NASCAR
Jesse Love Takes United Rentals 300 from Daytona, 4th-Straight RCR February Triumph
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Richard Childress Racing continues to be best of the Xfinity Series field on superspeedways. Three-time defending February winner Austin Hill was in his own league until his car broke. This rare error handed the reins over to Jesse Love, who was unmatched out front. The RCR duo ultimately paced the way for 86 of 120 laps, leading to Love’s second career victory. The No. 2 did have to outlast an overtime sprint, however, that led to a premature caution end.
Both Stages were an Austin Hill clinic. It only took the superspeedway ace six laps to find the top spot, hardly relinquishing it across the first half. Hill’s No. 21 Chevrolet was on a max-points mission in its four-peat quest.
Hill’s day came to an abrupt end when making his final pit stop under green. Lap 80 saw Hill retire with a terminal gear leak. Once pit stops cycled out, it was the 2 of Love now in command.
A largely clean and green race was turned on its head inside of the final 10 laps. The first major crash happened at eight to go, when Justin Allgaier made contact with others.
Coming to the white flag, rookie Connor Zilisch was also turned from the top-five. This melee sent the race into overtime, with Love pitted against Sam Mayer.
The run to the checkers only lasted a lap, with another field-clearing incident unfolding. Thanks to Love just eking by the white flag, the race was immediately over. RCR remains undefeated since 2022 in the Xfinity season opener, now with both of their drivers sharing the spotlight.
“I just listened to the guy up there,” Love said about spotter Brandon Benesch. “I am so out of breath. Oh, my gosh, I’m out of breath. Just want to thank the good Lord above for putting me in this position. So many people have helped me get to this point, Billy Venturini, Shane Rush, the people that taught me how to race here at Daytona, thank you guys.”
“ECR, Richard Childress Racing, everybody back at Welcome. Bummer what happened to 21. I’m not sure what happened but he was really dominant tonight, and we’re working on changing our culture here at RCR.”
“We’re winners. We know we are. We all want to win a championship for Richard Childress. Man, that thing was as fast as Xfinity Mobile and I’m ready to go get to Atlanta now. It was awesome.”
“I couldn’t see [Hill]. He was so far forward. Man, once I got up front, I think Danny wanted to take sixth there behind the Haas cars, but I had to see what this baby had out front. We didn’t get to qualify, and it takes me a little bit to get out front sometimes. I’m trying to play chess sometimes and not checkers at Daytona.”
“Man, I’m at a loss for words. It’s Daytona. I always cry here when they do the National Anthem. I’m star struck. I love Florida. Thank everybody for coming out tonight. This place is super special to me. You guys are as good as Talladega fans now!”
“Excited to go celebrate with my guys. My pit crew did a phenomenal job today, and this Chevy was really good. We finally got a win for the Whelen car. That makes it even more special.”
Behind Love once the dust settled, Haas Factory Team put both of their drivers on the podium with Sam Mayer and Sheldon Creed. Other top finishers included: Carson Kvapil, Taylor Gray, Harrison Burton, Jordan Anderson, Dean Thompson, Jeremy Clements, and Patrick Emerling. Hear from a few of these drivers below.
Hill and Love will be the two favorites next week as well in Atlanta. Hill swept both races in Georgia last season, but only after Love led 163 laps in the spring. The Bennett Transportation & Logistics 250 (Saturday, 5 p.m. ET on The CW, PRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) will be another shot the rest of the Xfinity field has at unseating RCR drafting supremacy.
Written by Peter Stratta
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Photo Credits to Sean Gardner/Getty Images
