Jesse Love will move up to the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2024, teaming up with Richard Childress Racing to pilot the No. 2 Chevrolet on a full-time basis, beginning with the season opener at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 17.
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The 18-year-old wheelman dominated the ARCA Menards Series circuit this season with 10 wins in 20 races en route to the series championship.
“We’ve been watching Jesse for a while now, and his breakout performance in the ARCA Menards Series was impressive this season,” Richard Childress, Chairman and CEO of RCR, said in a statement. “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.”
Love will replace Sheldon Creed, who currently is competing in the Round of 8 of the Xfinity Series Playoffs alongside his teammate Austin Hill.
Fielding teams in the Xfinity Series since 1995, RCR has nabbed five driver’s championships, including two with Kevin Harvick (2001, 2006), one with Clint Bowyer, one with Austin Dillon, and most recently, Tyler Reddick in 2019.
“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. “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.”