch in fourth was Brandon Jones, with title contender Justin Allgaier placing fifth, and Carson Kvapil finishing thirteenth among the championship hopefuls.
Highlights from the Race and Season Ahead
The race was packed with standout moments. Taylor Gray claimed the Stage 1 victory, while Justin Allgaier took Stage 2. The emotional highs and competitive fire displayed by all contenders defined this intense and memorable conclusion to the season.
The excitement now shifts forward as the NASCAR Xfinity Series prepares for its return at Daytona International Speedway on February 14, 2026, where new stories and rivalries will be forged.
