Jesse Love goes to get his shot to show himself on the highest stage of NASCAR.
Wooden Brothers Racing introduced Wednesday morning that the 21-year-old from California — who gained the second-tier O’Reilly Auto Elements Championship final season — will pilot its No. 21 Ford in 2027. Love after Wooden Brothers introduced final week that he wouldn’t stay within the seat.
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“Phrases can’t describe what it means to me to comprehend this dream I’ve had for so long as I can bear in mind,” Love . “I’m so grateful to each single one who has had a hand in my journey from the time I used to be 5 years previous to now. That is for these individuals who have pushed me and helped me.”
Love has rapidly established himself as one of many promising younger stars rising by way of the ranks of NASCAR. After having a breakout season in ARCA — which is form of like NASCAR’s equal of Single-A baseball — the place he gained 10 races and captured the championship in 2023, Love signed with Richard Childress Racing to drive the group’s No. 2 Chevrolet within the O’Reilly Sequence.
The California native was the Rookie of the 12 months in that sequence in 2024, then gained the championship final season, bookending the 2025 marketing campaign with wins at Daytona and Phoenix. Via 17 O’Reilly races this season, he has 10 finishes inside the highest 10 and is second within the level standings.
“Jesse has completed quite a bit at a younger age,” stated Jon Wooden, president of Wooden Brothers Racing. “He’s demonstrated the power to win races, compete for championships and deal with the expectations that include racing at a excessive stage. We’re trying ahead to giving him the chance to take the following step in his profession with the No. 21 group.”
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Love has competed in six Cup Sequence races over the previous two seasons, together with his finest end being twenty fourth on the 2025 Brickyard 400.
After Berry revealed on a name with reporters final week that he wouldn’t be returning to Wooden Brothers, the group confirmed in a press release that it could not be exercising the choice on his contract for him to return to the No. 21 Ford in 2027. Berry made the playoffs final season after profitable at Las Vegas, however has struggled this yr with eight finishes of thirtieth or worse.
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See victory lane celebrations with 2026 NASCAR race winners
March 8: Ryan Blaney celebrates profitable the Straight Discuss Wi-fi 500 at Phoenix Raceway.
(Meg Oliphant, Getty Pictures)
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See victory lane celebrations with 2026 NASCAR race winners
March 8: Ryan Blaney celebrates profitable the Straight Discuss Wi-fi 500 at Phoenix Raceway.
(Meg Oliphant, Getty Pictures)
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See victory lane celebrations with 2026 NASCAR race winners
March 1: Tyler Reddick celebrates profitable the DuraMax Grand Prix Powered by RelaDyne at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas.
(Logan Riely, Getty Pictures)
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See victory lane celebrations with 2026 NASCAR race winners
Feb. 22: Tyler Reddick celebrates profitable the Autotrader 400 at EchoPark Speedway in Hampton, Georgia.
(Mady Mertens, Imagn Pictures)
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See victory lane celebrations with 2026 NASCAR race winners
Feb. 15: Tyler Reddick celebrates together with his household and crew after profitable the 68th operating of the Daytona 500 at Daytona Worldwide Speedway.
(Mike Watters, Imagn Pictures)
The Wooden Brothers are the oldest lively group in NASCAR’s Cup Sequence, having fielded automobiles within the prime stage of stockcar racing since 1950. NASCAR Corridor of Famers David Pearson, Buddy Baker, Dale Jarrett, Ricky Rudd and Cale Yarborough all raced in Wooden Brothers’ machines, as did different greats of the game like Kyle Petty, Neil Bonnett, Michael Waltrip and AJ Foyt.
Within the trendy period of NASCAR, the group has struggled in recent times because the Cup Sequence has largely been dominated by larger groups like Joe Gibbs Racing, Hendrick Motorsports and Staff Penske — the latter of which Wooden Brothers has an alliance with. Since 2011, Wooden Brothers has simply three Cup Sequence wins: Ryan Blaney at Pocono in 2017, Harrison Burton at Daytona in 2024 and Berry in Las Vegas final season.
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Wooden Brothers has one among NASCAR’s coveted charters, guaranteeing the group a spot in each Cup Sequence race no matter qualifying, which generates a steady stream of income.
The announcement of Love leaping from RCR to Wooden Brothers impacts two conditions that had been percolating forward of NASCAR’s offseason. Followers now know who will likely be driving the No. 21 Ford for the Wooden Brothers, but it surely takes Love out of the operating to fill the open Cup Sequence seat at RCR . Richard Childress has stated that Austin Hill will drive the No. 33 Chevrolet for the remainder of this season.
“Richard Childress Racing is appreciative of Jesse Love’s contributions throughout his three seasons with our group and desires him nothing however success sooner or later,” . “Jesse is a gifted racer, and we’re proud to have performed a task in his improvement right into a NASCAR champion. All events stay aligned and dedicated to defending the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Elements Sequence championship in 2026.”
Love will likely be one among no less than two rookies within the Cup Sequence subsequent season. 23XI Racing introduced — who gained the Truck Sequence championship final yr — will likely be transferring as much as the Cup Sequence in 2027 to drive the No. 35 Toyota presently piloted by Riley Herbst.
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The opposite foolish season domino to fall this week was for Chris Buescher within the No. 17 Ford. At present, Berry and Herbst are the 2 Cup Sequence drivers with out a experience on the prime stage for subsequent season.
