{"id":55581,"date":"2025-11-01T22:20:46","date_gmt":"2025-11-02T03:20:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=55581"},"modified":"2025-11-02T11:12:20","modified_gmt":"2025-11-02T17:12:20","slug":"jesse-love-closes-out-breakout-year-with-championship-win-almirola-claims-owners-title-for-joe-gibbs-racing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2025\/11\/01\/jesse-love-closes-out-breakout-year-with-championship-win-almirola-claims-owners-title-for-joe-gibbs-racing\/","title":{"rendered":"Jesse Love closes out breakout year with Championship win; Almirola claims owners title for Joe Gibbs Racing"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Jesse Love, driver of the #2 Whelen Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway on November 01, 2025 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

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By Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service<\/em><\/p>\n

AVONDALE, Ariz. \u2013 Jesse Love turned in the ultimate season bookends winning the opening race of the NASCAR Xfinity Series 2025 schedule at Daytona then closing it out with the biggest win of his young career to claim the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Saturday night at Phoenix Raceway.<\/p>\n

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Jesse Love, driver of the #2 Whelen Chevrolet, takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway on November 01, 2025 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Meg Oliphant\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

The 20-year-old Californian had to best his best friend, the season\u2019s 10-race winner Connor Zilisch to claim the career-changing victory and title. Love ultimately passed the JR Motorsports driver Zilisch for the lead with 24 laps to go at the desert one-miler and then had to hold off veteran Aric Almirola after the Joe Gibbs Racing driver also got around Zilisch with eight laps remaining.<\/p>\n

The emotions were unmistakable as Love climbed out of his No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, the smoke still rising behind on track from the celebratory donuts he performed in victory. He immediately gave his father Duke a huge, lingering embrace \u2013 the sentiment between the two palpable and unmistakable. Love finished the season with two wins, nine top fives, 22 top 10s and four poles.<\/p>\n

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Jesse Love, driver of the #2 Whelen Chevrolet, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway on November 01, 2025 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cI just feel so clean, and relieved,” said Love, whose margin of victory was .861-second. \u201cIt\u2019s been a tough year for me and I\u2019ve put so much work into it and people like my dad and [driver coach] Scott Speed and my whole number two team worked just as hard for my dream as I have for my own.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt really hasn\u2019t set in yet. All these emotions, it doesn\u2019t feel real, doesn\u2019t feel real at all,” Love said, adding of the close contest with Zilisch, \u201cHe\u2019s my best friend in the whole world but not when we\u2019re racing each other. We race each other hard but fair. \u2026 He ran a really great race tonight, but my car was just better tonight.”<\/p>\n

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Jesse Love, driver of the #2 Whelen Chevrolet, poses with the winner sticker on his car in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway on November 01, 2025 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Almirola was almost as emotional in celebrating the Owners Championship for Joe Gibbs Racing. The former fulltime NASCAR Cup Series driver has stayed in the sport racing part-time for the Joe Gibbs Racing team, officially earning a position in the owners\u2019 championship with a victory at Las Vegas in the Playoffs.<\/p>\n

Almirola’s 17 races in the JGR No. 19 Toyota was most among the six drivers who combined to drive it this season. Almirola earned all three wins for the car and scored 11 top-10 finishes.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is a team effort and I\u2019m just so thankful for Coach [Gibbs] and the Gibbs family,” said Almirola, a three-time winner in a 12-year fulltime career in the NASCAR Cup Series that ended in 2023.<\/p>\n

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Connor Zilisch, driver of the #88 WeatherTech Chevrolet, (R) congratulates Jesse Love, driver of the #2 Whelen Chevrolet, in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway on November 01, 2025 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cThis is really, really great. I\u2019ve never won a championship. This is my first championship and it isn\u2019t about me but I was a part of it and so proud of our organization and everyone who supports us.”<\/p>\n

\u201cI am so grateful to be a part of that and deliver that to Joe Gibbs Racing.”<\/p>\n

