Jesse Love

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 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, driving the No. 2 Chevrolet Camaro SS for Richard Childress Racing. He also competes part-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 33 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Richard Childress Racing, and part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 77 Chevrolet Silverado RST for Spire Motorsports.

Love holds the record as the youngest winner ever in the ARCA Menards Series West and the youngest winner ever in any NASCAR-sanctioned event, both accomplished at 15 years, 5 months, and 13 days old. He has captured multiple championships across stock car racing’s developmental ladder, including the ARCA Menards Series West title in 2020 and 2021, the ARCA Menards Series championship in 2023, and the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series championship in 2025.

Early Life and Background

Jesse Love was born and raised in Menlo Park, California, a region known for its tech-driven economy rather than its racing heritage. He is the son of Elizabeth and Jesshill Love Sr. His mother was raised in Mexico City, giving Love partial Mexican heritage. His father raced midget cars in his youth and later built a career as a real estate investor and lawyer, eventually becoming the CEO of three real estate portfolios in California and the CEO of HomeSmiles, a property maintenance company that supports Jesse’s racing efforts.

Love began racing at the age of five, starting in the Quarter Midgets of America Series, where he won multiple races and championships before he turned ten years old. He progressed through junior open-wheel divisions, eventually winning championships in three different USAC divisions in the same year, becoming the first driver to accomplish that feat. By the age of thirteen, Love was granted an age waiver to compete in the RPM Pro Late Model Series at Madera Speedway by track promoter Kenny Shepherd.

Path to NASCAR

Love’s transition to NASCAR-sanctioned competition began with the ARCA Menards Series West in 2020, when Bill McAnally Racing announced he would run the full schedule in the No. 19 Toyota. He immediately made an impact, winning his first series race in just his second start at Utah Motorsports Campus. That season, Love captured the ARCA West championship, becoming the youngest champion in series history.

Over the following three seasons, Love built his resume across the ARCA ladder, adding a second West Series title in 2021 and the main ARCA Menards Series championship in 2023 with Venturini Motorsports. He also gained NASCAR national series experience with select Craftsman Truck Series starts in 2023, paving the way for his full-time promotion to the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series with Richard Childress Racing in 2024.

Jesse Love Career

Early Career (2016–2019)

Love’s earliest championship came in the USAC Speed2 Western US Dirt Midget Series, which he won in both 2016 and 2017. In 2017, he added the USAC Speed2 Western US Asphalt Midget Series title, becoming the first driver to win championships in three different USAC divisions in a single season. The following year, Love drove full-time in the INEX Legend Car Racing Series, winning five of the eight races on the schedule to claim that championship, while also competing in the BCRA Midget Series and the Hunt Magneto Sprint Car Series under age waivers.

In 2019, Love drove for Keith Kunz Motorsports in the SRL Southwest Tour, a late model racing series. That experience helped prepare him for the jump to ARCA and NASCAR-sanctioned competition the following year. In 2018, he also won the Bay Cities Racing Association Midgets Championship, rounding out a diverse developmental resume.

ARCA Menards Series West Breakthrough (2020–2021)

Love joined Bill McAnally Racing for the 2020 ARCA Menards Series West season, replacing Hailie Deegan in the No. 19 Toyota. After finishing second in the season opener at Las Vegas Bullring, he scored his first series win at Utah Motorsports Campus in June, becoming the youngest winner in ARCA West history at 15 years, 5 months, and 13 days old. He went on to win three races and post nine top-five finishes in eleven starts, claiming the championship and setting another age record in the process.

In 2021, Love returned to Bill McAnally Racing in the No. 16 Toyota and added a nine-race ARCA Menards Series schedule with Venturini Motorsports. He earned his first national ARCA victory at Salem Speedway, outdueling Ty Gibbs on a late restart, and successfully defended his West Series title with multiple wins, including a victory at Irwindale. The repeat championship cemented his status as one of the top young prospects in American stock car racing.

ARCA Menards Series Championship (2022–2023)

Love returned to Venturini Motorsports for the 2022 ARCA Menards Series season, posting eight top-five finishes and twelve top-ten finishes. He earned a dominant victory at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetracks, leading every lap. The following season, he was upgraded to a full-time ARCA schedule and delivered a breakout campaign, winning ten races and posting seventeen top-fives and eighteen top-tens.

Love clinched the 2023 ARCA Menards Series championship one race early at Salem Speedway by simply taking the green flag, capping one of the most dominant seasons in recent series history. Along the way, he also made select NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series starts for Tricon Garage, finishing in the top ten in his debut at Gateway.

NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Breakthrough (2024–2025)

On October 25, 2023, Richard Childress Racing announced that Love would drive the No. 2 Chevrolet full-time in 2024, replacing Sheldon Creed. He made an immediate impression by winning the pole in his first career start at Daytona and sweeping both stages at Atlanta the following week. At Talladega, Love scored his first career Xfinity Series victory by holding off the field on an overtime restart, going on to earn the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series Rookie of the Year award.

Love opened 2025 with a win at Daytona and remained a consistent contender throughout the season. After a disqualification at Rockingham cost him a second victory, he bounced back during the playoffs and won the championship-deciding race at Phoenix to claim the 2025 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series championship.

Richard Childress Racing Era (2024–Present)

Love’s move to Richard Childress Racing in 2024 marked his transition to one of NASCAR’s most respected organizations. In his rookie season, he posted strong qualifying efforts and showed superspeedway strength at Daytona, Atlanta, and Talladega, where he earned his first win. His consistency and race craft earned him Rookie of the Year honors and signaled a bright future at RCR.

In 2025, Love elevated his performance by winning at Daytona early in the season and steadily accumulating top finishes throughout the year. He capped his breakout campaign by winning the season finale at Phoenix to secure the Xfinity Series championship. With RCR, Love also made his NASCAR Cup Series debut at Bristol in 2025, returning for select Cup starts in 2026 in preparation for a full-time move.

Driving Style and Strengths

Love has shown particular strength on superspeedways and intermediate tracks, where his drafting ability and aggressive restarts have produced consistent front-running finishes. His background in open-wheel and midget racing has helped him develop precise car control and adaptability across different track types. Working with Richard Childress Racing’s resources and engineering staff has further refined his race craft and strategic execution.

Notable Races and Milestones

Among Love’s signature moments are his first Xfinity Series win at Talladega in 2024, his championship-clinching victory at Phoenix in 2025, and his record-setting ARCA West win at Utah Motorsports Campus in 2020. His Cup Series debut at Bristol in 2025 also stands as a milestone, marking his entry into NASCAR’s premier division.

Jesse Love Career Wins

Jesse Love has accumulated wins across multiple stock car racing series, from USAC midget competition to the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. His victories span short tracks, road courses, intermediate ovals, and superspeedways, reflecting his versatility as a driver.

NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Highlights

Love has recorded three wins in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, with his first coming at Talladega in 2024 and his most recent at Phoenix in the 2025 championship race. He has also earned 51 top-ten finishes and 10 pole positions in the series. His 2025 title run included consistent playoff performances and a decisive final-race victory at Phoenix.

Other Wins and Performances

Outside of the Xfinity Series, Love’s most significant victories came in the ARCA Menards Series, where he won 12 races, including 10 during his 2023 championship season. He also scored five wins in the ARCA Menards Series West, capturing championships in 2020 and 2021. Earlier in his career, he earned championships in USAC midget series and the Bay Cities Racing Association Midgets, building a strong foundation in open-wheel and pavement racing.

Jesse Love Family

Family Background and Racing Lineage

Jesse Love comes from a family with deep ties to both racing and business. His father, Jesshill Love Sr., raced midget cars in his youth before transitioning into law and real estate investing. He now serves as the CEO of three California real estate portfolios and the CEO of HomeSmiles, the property maintenance company that supports Jesse’s racing career. His mother, Elizabeth Love, was raised in Mexico City, giving Jesse partial Mexican heritage.

Personal Life

Love grew up in Menlo Park, California, where his family supported his early racing endeavors through both financial backing and logistical support. His father’s business ventures have helped fund his progression through the racing ladder. Love maintains an active presence on social media, where he shares updates about his racing career and personal interests.

2025 Season Performance

The 2025 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season marked the breakthrough year of Jesse Love’s young career. He opened the season with a win at Daytona, immediately establishing himself as a championship contender. Throughout the regular season, Love remained one of the most consistent drivers in the field, posting multiple top-ten finishes and demonstrating strong qualifying speed.

Love’s season was not without challenges, as a disqualification at Rockingham cost him a potential second victory after he had crossed the finish line first. Despite the setback, he rebounded and carried strong form into the playoffs. Working with Richard Childress Racing’s No. 2 team, Love executed steady performances across the postseason rounds to keep his championship hopes alive.

Love ultimately clinched the 2025 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series championship by winning the season finale at Phoenix Raceway. The title cemented his status as one of NASCAR’s brightest young stars and positioned him for a planned transition to the NASCAR Cup Series with Wood Brothers Racing in 2027.