Jesse Love, fresh from his championship season in the 2025 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, is set to race in the 2026 Chili Bowl Nationals in Tulsa, Oklahoma next week. The NASCAR star’s entry marks an exciting crossover, as he aims to showcase his skills in one of dirt racing’s most demanding arenas, with the Jesse Love Chili Bowl appearance highly anticipated by fans and industry insiders.
NASCAR Standout Steps Into Midget Racing Spotlight
Love, who is just 20 years old, will pilot a car owned by NASCAR Cup Series crew chief Blake Harris and entered by 2nd Opinion Auto Center Racing during the renowned Tulsa event, known as The World’s Greatest Midget Race. This participation stands out as an active NASCAR champion takes on the gritty challenge posed by one of America’s most prestigious dirt track races. The Chili Bowl has a reputation for drawing top-tier talent from disciplines as varied as NASCAR, IndyCar, sprint car, and grassroots series, all converging to compete for a coveted spot in Saturday night’s A-Main.
With a field routinely boasting hundreds of entries, reputation takes a backseat to adaptability, discipline, and technical driving skill. For Love, who built his foundation racing on dirt, the event’s blend of chaos and precision will be a natural test ground. While his recent Xfinity Series title demonstrated his dominance on paved circuits, his resume on loose surfaces includes victories in the Xtreme Outlaw National Midget Series, POWRi West, and a USAC track record at Gas City I-69 Speedway.
Love’s Dirt Track Background Enhances Chili Bowl Bid
These achievements underscore Love’s comfort with high-energy, wheel-to-wheel competition—qualities critical for success at the Chili Bowl. His unique mix of NASCAR discipline and dirt track prowess positions him as a compelling contender among the 2026 lineup, setting up a duel between experience and audacious skill in Tulsa. Among other notable drivers appearing are Matt Sherrell, Luke Storer, Tanner Berryhill, and Jeb Sessums, all joining Love under the 2nd Opinion Auto Center Racing banner.
The Texas-based operation, helmed by Dan and Patricia Harris, is leveraging over a decade of event experience with an expanded, ambitious five-car lineup this year, signaling both a wealth of experience and a strong desire to leave a mark on the storied competition.
Event Coverage and Racing Legends Add to the Anticipation
Fans will have the chance to follow every minute of Jesse Love’s Chili Bowl journey thanks to comprehensive, flag-to-flag coverage by FloRacing, the official broadcast partner for the event. Adding further prestige, legendary racer Tony Stewart will take on the role of grand marshal, tasked with signaling the event’s start on one of dirt racing’s most esteemed stages.
For Love, who competes with Richard Childress Racing in NASCAR, the decision to enter the Chili Bowl is not about off-season headlines or media attention. Participation in Tulsa offers the opportunity to test himself against the very best dirt racers in the country, emphasizing that true competitiveness transcends racing surfaces or championship trophies.
The stakes are high for Love—he arrives not simply to experiment but to challenge the notion of what a NASCAR champion can accomplish on dirt. This venture promises to test every ounce of his racing acumen and adaptability, drawing attention from across motorsports to see whether his track instincts can rise to the top in midget racing’s ultimate proving ground.
𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒 🚨 2025 #NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series champion @jesselovejr1 is heading to Tulsa to compete in the #ChiliBowl!#RoadtotheChiliBowl presented by @Chilis https://t.co/Z26Rpptbbe
— FloRacing (@FloRacing) January 6, 2026
