NASCAR
Young NASCAR Phenom Jesse Love to be 2027 Cup Rookie in Iconic No. 21 Ford
STUART, Va. – Reigning NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series champion Jesse Love has just earned his ticket to Sunday’s big show. The 21-year-old will take over the famed Wood Brothers Racing No. 21 Ford for the 2027 NASCAR Cup Series season. One of NASCAR’s brightest young stars joins the sport’s oldest and most storied race team.
Love is the latest addition to the very lengthy list of drivers to compete for the Wood Brothers. His first points-paying start in the No. 21 will be the the 2027 DAYTONA 500 at Daytona International Speedway. The Great American Race will go green on Sunday, February 21.
The Menlo Park, California, native has proven himself as a very promising NASCAR talent. The youngest ever champion in ARCA Menards Series history, winning the ARCA West Series title at age 16, Love then went on to capture the 2023 ARCA Menards Series championship. For 2024, he made the transition up to the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series with Richard Childress Racing.
He ended 2024 as O’Reilly Rookie of the Year, and took the series title in 2025. Love also has seven Cup Series starts under his belt, and is currently competing for a second consecutive O’Reilly Auto Parts Series title. His O’Reilly stats are highlighted by three wins and 50 top-10s in 83 starts. Love’s first career O’Reilly win was at Talladega in 2024, followed by Daytona’s season opener and the finale at Phoenix last year.
“Driving the No. 21 for Wood Brothers Racing is truly an honor,” said Love. “This team has played such an important role in NASCAR history, and the drivers who have sat behind the wheel of this car are some of the greatest our sport has ever seen. I’m incredibly grateful to everyone at Wood Brothers Racing, Team Penske, and Ford Racing for believing in me. I’m excited to get to work, continue learning from the people around me and compete at the highest level.”
Love replaces the outgoing Josh Berry, who has won once in 52 starts to date driving the No. 21. Berry currently sits 30th in NASCAR Cup Series points with two top-10s 16 weeks into the 2026 season.
Wood Brothers Racing is NASCAR’s longest-running active team and one of the sport’s all-time winningest organizations. The team surpassed the 100-win mark in NASCAR Cup Series competition in 2025. Some of their marquee triumphs include victories with racing legends: David Pearson, Cale Yarborough, Neil Bonnett, A.J. Foyt, and others. Wood Brothers Racing has the unique distinction of wins across eight decades. The Wood Brothers No. 21 currently holds a technical alliance with Team Penske and gets support from Ford Racing.
“Jesse has accomplished a lot at a young age,” said Jon Wood, president of Wood Brothers Racing. “He’s demonstrated the ability to win races, compete for championships and handle the expectations that come with racing at a high level. We’re looking forward to giving him the opportunity to take the next step in his career with the No. 21 team.”
Love currently finds himself second in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series standings. He will surely be a strong contender again for a back-to-back championship.
Further details about the No. 21 team’s future in the 2027 Cup Series season will be announced at a later date.
Written by Peter Stratta
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Photo credits to Wood Brothers Racing
