Jesse Love’s run in the 2026 Chili Bowl Nationals came to a dramatic halt Friday night at Tulsa’s SageNet Center when a violent crash at the finish involved his No. 2 Toyota and Giovanni Scelzi. The Jesse Love Chili Bowl crash resulted in Love being evaluated at the scene, and despite walking away without serious injury, he was forced to withdraw from Saturday’s B-Main due to severe vehicle damage.
A Tumultuous End After a Strong Run
Starting deep in a highly competitive field on the 1/5-mile dirt track, Jesse Love skillfully navigated through traffic to earn a sixth-place result in Friday’s preliminary feature. The atmosphere was tense as the checkered flag waved, and Love’s car became entangled with Scelzi’s exiting the final corner. This contact catapulted Love’s Toyota into a violent series of flips, scattering debris across the finish area before the car finally settled back on its wheels.
Medical staff moved in immediately to assess Love’s condition, finding him alert and able to climb out under his own power. Race officials suspended the event momentarily while the crowd and safety crews observed his exit, acknowledging the severity of the incident as the SageNet Center’s stands collectively exhaled in relief. The event’s social media channels captured the moment, highlighting the intensity of the crash:
“😳 @jesselovejr1 flips after the checkered in the A-Main on Friday night at the 🌶️🥣! pic.twitter.com/Z4FjwBVv4D
— NASCAR Regional (@NASCARRegional) January 17, 2026”
Love Reflects on His Ordeal
Following the crash, Jesse Love addressed his fans and supporters, confirming his well-being and expressing gratitude for the outpouring of concern. Although disappointed about not advancing further in the event, his focus now turns to recovery and staying involved in dirt track racing:
“Thank you to everyone who reached out. I’m okay. We drove through the field on Friday night and crashed at the line. My body is gonna recover. I’m just more upset than anything now. Grateful for the opportunity with Blake & hopefully I can stay more current this year on the dirt.”
— Jesse Love, Driver
Extensive Damage Halts Chili Bowl Bid
The Jesse Love Chili Bowl crash had significant implications for the No. 2 team’s weekend. With their car heavily damaged, team owner and NASCAR Cup Series crew chief Blake Harris confirmed to FloRacing that they could not safely repair the car in time for Saturday’s B-Main.
Harris described the immediate aftermath and commended Love’s performance inside the cockpit:
“The car was pretty hurt from last night, but it was swift,”
— Blake Harris, Team Owner & Crew Chief
He elaborated on their hopes prior to the crash and the sting of resignation:
“I thought Jesse did an excellent job driving up through the field. We felt like we were going to have a shot to get locked into the A, and even with where we were going to finish, we still had a chance to transfer out of the B tonight. So it’s really disappointing.”
— Blake Harris, Team Owner & Crew Chief
Upon post-race inspection, the crew found more damage than first suspected:
“We went back and looked at it, and it wasn’t just cosmetic damage,”
— Blake Harris, Team Owner & Crew Chief
“There was a lot of damage to the nose. The guys welded it back on, but this isn’t like NASCAR, where you can roll another car off the transporter. Here, you’ve got to use the same car you start with.”
— Blake Harris, Team Owner & Crew Chief
Despite attempts to salvage the entry, safety concerns overrode the team’s desire to compete:
“Once we dug into it more, there was extensive damage. The way the car ran and the pace we had yesterday kind of told the story. When it’s done, it’s done.”
— Blake Harris, Team Owner & Crew Chief
Harris decided the prudent course was to withdraw for safety’s sake:
“There wasn’t going to be anything right about trying to go back out there today. So we’ll move on, rebuild, and make sure we come back with a bullet.”
— Blake Harris, Team Owner & Crew Chief
A Promising Partnership Faces Adversity
Blake Harris, who partnered with Jesse Love for the first time at the Chili Bowl, took time to laud Love’s ability and approach through the weekend’s emotional highs and lows:
“This was my first time working with Jesse on any of this stuff, and he did a heck of a job. We had a lot of fun building this car with Alex over the winter. He was right there with us all day.”
— Blake Harris, Team Owner & Crew Chief
The team’s hope of contending for the main event was dashed by the crash, but the experience and mutual respect gained over the chaotic weekend at Tulsa proved valuable.
What Lies Ahead for Love and His Team
The 2026 Jesse Love Chili Bowl crash at SageNet Center was a sobering reminder of the risks and unpredictability inherent in dirt track competition. Love’s quick recovery and transparent communication with his supporters underscored his growing reputation in the sport. For Blake Harris and the team, the focus now shifts to repairing the damaged Toyota and returning even stronger for future dirt racing events. The partnership with team members like Alex and guidance from Harris promises more opportunities for success and resilience in the face of adversity as the season unfolds.
😳 @jesselovejr1 flips after the checkered in the A-Main on Friday night at the 🌶️🥣! pic.twitter.com/Z4FjwBVv4D
— NASCAR Regional (@NASCARRegional) January 17, 2026
You put on a show last night , glad you are okay.
— Bertrand Motorsports (@BertrandMS) January 18, 2026
Car owner and #NASCAR crew chief Blake Harris tells us why Jesse Love’s #ChiliBowl has come to an end. pic.twitter.com/ij6WTPci0D
— FloRacing (@FloRacing) January 17, 2026
