Jesse Love defeats Connor Zilisch to win 2025 NASCAR Xfinity title

In an unexpected triumph, Jesse Love bested Connor Zilisch to win the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series championship.

Love passed Zilisch for the lead with 24 laps to go, and never looked back. This is Love’s third career win, and his first ever on a non-superspeedway track. In the closing laps, Aric Almirola passed Zilisch for second, securing the owner’s championship for Joe Gibbs Racing and the No. 19 Toyota.

“I feel so clean, you know, relieved” said Love. “It’s been a tough year for me. I’ve just put so much work into it. People like my dad and Scott Speed and the whole No. 2 team have worked just as hard for my dream as I have for my own… it doesn’t feel real.”

On the pass for the win, Love added: “He’s my best friend in the whole world, but not when we’re racing each other. We race each other hard, but fair. I knew I had to take it there. I knew he was going to put it on my door. I knew I had to throttle up and get my nose ahead. He was running a really good race. My car was just better tonight.”

He also applauded the No. 88 team for the effort. On pit road, Zilisch was embraced by team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. and other members of JRM while he wiped tears aside.

Heartbreaking loss for Zilisch

Connor Zilisch, JR Motorsports Chevrolet

Photo by: James Gilbert / Getty Images

Zilisch, who won ten races and ROTY honors, finished third in the race and second in the championship standings.

“I came into the weekend, and I told my entire team that we got to give it 100% this week,” said Zilisch. “As long as we walk out of this place knowing we did that, I’d be proud of us. We did that today, and we fought all day long. Threw everything we had at it. Unfortunately, we just didn’t quite have what we needed. It doesn’t take away from anything we’ve done this year… I’m so proud of these guys, but I don’t know, I guess the lights were too bright.”

Zilisch continued: “You work all year long and you bust your ass for 33 weeks … I feel like we did the best job we could all year long, and we just didn’t have it today. I’m so proud of this team. We have nothing to hang our heads about, but this one is gonna sting.”

Stages 1 and 2

Jones led the race from pole positon, but his teammate Gray snatched it away 12 laps into the race. Jones continued to fade, unable to convert his qualifying speed to race pace.

There was early contact between Almirola and Championship 4 driver Love, but they both got away with it.

Jeb Burton got into the wall, but the race remained green as he limped it back to the pits.

Gray went on to win Stage 1 over Creed, Creed, Allgaier, Zilisch, and Sanchez. Kvapil was running sixth and Love was in 12th.

At the start of Stage 2, Zilisch jumped into the lead, but he couldn’t hold back Allgaier as he charged to the front.

Allgaier went on to win the stage with ease, followed by Zilisch, Almirola, Creed, and Love. Kvapil was back in ninth.

Stage 3

Zilisch lost several spots on pit road as the team made adjustmenets to try and improve the car’s pace. Meanwhile, a sensational stop for Love vaulted him into the race lead

However, he couldn’t hold back Allgaier on the ensuing restart, as the defending champion reclaimed the lead.

The first natural caution of the race followed soon after as Leland Honeyman got spun out in the middle of the field.

While the leaders stayed out, Jones led another group of drivers down pit road for fresh tires, splitting the strategy throughout the field. He restarted back in 14th.

As the run progressed, Love crept closer to Allgaier and began to harass him for the race lead. However, their battle was interrupted as Ryan Sieg got absolutely sent into the outside wall by Christian Eckes. He was running sixth at the time.

Zilisch gained a couple spots on pit road while Allgaier lost a few, giving Love the race lead once again.

Jesse Love, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Photo by: Christian Petersen / Getty Images

The race resumed with 42 laps remaining in the title-decider. Zilisch powered into the race lead on the restart as they went three-wide for second behind him, touching doors.

However, Love ran him back down and reclaimed the lead with 24 laps to go in the pass for the win … and the title.