NASCAR

NASCAR Xfinity Series Fans Respond To Jesse Love Escaping Trouble, Capturing United Rentals 300 At Daytona

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By
Jeff Hawkins
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Jeff Hawkins Sports Editor

Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  

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Published16 Feb 2025

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xfinity jesse love burns rubberat daytona (1)

Jesse Love stood breathless. Emerging from his victorious No. 2 Chevrolet, the NASCAR Xfinity Series driver struggled name everyone he wanted for helping earn the United Rentals 300 overtime title at Daytona International Speedway. 

“So many people have helped me get to this point,” Love said, as reported by NASCAR.com. “We’re working on changing our culture here at RCR (Richard Childress Racing). We’re winners, we know we are and we really want to win a championship for Richard Childress.” 

Love maintained the lead during the final three restarts, holding off challenges from Sam Mayer (P2) and Sheldon Creed (P3), who remained winless and drew the ire of at least two competitors. 

Love, who led for a race-high 30 laps, including the final 18, avoided the season-opening event’s eight caution sessions, including the final mele in the extra session. 

Austin Hill appeared to employ the field’s strongest machine, but the No. 21 Chevrolet was shelved with mechanical issues after claiming the first two stages at the 2.5-mile banked oval. 

X (Twitter) users responded to being welcomed back to the “World Center of Racing” …

As the opening act to the Xfinity event, Butterbean Queen earned his first career ARCA Menards Series win in his second start Saturday. Is he a prospect to follow? … 

Reigning circuit champion Justin Allgaier earned the pole after Saturday’s qualifying session was rained out …

The Xfinity Series goes green for 2025 … 

On Lap 6, Brandon Jones’ machine was turned by Jesse Love along the backstretch, while running P7. Unable to avoid the quick checkup, a series of teams, including Carson Kvapil, Daniel Dye, Harrison Burton, Connor Zilisch, Garrett Smithley and Brennan Poole, were involved …

Hill outpaced Allgaier on the restart from the outside, with drafting help from Creed. Hill cruised to wins in the first two stages …  

The debut of rookie Nick Sanchez piloting the No. 48 Chevrolet for Big Machine Racing came to a crashing halt at the end of Stage 2. He blamed Creed for an errant shove. At least Sanchez earned Stage 1 points …

After dominating most of the opening two stages, Hill radioed his team, informing it he was enduring “smoke in the cockpit and it smells really bad in here” as his three-race win streak ended …

Hill spoke about his mechanic issues and remained optimistic …

With 33 laps remaining, Kris Wright failed to slow down while entering pit road, resulting in a collision with Josh Bilicki’s machine. A fifth caution period ensued …  

With about a half-lap to go and Love in the lead, Zilisch’s machine spun out after getting bumped by Allgaier, triggering a crash involving Christian Eckes, Ryan Ellis, Leland Honeyman, Parker Retzlaff, William Sawalich, Greg Van Alst and Kvapil. The incident forced overtime …

Fanatic OT finish …