Jesse Love will move to Richard Childress Racing’s NASCAR Xfinity Series program full time in 2024, RCR announced Oct. 25.
The 18-year-old will pilot the No. 2 Chevrolet, with Whelen remaining as the primary sponsor. Sheldon Creed, who currently drives the car, will depart following the season. His plans are yet to be announced.
Danny Stockman will be Love’s crew chief.
“I’ve been fortunate to gain a lot of racing experience at a young age, but nothing compares to the opportunity to race for a legendary team like Richard Childress Racing,” Love said in a team release. “I have so much respect for Richard Childress and am extremely grateful to be able to race and learn with one of the most successful teams in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
“I’ve dreamed of racing at the highest levels of the sport since I was a young kid, and the path to the NASCAR Cup Series seems more clear with this opportunity. It’s even more special to be able to represent a company like Whelen who has a long-standing involvement in motorsports and strong focus on building American-made products.”
Love makes the jump after a 2023 campaign in the ARCA Menards Series in which he earned 10 wins, 17 top fives and 18 top 10s in 20 races, capping it off with the series championship. He also won back-to-back ARCA Menards Series West titles in 2020 and 2021.
“We’ve been watching Jesse for a while now and his breakout performance in the ARCA Menards Series was impressive this season,” RCR chairman and CEO Richard Childress said. “We know that he has the talent and determination to win races and compete for championships within RCR’s NASCAR Xfinity Series program. We are looking forward to welcoming Whelen back for another year on the No. 2 program and feel confident that Jesse will be a strong ambassador for Whelen.”
The Menlo Park, Calif., native also made two starts in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with TRICON Garage, earning a top 10 in his debut at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway. He’ll drive for the team again in the season finale at Phoenix Raceway.
Love joins Austin Hill on RCR’s Xfinity team; he is returning for a third season.
About the author
Luken Glover joined the Frontstretch team in 2020 as a contributor, furthering a love for racing that traces back to his earliest memories. Glover inherited his passion for racing from his grandfather, who used to help former NASCAR team owner Junie Donlavey in his Richmond, Va. garage. A 2023 graduate from the University of the Cumberlands, Glover is the author of "The Underdog House," contributes to commentary pieces, and does occasional at-track reporting. Additionally, Glover enjoys working in ministry, coaching basketball, playing sports, and karting.
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