Jesse Love delivered a remarkable performance to capture the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series championship, earning his first title on a non-superspeedway track. The victory in this high-stakes event secured Love’s status as the new Jesse Love NASCAR Xfinity champion at one of the season’s most tense finishes.
Love’s Dramatic Overtake Secures Title
In a race full of tension and strategic battles, Love made his decisive move with just 24 laps left, overtaking Connor Zilisch for the lead and then maintaining control to take the checkered flag. This triumph marked Love’s third career win and a major milestone on a track type where he had not previously secured a victory. As the laps dwindled, Aric Almirola overtook Zilisch for second, bringing home the owner’s championship for Joe Gibbs Racing and its No. 19 Toyota.
On the frontstretch after his victory, Love expressed the overwhelming emotion that came with the win:
“I feel so clean, you know, relieved”
— Jesse Love, Champion Driver
Love continued to reflect on the difficult road to the championship, emphasizing the effort by his close supporters and team:
“It’s been a tough year for me. I’ve just put so much work into it. People like my dad and Scott Speed and the whole No. 2 team have worked just as hard for my dream as I have for my own… it doesn’t feel real.”
— Jesse Love, Champion Driver
Describing the pivotal pass for the lead, Love noted the intensity and mutual respect with his closest competitor:
“He’s my best friend in the whole world, but not when we’re racing each other. We race each other hard, but fair. I knew I had to take it there. I knew he was going to put it on my door. I knew I had to throttle up and get my nose ahead. He was running a really good race. My car was just better tonight.”
— Jesse Love, Champion Driver
Love also credited the No. 88 team for their commitment. Meanwhile, at pit road, Zilisch—despite the heartbreak of narrowly missing the title—received comfort from team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the rest of the JR Motorsports organization, visibly emotional after the close loss.
Zilisch’s Strong Year Ends in Bittersweet Defeat
Connor Zilisch, representing JR Motorsports Chevrolet, wrapped up a season that saw him claim ten race victories along with Rookie of the Year honors. Despite his third-place result in the final race and finishing second in points, the magnitude of the opportunity and the weight of expectations were evident in his post-race demeanor.
“I came into the weekend, and I told my entire team that we got to give it 100% this week,”
— Connor Zilisch, Driver
Zilisch acknowledged the team’s dedication throughout the season:
“As long as we walk out of this place knowing we did that, I’d be proud of us. We did that today, and we fought all day long. Threw everything we had at it. Unfortunately, we just didn’t quite have what we needed. It doesn’t take away from anything we’ve done this year… I’m so proud of these guys, but I don’t know, I guess the lights were too bright.”
— Connor Zilisch, Driver
He further articulated the effort behind the championship charge and the pain of coming up short:
“You work all year long and you bust your ass for 33 weeks … I feel like we did the best job we could all year long, and we just didn’t have it today. I’m so proud of this team. We have nothing to hang our heads about, but this one is gonna sting.”
— Connor Zilisch, Driver
The season was a testament to Zilisch’s skill and grit, but on this night, he fell just short of his ultimate goal in the Xfinity Series.
Early Race Developments Favor Contenders
The race began with Jones capturing pole position, but his advantage was short-lived as teammate Gray claimed the lead within the first dozen laps. Jones found himself dropping back, unable to maintain the qualifying pace into the race’s opening segment.
In the opening exchanges, Aric Almirola and Jesse Love made slight contact, yet both escaped unscathed and continued in contention. Soon after, Jeb Burton made contact with the wall but managed to guide his car back to pit road under green-flag conditions.
The conclusion of Stage 1 saw Gray prevail, followed by Creed, Allgaier, Zilisch, and Sanchez, with Kvapil holding sixth place and Love positioned in twelfth.
As Stage 2 commenced, Zilisch surged ahead to take the lead but was soon overtaken by a fast-charging Allgaier, who ultimately claimed the stage win. Zilisch finished the segment in second, with Almirola, Creed, and Love filling out the top five, while Kvapil dropped to ninth.
Key Moments in Stage Three Shape the Finish
Heading into the final stage, Zilisch lost ground on pit road after adjustments to improve his car’s speed, whereas a quick stop for Love propelled him temporarily into the lead. However, Allgaier soon regained first position after the restart.
The first natural caution occurred when Leland Honeyman was spun in the middle of the pack. While most front-runners remained on track, Jones led another set of drivers to pit lane for fresh tires, which created divergent strategies. Resuming the race, Jones restarted in fourteenth.
As the action intensified, Love gradually closed in on Allgaier, mounting a sustained challenge for the lead, until a dramatic incident occurred: Ryan Sieg was sent heavily into the outside wall by Christian Eckes while running sixth. This incident shuffled positions, with Zilisch advancing on pit stops while Allgaier dropped back, putting Love back at the front.
The title showdown continued with 42 laps left as Zilisch retook the lead during a frantic, three-wide battle. But Love methodically reeled Zilisch back in, ultimately executing his race-winning pass with 24 laps to go and securing the championship with a decisive performance for Richard Childress Racing.
Lap Times and Final Standings Confirm a Hard-Fought Battle
The closing stage of the race displayed a mix of bold strategy calls and key battles for position. The final lap times reflected the intensity of the fight, with time gaps showing just how fiercely drivers like Love, Zilisch, Almirola, and others were pushing to the limit until the final lap. These performances rounded out a title-deciding contest that will be remembered for its high emotion and dramatic overtakes.
What Lies Ahead After a Season of Surprises?
Jesse Love’s coronation as Jesse Love NASCAR Xfinity champion marks a pivotal moment not only in his young career but in the ongoing evolution of the Xfinity Series. Competitors like Zilisch, Almirola, Jones, and Allgaier displayed resilience and resolve, promising strong competition in future seasons. For Love, the title serves both as validation and a new challenge, as he joins the ranks of NASCAR champions and faces heightened expectations in the races to come.
