Jesse Love Bio
Jesshill Michael Gregory Love Jr., known professionally as Jesse Love, is an American professional stock car racing driver born on January 14, 2005, in Menlo Park, California. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 2 Chevrolet Camaro SS for Richard Childress Racing. Love has also made part-time starts in the NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, building a résumé that already includes a major national championship.
Love holds two remarkable records: he is the youngest winner ever in the ARCA Menards Series West, and the youngest winner ever in any NASCAR-sanctioned event, both at 15 years, 5 months, and 13 days. In 2025, he added the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship to his list of titles, cementing his place as one of the brightest young talents in American motorsports.
Early Life and Background
Jesse Love was raised in Menlo Park, California, by his parents, Elizabeth and Jesshill Love. His father, Jesshill, raced midget cars in his youth and later built a career as a real estate investor and lawyer. The elder Love is the CEO of three California real estate portfolios, a former president of the Silicon Valley Chapter of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization, and the CEO of HomeSmiles, a property maintenance company that helps support Jesse’s racing efforts. Love is of partial Mexican descent through his mother, Elizabeth, who was raised in Mexico City.
Love first sat in a race car at age five and quickly showed unusual talent. He began in the Quarter Midgets of America Series, where he collected multiple wins and championships before turning ten. He later became the first driver to win championships in three different USAC divisions in the same year. By thirteen, he had already proven himself in the 51Fifty Energy Drink Jr. Late Model Series, and at fifteen he was competing for championships on a national stage.
Path to NASCAR
Love’s path to the upper levels of NASCAR ran through the ARCA Menards Series ladder. In 2020, he was announced as a full-time rookie driver in the ARCA Menards Series West with Bill McAnally Racing. That season, he won three races and nine top-five finishes in eleven starts, beating Blaine Perkins for the West championship. In 2021, he returned to Bill McAnally Racing and added a second consecutive West title, while also running selected events in the main ARCA Menards Series with Venturini Motorsports.
He moved to a fuller schedule with Venturini Motorsports in 2022, earning eight top-fives and twelve top-tens, and in 2023 he won the ARCA Menards Series national championship with ten victories. That same year, he made his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut at Gateway with Tricon Garage, finishing in the top-ten. On October 25, 2023, Richard Childress Racing announced that Love would drive the No. 2 Chevrolet full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series beginning in 2024, replacing Sheldon Creed.
Jesse Love Career
Early Career (2016-2019)
Love’s early career was defined by dominance in junior open-wheel and stock car divisions. He won the USAC Speed2 Western US Dirt Midget Series championship in 2016 and 2017, and added the USAC Speed2 Western US Asphalt Midget Series title in 2017. In 2018, he won the Bay Cities Racing Association Midgets Championship and captured the INEX Legend Car Racing Series title with five wins in eight starts.
In 2019, Love stepped into the SRL Southwest Tour, a Super Late Model series, driving for Keith Kunz Motorsports. The move positioned him for the jump into NASCAR-sanctioned touring competition the following year.
ARCA Menards Series Breakthrough (2020-2023)
Love’s first major breakthrough came in 2020 with Bill McAnally Racing in the ARCA Menards Series West. He won his first series start at the Utah Motorsports Campus road course at just 15 years, 5 months, and 13 days old, setting the record as the youngest winner in any NASCAR-sanctioned event. He clinched the West championship that season and repeated as West champion in 2021 with Venturini Motorsports.
In 2022, Love ran a near-full ARCA Menards Series schedule with Venturini, earning his first national-series victory at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack by leading every lap. He was promoted to a full-time ride in 2023, and that year he won ten races, including the finale at Salem, and locked up the ARCA Menards Series championship a race early. Across the ARCA Menards Series, the West Series, and the East Series, he has combined for more than 18 wins.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Breakthrough (2024-2025)
Love moved to the NASCAR Xfinity Series full-time in 2024 with Richard Childress Racing. He opened the year with a pole at Daytona, swept both stages and led 157 laps at Atlanta, and earned a career-best second-place finish at Phoenix. At Talladega, he scored his first Xfinity victory by holding off the field in overtime, capping a strong rookie season that earned him the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series Rookie of the Year award.
In 2025, Love opened the season with a win at Daytona and later won at Rockingham, though that victory was taken away after post-race inspection. He remained a consistent playoff presence and ultimately won at Phoenix to claim the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series championship. In Xfinity Series competition, he has recorded 3 wins, 51 top-tens, and 10 poles.
