Jesse Love championship mindset is in full focus as he prepares for one of the toughest challenges of his career at Phoenix Raceway this Saturday. The 20-year-old driver, coming off back-to-back ARCA Menards Series West titles and a recent ARCA Menards Series championship, is set to compete for the NASCAR Xfinity Series title against seasoned contenders Justin Allgaier, Connor Zilisch, and Carson Kvapil.
Having ascended from Menlo Park, California, Love is entering the winner-takes-all environment of NASCAR’s National Series title race for the first time. While he is accustomed to success at previous levels, the pressure has intensified at this stage, particularly under the unique championship race format that NASCAR’s top series has adopted for over a decade.
Approaching the Championship: Not Just Another Race
Unlike some drivers who try to treat the season finale as a routine event, Love acknowledges the heightened stakes. He explained his approach during the Championship 4 Media Day, emphasizing a thoughtful and intensified preparation.
“You can go about it two ways: You can treat it like it’s any other race, or you can put some more effort into it,”
Jesse Love, Driver
“I don’t think it’s any other race; there’s more on the line. I think, from my point of view, it’s almost a little naive to call it any other race,”
Jesse Love, Driver
His strategy shifted noticeably after Talladega Superspeedway, the middle event in the Xfinity Series Playoffs’ semi-final round. With a comfortable points buffer, Love made a tactical change in his preparation, focusing less on the immediate elimination race at Martinsville Speedway to put more energy into Phoenix, where the championship will be determined.
Practice, Preparation, and Mental Focus
“I kind of hedged my bet after Talladega, and probably worked on Martinsville [the elimination race in the Round of 8] for 30 minutes throughout the week, and just started focusing on Phoenix,”
Jesse Love, Driver
“Honestly, I used Martinsville more for what’s going to help me at Phoenix. Obviously, we pushed some things, and yeah, it wasn’t a great result, but I was able to focus on Phoenix, and yeah,”
Jesse Love, Driver
Though his preparation routine remains consistent, Love admits he has invested additional effort into understanding the nuances of Phoenix Raceway over his career, considering this background an advantage ahead of the most significant race yet.
“The prep itself hasn’t changed a whole lot, I still put a lot of effort into it every day, like, I’m kind of working like a six-to-five job, and after that I can kind of relax and calm down, but yeah, defintiely, I’ve put more effort into this racetrack as a whole throughout my career, which is kind of a blessing. Now, I have more knowledge going into the week,”
Jesse Love, Driver
Mental Strategy and Support Leading into Phoenix
At just twenty years old, competing at the highest level brings unique pressures. Love credits his mentor, Josh Wise, with providing guidance on mental preparation. Events earlier in the week, he noted, helped him find a sense of calm approaching the title race.
“For me, I thought I was going to have to do a lot more work — I have a great mentor in life with Josh Wise on the mental side of things — I kind of thought after Sunday-Monday I was going to need to rely on him pretty heavily, but Tuesday, a couple of things played out throughout my day, and kind of brought a lot of awareness to me, and then now, this week, I’ve been as calm as I ever have been,”
Jesse Love, Driver
What Awaits at Phoenix Raceway
The NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Race is scheduled for Saturday, November 1, at 7:30 PM ET at Phoenix Raceway. Love, representing Richard Childress Racing, is looking to secure what would be his fourth major racing championship in just six seasons, reinforcing his reputation as one of racing’s emerging talents. The event will be broadcast live on The CW, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
As the competition among Justin Allgaier, Connor Zilisch, and Carson Kvapil intensifies, Love’s proven championship experience and measured approach could prove decisive. The outcome will not only shape his career but may also highlight the value of mental preparedness and focused effort at the highest levels of motorsport competition.
