“We knew he was the real deal”: NASCAR insider reflects on Jesse Love’s journey from ARCA dominance to ‘surprise’ Xfinity title

NASCAR insider Jamie Little has recently reflected on 2025 Xfinity Series champion Jesse Love’ remarkable rise through the racing ranks, highlighting the 20-year-old driver’s rapid ascent from ARCA dominance to Xfinity Series glory. Little has closely watched the journey of the future NASCAR star from scratch.

Love won his first NASCAR Xfinity Series title with Richard Childress Racing in his second full-time season. He did so after beating hot title contender Connor Zilisch to claim the career-changing victory and title.

Reflecting on Love’s rapid ascent in a PRN’s The Pit Reporter show, Little praised the RCR driver’s talent, resilience, and ability to adapt to every challenge placed before him. Speaking about Love’s journey from early success with Venturini Motorsports in the Xfinity Series to his rapid adaptation in the Xfinity Series, Little said:

“One of the best things about covering the ARCA Menards Series for the last few years for me was getting to know the future stars, and Jesse Love was one of them. And in 2023, he absolutely dominated. won 50% of the races that year, 10 of 20 races, and won the championship, and we knew he was the real deal.” “And he goes over to Xfinity. He gets a win last year in his first year in his rookie season. This year he gets the win at Daytona, doesn't win again until the end of the season, he wins the championship. And I think that's a little bit of a surprise to people because he hasn't been in it that long, but this kid is so good with an incredible team around him.”

In a short span of a career, Jesse Love has won the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series championship, the 2023 ARCA Menards Series championship, back-to-back ARCA Series West titles (2020-2021), and was named Xfinity Rookie of the Year in 2024.

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“I just feel so clean and relieved”: Jesse Love on his maiden NASCAR title

Jesse Love grabbed the lead from season’s 10-race winner Zilisch with 24 laps to go and then had to hold off veteran Aric Almirola in the closing to cross the finish line by a margin of 0.861 seconds.

Expressing his emotions on winning the title in a post-race interview, Love said (via NASCAR.com):

“I just feel so clean and relieved. It’s been a tough year for me, and I’ve put so much work into it, and people like my dad and [driver coach] Scott Speed and my whole No. 2 team worked just as hard for my dream as I have for my own.”

Jesse Love wrapped up his championship-winning campaign with two wins, 4 poles, nine top-five finishes, 22 top-10 finishes, and led 297 with an average finish of 11.

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Edited by Yash Soni