Richard Childress Racing Era (2024-Present)
Love joined Richard Childress Racing in 2024 as a full-time Xfinity Series driver, taking over the No. 2 Chevrolet. He quickly established himself as a title contender, sweeping stages at Atlanta in his early starts and contending for wins on a weekly basis. His first Xfinity win at Talladega, paired with the 2024 Rookie of the Year honor, signaled a strong foundation for the No. 2 team.
His form carried into 2025, when he won the season opener at Daytona and remained in the playoff picture all year. The defining moment came at Phoenix, where his win in the championship race delivered the Xfinity Series title to Richard Childress Racing. Love also expanded his schedule, making his NASCAR Cup Series debut at Bristol in 2025 with RCR’s No. 33 Chevrolet.
Driving Style and Strengths
Love has shown particular strength on superspeedways and intermediate tracks, where his drafting ability and race craft have produced early wins at Daytona and Talladega. He has also demonstrated the consistency needed for a championship run, racking up top-ten finishes across both ovals and road courses. His work with the No. 2 team at Richard Childress Racing has produced strong qualifying speeds, with multiple poles in his first Xfinity seasons.
Notable Races and Milestones
Among Love’s signature moments are his record-setting first ARCA West win at Utah in 2020, his first Xfinity victory at Talladega in 2024, and his 2025 Xfinity Series Championship-clinching win at Phoenix. His 2023 ARCA Menards Series national title, with ten wins in a single season, stands as one of the most dominant efforts in recent ARCA history.
Jesse Love Career Wins
Jesse Love has built a multi-series win résumé that includes championships in Midget cars, ARCA, and the NASCAR Xfinity Series. His 3 Xfinity Series victories, his 12 ARCA Menards Series wins, and his 5 ARCA West wins form the backbone of his career totals, with additional victories in the ARCA East Series and early open-wheel competition.
Xfinity Series Highlights
Love has scored 3 NASCAR Xfinity Series wins, with 51 top-ten finishes and 10 poles. His first Xfinity victory came at Talladega in 2024, and his most recent win came at Phoenix in 2025 in the championship race, where he clinched the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series championship. The Phoenix win stands as his largest career moment to date.
Other Wins and Performances
In the ARCA Menards Series, Love earned 12 wins, 42 top-tens, and 11 poles, and he added 1 win and 2 poles in the ARCA Menards Series East. In the ARCA Menards Series West, he collected 5 wins, 17 top-tens, and 4 poles, capturing back-to-back championships in 2020 and 2021. Earlier in his career, he won USAC Speed2 championships in 2016 and 2017 and the Bay Cities Racing Association Midgets title in 2018.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| NASCAR Xfinity Series | 3 | 51 | 10 |
| ARCA Menards Series | 12 | 42 | 11 |
| ARCA Menards Series West | 5 | 17 | 4 |
| ARCA Menards Series East | 1 | 11 | 2 |
Jesse Love Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Jesse Love is the son of Jesshill Love and Elizabeth Love. His father, Jesshill, raced midget cars in his youth and later built a business career as a real estate investor and lawyer in California. He is the CEO of three real estate portfolios, a former president of the Silicon Valley Chapter of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization, and the CEO of HomeSmiles, a property maintenance company that supports Jesse’s racing program.
Personal Life
Love was raised in Menlo Park, California, and is of partial Mexican descent through his mother, Elizabeth, who was raised in Mexico City. His family’s business and racing background has helped support his rise through the motorsports ladder, from Quarter Midgets through national NASCAR competition.
2025 Season Performance
Love’s 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series season was a championship-caliber campaign. He opened the year with a win at Daytona, added a win at Rockingham that was later disallowed after post-race inspection, and consistently ran inside the top tier of the standings throughout the year. His three total Xfinity Series wins through the year, combined with 51 top-ten finishes and 10 poles, reflected both speed and reliability.
The 2025 playoff run was steady, with Love remaining a threat at every round. In addition to his Xfinity duties, he made his NASCAR Cup Series debut at Bristol Motor Speedway with Richard Childress Racing’s No. 33 Chevrolet, and also drove selected NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races for Spire Motorsports. The highlight of the year came at Phoenix, where his win in the championship race delivered the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship.
Looking ahead, Love’s stock in the sport continues to rise. He is set to drive for Richard Childress Racing in the Xfinity Series in 2026, while also running selected Cup Series events, and Wood Brothers Racing has announced that he will pilot the No. 21 Ford Mustang Dark Horse in the NASCAR Cup Series beginning in 2027.
