Defending NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series champion Jesse Love is leaving Richard Childress Racing at the end of the season to join Wood Brothers Racing in 2027, the team announced Wednesday.
“Words can’t describe what it means to me to realize this dream I’ve had for as long a I can remember,” Love posted on social media. “I am so grateful to every single person who has had a hand in my journey from the time I was 5 years old to now. This is for those people who have pushed me and helped me.
“I’ve always believed that the relentless pursuit of a goal can be accomplished through obsession. With the right people around you, the right mindset, and the determination to wake up every day and pursue it, no mountain is too tall to climb.”
The 21-year-old Love became the youngest champion in ARCA Menards Series history with his ARCA Menards Series West title at age 16. The Menlo Park, California, native then captured the 2023 ARCA Menards Series championship by winning half of the 20 races that season, seven poles, and recording 17 top-five and 18 top-10 finishes. RCR lured him away from Toyota, who had signed him to a contract at age 15, to drive in the then Xfinity Series where he won rookie honors in 2024. He followed that with the 2025 series championship, defeating his best friend Connor Zilisch in last year’s season finale at Phoenix.
“Jesse has accomplished a lot at a young age,” Wood Brothers Racing President Jon Wood said in a statement. “He’s demonstrated the ability to win races, compete for championships and handle the expectations that come with racing at a high level.”
Love noted that no part of his career had been easy.
“The dream might have been mine, but the work was everybody’s,” Love said. “So many people have given me their all throughout this journey.
“My dad and I carry the same name, and we’ve carried the same dream for as long as I can remember. Today, that dream becomes reality. I didn’t work my whole life just to arrive. The journey continues.”
Entering the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Naval Base Coronado, Love was second in the standings to leader Justin Allgaier, whose healthy 250-point lead has already guaranteed a position in the post-season.
Wood Brothers Racing is NASCAR’s longest-running active team and one of the winningest organizations in series history. The team surpassed the 100-win mark in NASCAR’s premier series during the 2025 season. The organization has a technical alliance with Team Penske and receives support from Ford Racing.
A North Carolina native, Deb Williams is an award-winning motorsports journalist who is in her fourth decade covering auto racing. In addition to covering the sport for United Press International, she has written motorsports articles for several newspapers, magazines and websites including espnW.com, USA Today, and The Charlotte Observer. Her awards include the American Motorsports Media Award of Excellence, two-time National Motorsports Press Association writer of the year, and two-time recipient of the Russ Catlin award. She also has won an award in the North Carolina Press Association’s sports feature category. During her career, Deb has been managing editor of GT Motorsports magazine and was with Winston Cup Scene and NASCAR Winston Cup Scene for 18 years, serving as the publication’s editor for 10 years. In 2024 she was inducted into the NMPA Hall of Fame.