“I wouldn’t say it’s necessarily intentional,” NASCAR’s Xfinity director Eric Peterson said. Jesse Love, the 20-year-old rookie sensation driving the No. 2 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing (RCR) in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows at Rockingham. His apparent victory, a milestone that could have cemented his place among NASCAR’s rising stars, was disqualified due to an illegal rear suspension.
“It’s hard to judge whether it was or wasn’t with this one. It came back this way, and certainly there are things you could do to make things like this happen — I’m not saying this happened in this case. It was swayed and an aero advantage,” Peterson continued.
The ruling shattered his dreams and left him grappling with guilt over the negative spotlight on his team. The disqualification came after a meticulous post-race inspection at Rockingham, where NASCAR officials discovered that Love’s rear suspension violated the rulebook. RCR swiftly appealed, arguing that the non-compliance resulted from on-track damage rather than intentional rule-breaking. They presented evidence of multiple incidents during the race—contact with another car and three or four collisions with the wall—that they believed caused the suspension to fail inspection.
The National Motorsports Appeals Panel agreed, upholding the disqualification, stripping Love of his win, and docking him 25 championship points, a devastating blow for the young driver and RCR. Love’s reaction was a poignant mix of heartbreak and accountability.
In a candid moment, he shared his frustration, saying, “With the hopes that we could prove that it was due to damage that we used to stay on the racetrack, having two set the contact on the road and then hit the wall three or four times that day. And I think that we did, we accomplished that goal and throughout the appeal process we were able to, I guess, prove as much as we possibly could that it was due to damage. I think where the bummer factor is, is that that didn’t matter at the end of the day, right? Whether or not we went race legal, we sustained damage on the racetrack that caused that, and that doesn’t matter, right?”
He added further, “I think that’s where I’m a little bit bummed out about it, because my team doesn’t deserve to have that press around them. RCR doesn’t deserve to have that press around them. Not only is my career shoot based off of it, but a lot that falls on their shoulders and his shoulders so I’m glad that we were able to prove that in a sense but I’m bummed that it doesn’t matter right so at the end of the day I feel like I don’t care how I work this but I feel like I maybe got penalized myself for racing really hard and I think that’s where I’m a little upset.” Love’s ability to “keep calm” under such pressure has left industry veterans, including Kyle Busch, “astonished” by his composure and potential.
Jesse Love said he felt RCR proved that the issue with his rear suspension at Rockingham was the result of contact on pit road and the wall but in the end, that didn’t matter. He said he is bummed about losing the appeal and the win. @NASCARONFOX pic.twitter.com/dvjQbgolnf
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) April 25, 2025
Despite the crushing setback, Love’s trust in NASCAR’s process remained steadfast, a testament to his grounded demeanor. He reflected on the organization’s long history, saying, “NASCAR has been around a lot longer than I’ve been alive and they’ve been doing this a lot longer than I’ve been alive and they have a process in place for a reason it’s not me to judge that right. So I still trust NASCAR that they’re doing what they think in their heart is the right move to keep the racing safe and fair cost-effective and all those bull points just because I’m on the short end of it I’m not going to all of a sudden you know turn my back on NASCAR itself.”
His gratitude extended to NASCAR’s Eric Peterson and the officials working to maintain fairness, showcasing a humility that sets him apart. This maturity was further evident when, as Love sought advice from Kyle Busch ahead of his NASCAR Cup Series debut at Bristol. Busch, a two-time Cup champion, has become a mentor, guiding Love through the challenges of top-tier racing, a relationship that underscores Love’s proactive and respectful approach.
Love’s resilience shone brightly at Talladega, where he bounced back by securing pole position, a feat that demonstrated his ability to channel disappointment into determination. He is a “rookie sensation” whose performances continue to shake up the NASCAR landscape. The Rockingham disqualification remains a painful lesson in NASCAR’s unforgiving rulebook, but Love refuses to let it define him. For Love, the road ahead is long, and his calm, trusting outlook ensures he’s ready to race another day.
Jesse Love’s Heartfelt Triumph at Talladega
Jesse Love’s pole win at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2025, was more than just a career first was a straight-up redemption. The 20-year-old NASCAR Xfinity Series rookie, driving the No. 2 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing, clocked a blazing 52.477 seconds at 182.417 mph, edging out Austin Hill to claim his first-ever pole in the series.
“I’ve never sat on the pole here at Talladega, so that’s really cool. Just got to stay out front and when we do lose track position, [I’ll] keep a calm head and just kind of methodically make our way up and not make any little percentage moves that put us back a few rows.” said Love. The victory came just weeks after a heartbreaking disqualification at Rockingham for an illegal windshield, stripping him of a potential top-five finish.
Love revealed, “[I’m] Looking forward to tomorrow. Obviously, my car’s as fast as Xfinity Mobile. I think we got a really good shot at [the race win]. Talladega’s high banks were a proving ground for Love, who became the youngest pole winner in the track’s Xfinity history at 20 years, 3 months, and 12 days.
Love’s journey hasn’t been easy. From his roots in California to battling in NASCAR’s lower series, he’s faced doubters. But at Talladega, he silenced them. As he prepares for the race, Love carries momentum—and a heart full of gratitude.
The post “Got Penalized Myself” – Richard Childress’ Helpless Driver Gives Into NASCAR’s 77 YO History After His DQ appeared first on EssentiallySports.