Zilisch\u2019s third-place finish and the dominating season he turned in this season in the No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet was enough to earn Rookie of the Year honors, but that was of little consolation in the immediate moments after the checkered flag.<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing to hang our heads about,” said Zilisch, who became the most successful rookie in series history with a record 18 consecutive top-five finishes, 20 top-10 and 19 top-five finishes as part of his 10-trophy effort. \u201cWe gave it our all today and it doesn\u2019t take away from anything we did this year. We had a hell of a year. This is just going to sting a little bit.”<\/p>\n

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Jesse Love, driver of the #2 Whelen Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway on November 01, 2025 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cI left my heart out on the track.”<\/p>\n

As for his best friend Love, Zilisch was kind even in the heartbreak, \u201cI\u2019m very happy for him, he works hard at it, but I came here to win and it still doesn\u2019t make it any better.\u201d<\/p>\n

The other two of the four championship eligible drivers, Zilisch\u2019s JR Motorsports teammates Justin Allgaier and Carson Kvapil finished fifth and 13th respectively. The defending series champion Allgaier, won a stage and led a race best 83 of the 200 laps \u2013 one of six leaders on the evening \u2013 but was never able to reclaim the lead after losing it during a pit stop with 50 laps remaining.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe did all the right things,” Allgaier said. \u201cThey rose to the occasion and we didn\u2019t.”<\/p>\n

Pole-winner Brandon Jones, who drives the No. 20 JGR Toyota finished fourth followed by Allgaier. Taylor Gray, who won the race\u2019s first stage, finished seventh in another JGR Toyota, followed by Haas Factory Team driver Sheldon Creed, Love\u2019s RCR teammate Austin Hill and JGR\u2019s Justin Bonsignore.<\/p>\n

Interviews:<\/h3>\n

NXS Championship Winning Driver – Jesse Love (No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet) –<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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NXS Championship Winning Team – Richard Childress (Team Owner, Richard Childress Racing), Danny Stockman (Crew Chief, No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet), Dr. Eric Warren (Vice President, Global Motorsports Competiton) –<\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/PHX2NXSChampionshipWinningTeam110125.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

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NXS Owners Championship – Aric Almirola (Owner, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota) –<\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/PHX2NXSAricAlmirola110125.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

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NXS Owners Championship – Ty Gibbs (Owner, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota) –<\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/PHX2NXSOwnersChampTyGibbs110125.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

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NASCAR Xfinity Series Race – NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship<\/b><\/p>\n

