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Jesse Love Locks in, Takes Xfinity Series Title at Phoenix

Jesse Love Locks in, Takes Xfinity Series Title at Phoenix
Photo Credit to Peter Stratta/TSJSports

NASCAR

Love Stands Tall as 2025 Xfinity Series Champion after Phoenix Win

AVONDALE, Ariz. – The storied and success-driven Richard Childress Racing Xfinity Series team writes another winning chapter in its lineage. Thanks to a monster final run and a clutch pass on Connor Zilisch, NASCAR’s youngest touring champion Jesse Love adds the Xfinity Series trophy to his case. Bookending the season with wins at Daytona and Phoenix, Love joins the very stacked list of RCR Xfinity champions. The Welcome, North Carolina team now celebrates their sixth organizational title.

Stage 1 went to last week’s maiden Xfinity Series winner Taylor Gray, while contender and reigning champion Justin Allgaier took Stage 2. However, a stellar pit stop at this point would give Jesse Love command to start the final stage. Love’s time out front here would be very short-lived though, with Allgaier powering back around the 2 for the top spot.

What ended up being the final restart of the race with 42 laps left initially saw Zilisch gain the top spot over Love. Nevertheless, the No. 2 Chevrolet did not go away quietly into the night. Love stalked his best friend Zilisch back down on track and made the winning pass with 25 laps left. Since there was no further caution, Love punctuated a career drive with a maiden NASCAR National Series championship.

“I just feel so clean, relieved,” Love said. “It’s been a tough year for me. Man, I’ve just put so much work into it. People like my dad and Scott Speed, my whole 2 team, have worked just as hard for my dream as I have for my own.”

“Man, thank you to Whelen. For one last time this car was fast as Xfinity Mobile. It really hasn’t set in yet. I just tried to tune out all the emotion. It doesn’t feel real at all.”

“[Zilisch] is my best friend in the whole world, but not when we’re racing each other. We race each other hard, but fair. Yeah, I had to take it through. I knew he was going to put in my door. I knew I had to throttle up and just get my nose ahead. He was running a really good race. My car was just better tonight and allowed me to roll off the center and get off the corner better. Hats off to the 88 team and Connor for all they’ve done this year. Tonight, I can’t even believe it, you know?”

“We were so bad to start. I couldn’t believe how bad we were. We were awful. Danny [Stockman, crew chief] put one of his magic wrenches in there and we came to life. I’m so grateful for everybody at ECR, back in North Carolina, Marty Houston, all the boys, Chevrolet. I’m forgetting a laundry list of people. This means the world to me. Everybody that’s been on this journey with me over the last few years, especially the last probably eight months or so, I’ve really tried to just rebuild myself and come back better. Oh, I feel so just clean and relieved.”

Aric Almirola made a late pass over Zilisch for the Owner’s Championship. The top-five were rounded out by Brandon Jones and reigning Xfinity champ Justin Allgaier. The last contender, rookie Carson Kvapil, came home in 13th. Hear from Jones and losing championship owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. below. Despite striking out a 75% shot at the title, Earnhardt was very gracious in defeat and gave RCR all their deserved flowers.

NASCAR Championship Weekend closes out the 2025 racing season with the Cup Series finale on Sunday. Hamlin, Briscoe, Byron, or Gibbs will add their names to the big nameplate atop the Bill France Cup after 312 laps around the desert mile. The green flag flies at 3 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Written by Peter Stratta

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Photo Credit to Peter Stratta/TSJSports

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