NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series champion Jesse Love is set to compete in the 2026 Chili Bowl Nationals, bringing excitement to Tulsa, Oklahoma, this January. Returning after a year away, Love’s entry adds further anticipation thanks to connections within the NASCAR circuit, making the Jesse Love Chili Bowl Nationals appearance a focal point for both dirt and stock car racing fans.
Jesse Love Partners with Blake Harris for Chili Bowl Comeback
The 20-year-old Menlo Park, California native will be racing in one of the premier dirt midget events, marking his return after skipping last season. This year, Jesse Love will join forces with Blake Harris, current crew chief for Alex Bowman and the No. 48 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports in the NASCAR Cup Series. Harris owns the entry, which is fielded by 2nd Opinion Auto Center Racing, creating an intriguing crossover between the world of NASCAR and dirt midget racing at the prestigious Tulsa event.
Love’s Previous Chili Bowl Attempts and Hard-Luck Stories
Jesse Love is no stranger to dirt midget racing, having previously claimed victory in the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series. While he has two ARCA Menards Series West titles to his name, he has not yet managed to qualify for the feature A-Main in three prior Chili Bowl Nationals appearances. His last outing at the SageNet Center saw him leading a qualifying heat before a dramatic crash in Turn 1 ended his hopes, highlighting the unforgiving nature of the Chili Bowl Nationals.
Star-Studded Driver Roster for the 2026 Edition
The upcoming Chili Bowl Nationals is expected to feature around 400 drivers, with 385 entrants already listed. Jesse Love is joined by several high-profile competitors from NASCAR and ARCA, further raising the level of competition. Notably, Cup Series regulars Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, and Ty Gibbs will also participate; Larson and Bell are both three-time event winners, bringing further prestige to the roster. Other NASCAR National Series names such as J.J. Yeley, Sheldon Creed—making his Chili Bowl debut this year—Corey Day, and Josh Bilicki will also be in action.
Unique Mix of Racing Worlds and Familiar Faces
The blend of entrants reflects the growing intersection between stock car circuits and dirt racing. Dillon Welch, known as a pit reporter for The CW Sports, has entered, illustrating these connections across motorsports disciplines. The lineup also features well-known names from the ARCA world, including Kaylee Bryson, Gavan Boschele, Brayton Laster, and Ryan Roulette, underscoring the event’s broad appeal and competitive depth.
Event Details and Timing
The 2026 Chili Bowl Nationals will run from January 12 to 17 at Tulsa State Fairgrounds’ SageNet Center. The event continues to draw top-tier drivers across racing categories, and for Jesse Love, this year marks an important opportunity to overcome previous setbacks and possibly secure a place in the A-Main. With significant figures like Blake Harris involved and cross-entries from both ARCA and NASCAR, the upcoming Chili Bowl promises high drama and strong competition at one of America’s most iconic dirt racing events.
“Indoor szn ? pic.twitter.com/W14WSX8JuR” — jesse love jr (@jesselovejr1)
Indoor szn 🥸 pic.twitter.com/W14WSX8JuR
— jesse love jr (@jesselovejr1) January 6, 2026
