AVONDALE, Ariz. – Jesse Love produced the ultimate bookend of the season, winning the opening race of the 2025 schedule at Daytona, then closing it with the biggest victory of his young career to capture the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship Saturday night at Phoenix Raceway.
The 20-year-old Californian had to beat his best friend, 10-race season winner Connor Zilisch, to take the career-changing victory and title. Love finally passed JR Motorsports driver Zilisch for the lead with 24 laps remaining on the desert miler, then had to hold off veteran Aric Almirola after the Joe Gibbs Racing driver also got around Zilisch with eight laps remaining.
The emotions were unmistakable as Love exited his No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, smoke still rising behind on the track from the celebratory donuts he performed in the victory. He immediately gave his father Duke a huge, lingering hug – the feeling between the two was palpable and unmistakable. Love finished the season with two wins, nine top fives, 22 top 10s and four poles.
“I feel so clean and relieved,” said Love, whose margin of victory was 0.861 seconds. “It’s been a tough year for me, and I’ve put so much work into it and people like my dad and (driver coach) Scott Speed and my entire No. 2 team have worked as hard for my dream as they have for mine.
“It really hasn’t set in yet. All these emotions, it doesn’t feel real, it doesn’t feel real at all,” Love said, adding of the close showdown with Zilisch, “He’s my best friend in the world, but not when we’re competing against each other. We’re competing hard but fair. … He had a really good race tonight, but my car was just better tonight.”
Almirola was almost as emotional while celebrating the owners’ championship for Joe Gibbs Racing. The former full-time NASCAR Cup Series driver remained in the sport part-time for the Joe Gibbs Racing team, officially earning a spot in the owners’ championship with a victory at Las Vegas in the playoffs.
Almirola’s 17 races in the No. 19 JGR Toyota were the most among the six drivers who combined to drive it this season. Almirola took all three of the car’s victories and scored 11 top-10 finishes.
“It’s a team effort and I’m so grateful to coach (Gibbs) and the Gibbs family,” said Almirola, a three-time winner during a 12-year full-time career in the NASCAR Cup Series that ended in 2023.
“It’s really, really awesome. I’ve never won a championship. This is my first championship and it’s not about me, but I was a part of it and I’m very proud of our organization and everyone who supports us.”
“I’m very grateful to be a part of this and pass this on to Joe Gibbs Racing.”
Zilisch’s third-place finish and dominant season this season behind the wheel of the No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet was enough to earn Rookie of the Year honors, but it was little consolation in the moments after the checkered flag.
“Nothing to worry about,” said Zilisch, who became the most successful rookie in series history with a record 18 consecutive top-five finishes, 20 top-10 finishes and 19 top-five finishes as part of his 10-trophy effort. “We gave it our all today and that doesn’t take away from what we’ve done this year. We’ve had a heck of a year. It’s just going to sting a little bit.
“I left my heart on the track,” he said.
As for his best friend Love, Zilisch was kind even in the heartbreak: “I’m very happy for him, he works hard, but I came here to win and that still doesn’t make things better.”
The other two of the four championship-eligible drivers, Zilisch’s JR Motorsports teammates Justin Allgaier and Carson Kvapil, finished fifth and 13th, respectively. Defending series champion Allgaier won a stage and led a race-record 83 of 200 laps, one of six leaders on the night. But he was never able to regain the lead after losing it during a pit stop with 50 laps remaining.
“He did all the right things,” Allgaier said. “They rose to the occasion and we didn’t.”
Pole winner Brandon Jones, driving the No. 20 Toyota JGR, finished fourth, followed by Allgaier. Taylor Gray, who won the first stage of the race, finished seventh in another JGR Toyota, followed by Haas Factory Team driver Sheldon Creed, Love’s RCR teammate Austin Hill, and JGR’s Justin Bonsignore.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Race – NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship
Phoenix Speedway, Avondale, Arizona
Saturday November 1, 2025
1. (6) Jesse Love (P), Chevrolet, 200.
2. (7) Aric Almirola (P), Toyota, 200.
3. (4) Connor Zilisch # (P), Chevrolet, 200.
4. (1) Brandon Jones, Toyota, p. 200.
5. (5) Justin Allgaier (P), Chevrolet, 200.
6. (18) Sammy Smith, Chevrolet, 200.
7. (2) Taylor Gray #, Toyota, 200.
8. (3) Sheldon Creed, Ford, 200.
9. (16) Austin Hill (P), Chevrolet, 200.
10. (13) Justin Bonignore, Toyota, 200.
11. (12) Harrison Burton, Ford, 200.
12. (17) Kyle Sieg, Ford, 200.
13. (14) Carson Kvapil # (P), Chevrolet, 200.
14. (15) Corey Day, Chevrolet, 200.
15. (8) Nick Sánchez #, Chevrolet, 200.
16. (21) Christian Eckes #, Chevrolet, 200.
17. (9) Dean Thompson #, Toyota, 200.
18. (24) Brennan Poole, Chevrolet, 200.
19. (20) Brenden Queen, Chevrolet, 200.
20. (28) Nick Leitz, Ford, 200.
21. (30) Ryan Ellis, Chevrolet, 200.
22. (22) Connor Mosack(i), Chevrolet, 200.
23. (27) Anthony Alfredo, Chevrolet, 200.
24. (25) Leland Honeyman, Chevrolet, 199.
25. (23) Blaine Perkins, Chevrolet, 199.
26. (37) Josh Williams, Chevrolet, 199.
27. (19) Parker Retzlaff, Chevrolet, 199.
28. (33) Daniel Dye #, Chevrolet, 199.
29. (34) Stefan Parsons(i), Chevrolet, 198.
30. (36) Joey Gase, Chevrolet, 198.
31. (32) Garrett Smithley, Chevrolet, 198.
32. (26) Josh Bilicki, Chevrolet, 196.
33. (29) Jeremy Clements, Chevrolet, 196.
34. (35) Glen Reen, Ford, 196.
35. (31) Patrick Emerling(i), Chevrolet, 192.
36. (38) Dawson Cram, Chevrolet, p.
37. (10) Ryan Sieg, Ford, Accident, 150.
38. (11) Jeb Burton, Chevrolet, Accident, 36.
Average speed of race winner: 98.509 mph.
Running time: 2 hours, 1 minute, 49 seconds. Margin of victory: 0.861 seconds.
Caution flags: 4 for 31 laps.
Lead changes: 15 out of 6 drivers.
Round leaders: B. Jones 1-10; T. Gray #11-49;C Zilish #(P)50;T. Gray #51-55;C. Zilish # (P) 56-62;J. Allgaier (P) 63-95;C. Zilish #(P)96;J. Love (P) 97-102;J. Allgaier (P) 103-117;J. Love (P) 118;J. Allgaier (P) 119-153;C. Zilish #(P)154;L. Honey Man 155;J. Love (P) 156-158;C. Zilish # (P) 159-175;J. Love (P) 176-200.
Summary of leaders (driver, lead times, 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 rounds; Brandon Jones 1 time for 10 rounds; Leland Honeyman 1 time for 1 round.
Top Ten of stage 1: 54.00,7,88,48,1,39,19,8,20
Stage #2 Top Ten: 7.88,19.00,2.54,48,20,1.41
–Holly Cain, Special to Field Media
