Dale Earnhardt Jr. provided high praise for Jesse Love following a dramatic finish in the latest NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship 4 at Phoenix Raceway, where Love’s performance marked a key moment in the Dale Earnhardt Jr NASCAR championship narrative. During his celebrated podcast, Dale Earnhardt Jr. acknowledged Love’s ability to capitalize on crucial opportunities in the final laps and highlighted how Love took charge against strong contenders from JR Motorsports.
The championship race saw Love of Richard Childress Racing start from sixth place, while his main JR Motorsports challengers—Connor Zilisch, Justin Allgaier, and Carson Kvapil—occupied solid positions in P4 and P5. Joe Gibbs Racing’s Brandon Jones had secured the coveted pole with the fastest qualifying time. During the race’s early stages, Love found himself slipping to twelfth at the end of stage one but steadily climbed through the field.
By the close of the second stage, Love had made significant progress, moving up to finish fifth. Then, seizing the moment on lap 175 of the grueling 200-lap contest, Love overtook Connor Zilisch and maintained his advantage, controlling the race until the checkered flag fell.
“As long as they got all the lugs on the car at the end of the race, I mean, it’s fair. They took advantage of every single corner and anywhere they could cut and gain an advantage. And hey, I can’t take anything away from them. It wasn’t a fluke. They ran great all night. They passed us, drove by, and won the race. Had the faster car at the end when it counted.”
– Dale Earnhardt Jr., Former NASCAR Cup Series Driver and Podcast Host
Crossing the finish line 0.861 seconds ahead of Aric Almirola, Jesse Love captured his first-ever Xfinity Series championship. JR Motorsports saw their championship-eligible drivers Connor Zilisch, Justin Allgaier, and Carson Kvapil place in P3, P5, and P13 respectively, underscoring Love’s breakthrough against significant competition.
Jesse Love Expresses Relief and Accomplishment After Securing Title
In just his second full-time season with Richard Childress Racing, Jesse Love claimed the Xfinity Series championship, a notable achievement for both the driver and the organization. Following the race, Love described a profound sense of relief and shared his gratitude for the efforts of his team and family.
The 2025 Xfinity Series season witnessed Love continue to build on his momentum with the No. 2 Chevy, adding to his career achievements which include an inaugural victory at Talladega Superspeedway in 2024, followed by wins at Daytona International Speedway and the Phoenix finale during his championship campaign.
“I just feel so clean. So relieved. It’s been a tough year for me and people like my dad and my whole 2 team to work as hard on my own dream as I have… it just doesn’t feel real.”
– Jesse Love, 2025 Xfinity Series Champion
Examining his accomplishments with Richard Childress Racing, Love has recorded three victories, 16 top-five finishes, and 40 top-ten results over 66 starts. He has also led 638 laps, with consistent average placements—starting near the front at 9.2 on average and finishing races at 11.5—demonstrating both reliability and competitive edge.
Impact on the Xfinity Series Landscape Following Love’s Upset
Jesse Love’s championship victory signals a shift among emerging drivers in the Xfinity Series and showcases Richard Childress Racing’s successful development of young talent. His ability to outperform consistent front-runners like Justin Allgaier and Connor Zilisch highlights the fierce competition among teams and drivers, including those affiliated with JR Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing.
This result is likely to energize the upcoming 2026 Xfinity Series season, as other teams seek ways to challenge the new champion and match the performance improvements demonstrated by Love and his team. The win also enhances the legacy of Dale Earnhardt Jr NASCAR championship stories, as former champions like Earnhardt Jr. continue to mentor and observe the evolution of the sport.
