10-Win Connor Zilisch Loses NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship To Jesse Love
Jesse Love was the first driver into the NASCAR Xfinty Series playoffs with his win at the season-opener in Daytona and had to wait until the final race of the season to pick up his second, but it’s the one that mattered most.
The 20-year-old Richard Childress Racing driver held off 10-race-winner Connor Zilisch to win the Xfinity Series championship at Phoenix in what will likely be the last winner-take-all title race before a new championship format begins next year.
The two drivers are best friends, but there was no love lost as Love passed his JR Motorsports rival for the lead with 24 laps to go. He then had to battle to the end with Aric Almirola, who finished second to claim the owner’s championship for the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota ahead of Zilisch in third.
“I just feel so clean, and relieved,” Love said when he got out of his car. “It’s been a tough year for me and I’ve put so much work into it and people like my dad and Scott Speed [his driver coach] and my whole No. 2 team worked just as hard for my dream as I have for my own.”
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“It really hasn’t set in yet. All these emotions, it doesn’t feel real, doesn’t feel real at all,” Love said. “[Zilisch is] my best friend in the whole world but not when we’re racing each other. We race each other hard but fair.”
Zilisch could take some consolation in being named Rookie of the Year as the 19-year-old heads to the Cup Series to drive for Trackhouse Racing next season, while love will be racing for a second straight Xfinity Series title for Richard Childress Racing.
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