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Jesse Love is one of the top prospects in NASCAR following a 10-win ARCA Menards Series season. The question becomes, where can Love go in 2024? He is a big-name prospect, and the next logical step would be a move up the ladder. How far up the ladder could he go?
UPDATE: Jesse Love will join Richard Childress Racing in 2024, driving the 2 car. He announced this on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Whelen will sponsor the car.
🚨 BREAKING NEWS 🚨@jesselovejr1 announces he’s joining @RCRracing to pilot the No. 2 @NASCAR_Xfinity Series Chevrolet full-time next season.
Listen to Jesse with the news LIVE → https://t.co/yVP8e2J9jy— SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90) (@SiriusXMNASCAR) October 25, 2023
Original post follows:
Another seat that recently opened up in the Xfinity Series is the Richard Childress Racing 2 car that was recently driven by Sheldon Creed. RCR has an open seat with some funding on the table with support from Whelen. That takes one piece out of the equation at least partially, but not fully. The Twitter account that also predicted Spire to buy KBM also predicted this too for what it’s worth.
Love may not have the financial barrier with this ride, but he also has to deal with driver competition. On top of that, it’s uncertain whether or not Love would have a direct line to the top at RCR with Austin Dillon and Kyle Busch continuing to race for the team. It may not be the best move for his future, but it may be a good move as well.
TRICON Garage is who Love made his two Truck Series starts with this season. The relationship is already there, and Love is definitely a top prospect. However, the issue with TRICON is how much space is left.
Corey Heim and Dean Thompson are coming back for 2024, but will Tyler and Tanner Gray come back or not? If they do, then there is simply no place for Jesse Love in the 2024 lineup. Maybe a part-time ride is available, but why would Love want that?
If Toyota wants to keep Love, while also keeping him in top equipment, Joe Gibbs Racing could be the spot to go. It allows Love a chance to race in race-winning equipment for a team that has brought up plenty of very young drivers over the years. However, there are some things that could keep Love from this seat.
First is funding, but that is the case for virtually any driver. Secondly is the driver competition for this ride. Chandler Smith is reported as a candidate for this ride, and Sheldon Creed is available as well. Maybe Love could get some part-time starts for the team if either of the two full-time seats is not available.
ThorSport is one of the top Truck Series teams, and Ford is a manufacturer that is low on young drivers. Bringing in a prospect like Jesse Love would be a major boost to Ford as an organization. It gives them a top young prospect, who could take the place of Zane Smith.
Now, it may be tough to poach Love from Toyota, and that may be a big deterrent from this happening. However, it would make a bunch of sense from Ford’s standpoint, and it might work.
If Love has to stay with Toyota, and there truly are no more seats available, Sam Hunt Racing could be his next stop. It would be a major opportunity for Sam Hunt Racing, and it would allow Love to jump up to the Xfinity Series. However, the equipment is the major deterrent.
Sam Hunt Racing is not a Championship-winning organization, and it is not a threat to win every week. It could be tough for Love to race in that type of equipment, but he could elevate the team as well. Time will tell if he goes this route, but, it seems unlikely.
Where could Jesse Love go in 2024? There are plenty of places he could go, and it may be a surprise where he does end up.