Phoenix Raceway<\/b><\/p>\n

Avondale, Arizona<\/b><\/p>\n

Saturday, November 1, 2025<\/b><\/p>\n

                1. (6)  Jesse Love (P), Chevrolet, 200.<\/p>\n

                2. (7)  Aric Almirola (P), Toyota, 200.<\/p>\n

                3. (4)  Connor Zilisch # (P), Chevrolet, 200.<\/p>\n

                4. (1)  Brandon Jones, Toyota, 200.<\/p>\n

                5. (5)  Justin Allgaier (P), Chevrolet, 200.<\/p>\n

                6. (18)  Sammy Smith, Chevrolet, 200.<\/p>\n

                7. (2)  Taylor Gray #, Toyota, 200.<\/p>\n

                8. (3)  Sheldon Creed, Ford, 200.<\/p>\n

                9. (16)  Austin Hill (P), Chevrolet, 200.<\/p>\n

                10. (13)  Justin Bonsignore, Toyota, 200.<\/p>\n

                11. (12)  Harrison Burton, Ford, 200.<\/p>\n

                12. (17)  Kyle Sieg, Ford, 200.<\/p>\n

                13. (14)  Carson Kvapil # (P), Chevrolet, 200.<\/p>\n

                14. (15)  Corey Day, Chevrolet, 200.<\/p>\n

                15. (8)  Nick Sanchez #, Chevrolet, 200.<\/p>\n

                16. (21)  Christian Eckes #, Chevrolet, 200.<\/p>\n

                17. (9)  Dean Thompson #, Toyota, 200.<\/p>\n

                18. (24)  Brennan Poole, Chevrolet, 200.<\/p>\n

                19. (20)  Brenden Queen, Chevrolet, 200.<\/p>\n

                20. (28)  Nick Leitz, Ford, 200.<\/p>\n

                21. (30)  Ryan Ellis, Chevrolet, 200.<\/p>\n

                22. (22)  Connor Mosack(i), Chevrolet, 200.<\/p>\n

                23. (27)  Anthony Alfredo, Chevrolet, 200.<\/p>\n

                24. (25)  Leland Honeyman, Chevrolet, 199.<\/p>\n

                25. (23)  Blaine Perkins, Chevrolet, 199.<\/p>\n

                26. (37)  Josh Williams, Chevrolet, 199.<\/p>\n

                27. (19)  Parker Retzlaff, Chevrolet, 199.<\/p>\n

                28. (33)  Daniel Dye #, Chevrolet, 199.<\/p>\n

                29. (34)  Stefan Parsons(i), Chevrolet, 198.<\/p>\n

                30. (36)  Joey Gase, Chevrolet, 198.<\/p>\n

                31. (32)  Garrett Smithley, Chevrolet, 198.<\/p>\n

                32. (26)  Josh Bilicki, Chevrolet, 196.<\/p>\n

                33. (29)  Jeremy Clements, Chevrolet, 196.<\/p>\n

                34. (35)  Glen Reen, Ford, 196.<\/p>\n

                35. (31)  Patrick Emerling(i), Chevrolet, 192.<\/p>\n

                36. (38)  Dawson Cram, Chevrolet, 191.<\/p>\n

                37. (10)  Ryan Sieg, Ford, Accident, 150.<\/p>\n

                38. (11)  Jeb Burton, Chevrolet, Accident, 36.<\/p>\n

Average Speed of Race Winner:  98.509 mph.<\/p>\n

Time of Race:  2 Hrs, 1 Mins, 49 Secs. Margin of Victory:  0.861 Seconds.<\/p>\n

Caution Flags:  4 for 31 laps.<\/p>\n

Lead Changes:  15 among 6 drivers.<\/p>\n

Lap Leaders:   B. Jones 1-10;T. Gray # 11-49;C. Zilisch # (P) 50;T. Gray # 51-55;C. Zilisch # (P) 56-62;J. Allgaier (P) 63-95;C. Zilisch # (P) 96;J. Love (P) 97-102;J. Allgaier (P) 103-117;J. Love (P) 118;J. Allgaier (P) 119-153;C. Zilisch # (P) 154;L. Honeyman 155;J. Love (P) 156-158;C. Zilisch # (P) 159-175;J. Love (P) 176-200.<\/p>\n

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  Justin Allgaier (P) 3 times for 83 laps; Taylor Gray # 2 times for 44 laps; Jesse Love (P) 4 times for 35 laps; Connor Zilisch # (P) 5 times for 27 laps; Brandon Jones 1 time for 10 laps; Leland Honeyman 1 time for 1 lap.<\/p>\n

Stage #1 Top Ten: 54,00,7,88,48,1,39,19,8,20<\/p>\n

Stage #2 Top Ten: 7,88,19,00,2,54,48,20,1,41<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  By Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service AVONDALE, Ariz. \u2013 Jesse Love turned in the ultimate season bookends winning the opening race of the NASCAR Xfinity Series 2025 schedule at Daytona then closing it out with the biggest win of his young career to claim the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Saturday night at Phoenix Raceway. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":676,"featured_media":55552,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[11],"tags":[912,16,181,395],"class_list":["post-55581","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nascar","tag-jesse-love","tag-nascar","tag-nascar-xfinity-series","tag-phoenix-raceway"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/GettyImages-2244547969-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-est","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55581","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/676"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=55581"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55581\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":55589,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55581\/revisions\/55589"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/55552"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=55581"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=55581"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=55581"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}