Jesse Love is preparing for his long-awaited Super2 debut in Australia, an opportunity shaped not just by his own skill but also by guidance from local racing figures. The Jesse Love Super2 debut promises to be a compelling chapter in international motorsports, as Love adapts to new cars, tracks, and competition at the iconic Adelaide event.
Fresh from a triumphant run in the Xfinity Series, where he showcased poise under pressure with Richard Childress Racing, Love now finds himself halfway around the world, encountering a racing experience described as “unlike anything I’ve ever driven.” The ZB Commodore at Mallala Motorsports Park served as his initiation into the world of Super2, quickly challenging him to adapt to new machinery and unique circuit layouts.
Mentorship and Camaraderie: Broc Feeney Shapes Love’s Australian Journey
Jesse Love’s journey into Australian motorsport has been shaped by the support of Broc Feeney, an emerging star with a reputation for maintaining composure under pressure. Love immediately recognized the importance of having a friendly face in this unfamiliar setting, and his collaboration with Feeney helped him both on and off the track. Speaking about their friendship, Love shared,
“Me and Broc have become decent friends over the last couple of months leading up to this, so it’s been cool to see how he’s managed his mindset, and he looks really calm and cool and collected. I’m definitely pulling for Broc this weekend, hopefully he can get it done.”
– Jesse Love, Driver
The foundation for this alliance was Feeney’s willingness to reach out, offering direct advice about adapting to Gen2 machinery and the nuances of racing in Australia. Feeney, who only spent a single year in the Gen2 era but managed to win its final race at the 2022 Adelaide 500, went further by helping Love adjust cockpit ergonomics and setup. For Love, used to competing on American ovals and road courses, the chance to gain tips from someone so experienced in Australian circuits was invaluable.
The bond between Love and Feeney is also reflected in their on-track ambitions, as this weekend’s BP Adelaide grand final creates a dramatic stage for a four-way battle between Broc Feeney, Will Brown, Chaz Mostert, and Kai Allen. With practice looming, Love draws confidence from recent high-stakes experiences, knowing that the pressure is as familiar as it is unforgiving.
As the Super2 debut approaches, the energy around Love’s entry into the series has been palpable among fans and officials alike, noted in posts like,
“Super2 debutant @jesselovejr1 has pulled out all the stops for his Australian foray 👀#Super2 #NASCARhttps://t.co/kZVTGcQNan”
– Dunlop Super2 Series (@Dunlop_Series)
Love’s championship mindset, developed through racing in the high-pressure world of NASCAR’s Xfinity Series, stands out as a valuable asset. Despite the differences in format—Supercars values consistency over NASCAR’s winner-takes-all finales—the stress and demands to perform remain just as real in Adelaide. For contenders like Chaz Mostert, Will Brown, and Kai Allen, the stakes are high, and Love’s own perspective on playoff racing has become noteworthy in the Super2 paddock.
The chance to compare systems led Love to observe,
“I think when you have a winner-takes-all format, there can be a level of stress that can, in a way, eat at you a little bit if you’re not going about it and managing your emotions in the right way,”
Love explained to the media, offering insight into how different championship formats create unique types of pressure.
To prepare for this challenge, Love made the most of his test day at Mallala, where adjustment to right-hand drive and the technical nuances of Super2 machines required focused guidance. He described his practice session as productive, citing help from experienced drivers:
“It was definitely very productive. I had really good coach there in [former Image drives and Super2 race winner] Jordan Boys, he was a huge help for me as well. I felt like my pace was great, probably the biggest issue for me was just the error count. On the brakes, sometimes I would lose awareness. When you’re at the limit you’re really not thinking about it, so it’s real easy to dip a wheel off at entry or hit a curb in the wrong way than what you wanted to.”
– Jesse Love, Driver
Love’s first official Super2 practice sessions are scheduled for 11:10 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. local time in Adelaide, further intensifying anticipation for how the American will fare in this new arena. However, Feeney was not the sole figure inspiring Love’s adventure; his motivation also draws from another international racing star.
Shane Van Gisbergen: The Catalyst for Love’s Passion in Supercars
While Broc Feeney plays a pivotal role in supporting his preparation, Jesse Love attributes his initial fascination with Supercars to the exploits of Shane Van Gisbergen. Shane’s move from Australian racing into the NASCAR world in 2023 dramatically shifted Love’s view of the V8-powered series and broadened his horizons as a competitor. During early 2024, Love’s exposure to Supercars increased through a test exercise at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA), where he met Image Racing team principal Terry Wyhoon. Those conversations would eventually pave the way for his Australian debut.
Love reflected on what sparked his ambitions, saying,
“I always wanted to do the V8 thing only because of SVG, really. I didn’t even really know about it until Shane. Again, I like in my free time, I’ll watch sprint car racing, things like that. Didn’t even realize what was going on in Australia other than midget sprint cars. The stuff that Shane does is like magic, right? So, if I can go over there and trial by fire, get my butt kicked, and learn some of that magic that Shane has, it’ll be a huge experience for me.”
– Jesse Love, Driver
This year’s Adelaide grand final raises the bar for cross-continental interest in Supercars, with drivers like Austin Cindric securing a drive in the top-level field for Tickford Racing. The presence of elite Americans at the Supercars finale highlights not just the growing popularity of Australian motorsport abroad, but also the ripple effects of icons like SVG (Shane Van Gisbergen), who continue to inspire talent across borders.
Love’s arrival during the championship’s adrenaline-fueled final weekend puts him at the center of global racing conversation. As a debutant, he is carrying the torch for new fans and for established names like Broc Feeney and Shane Van Gisbergen, showing that mentorship and inspiration travel far—often across oceans and disciplines.
What comes next for Jesse Love in his Super2 journey remains to be seen, but his debut marks more than just a new race entry. It signals a moment where cultural boundaries are bridged, and where the next generation of champions draws support and wisdom from unexpected mentors and global icons. As the engines fire up in Adelaide, attention will be fixed on Love as he tests his limits and continues to shape the future of international motorsports.
Super2 debutant @jesselovejr1 has pulled out all the stops for his Australian foray 👀#Super2 #NASCARhttps://t.co/kZVTGcQNan
— Dunlop Super2 Series (@Dunlop_Series) November 26, 2025
