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AVONDALE, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 17: Jesse Love, driver of the #2 Whelen Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Timberland PRO 200 at Phoenix Raceway on October 17, 2026 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
Jesse Love had been the driver to beat all evening at Phoenix Raceway. But after spending most of Saturday’s race out front, he still had to fight for the victory on the final lap.
Sam Mayer was right on his bumper as the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race approached the checkered flag, refusing to let Love turn a dominant performance into an easy win.
Love held his ground, crossing the finish line just 0.128 seconds ahead of Mayer to win Saturday’s 200-lap race at Phoenix Raceway.
The Richard Childress Racing driver led 156 laps in his No. 2 Chevrolet, leaving little doubt about which team had the strongest car. But Mayer made sure the final moments were anything but comfortable.
Justin Allgaier finished third, followed by Corey Day and Sammy Smith.
Jesse Love Dominates at Phoenix, Then Survives a Late Challenge
For much of Saturday’s race, the question wasn’t whether Love had the speed to win. It was whether anyone could find a way around him.
Love spent 156 of the 200 laps at the front, consistently setting the pace while the rest of the field searched for an answer.
Allgaier briefly challenged that control, leading 18 laps for JR Motorsports. Day also enjoyed a stint out front, leading seven laps, while Parker Retzlaff paced the field for nine.
But when the race reached its closing stages, it was Love and Mayer who separated themselves from the competition.
With one lap remaining, Mayer trailed by just 0.225 seconds. He continued to close the gap on the final circuit, but Love had enough to reach the checkered flag first.
Mayer finished 0.128 seconds behind, while Allgaier crossed the line 2.200 seconds back in third.
The race featured five cautions for 35 laps and 18 lead changes.
Full NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Results From Phoenix
Here is the complete finishing order from Saturday’s race at Phoenix Raceway:
Jesse Love
Sam Mayer
Justin Allgaier
Corey Day
Sammy Smith
Brandon Jones
Dean Thompson
William Sawalich
Rajah Caruth
Carson Kvapil
Parker Retzlaff
Jeremy Clements
Harrison Burton
Andrew Patterson
Austin Hill
Jeb Burton
Anthony Alfredo
Ryan Ellis
Lavar Scott
Brent Crews
Patrick Staropoli
Nicholas Sanchez
Ryan Sieg
Blaine Perkins
Kyle Sieg
Josh Williams
Brad Perez
Taylor Gray
Will Rodgers
Connor Mosack
Garrett Smithley
Sheldon Creed
Joey Gase
Leland Honeyman
Brennan Poole
Josh Bilicki
Dawson Cram
Jake Finch
Love’s victory capped a commanding performance in which he led more than three-quarters of the race, although Mayer’s late charge ensured the outcome remained in doubt until the checkered flag.
NASCAR’s Phoenix weekend continues Sunday with the Cup Series Freeway Insurance 500, scheduled for 3 p.m. ET.
Saturday’s NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Phoenix Raceway marked the beginning of a three-year title sponsorship agreement with Timberland PRO, expanding the brand’s presence in NASCAR.
Maggie MacKenzie Maggie MacKenzie covers NASCAR for Heavy.com. She previously worked for NASCAR.com, where she reported, wrote, and edited race-weekend coverage and traveled to key events throughout the season. She has more than ten years of experience in sports media and is based in Boston, Massachusetts. More about Maggie MacKenzie