What’s Happening?

A recent report names Jesse Love as a NASCAR driver currently looking at a promotion to the Cup Series. However, this could switch not only teams but manufacturers for 2026.

NASCAR's silly season is quiet so far … but it's only June @NASCARONFOX https://t.co/dyCXHZRtc8

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) June 9, 2025

A new report from Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports claims that if Legacy Motor Club acquires a third charter for 2026, the team could pursue Richard Childress Racing’s top Xfinity Series prospect, Jesse Love. The report states, “If they add a third car, Xfinity driver Jesse Love’s previous connection to Toyota could help him.”

Love, at just 20 years old, is one of the best week-to-week performers in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with RCR. Though he has a few starts in the NASCAR Cup Series this season, most expect him to take on a full-time ride with RCR at the Cup Series level at some point, though his promotion will not be in 2026, as the team has already announced its current lineup will return.

If he feels ready to go to the Cup Series, this creates a log jam that could theoretically see the young driver out at RCR.

Of course, if Love were to jump to Cup with Toyota, with whom he won the 2023 ARCA Menards Series championship, it would likely have to be with an expanding LMC. LMC, a two-car team owned by Seven-Time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson, currently fields two cars but is in the midst of a lawsuit with Rick Ware Racing to obtain a charter for next season.

How This All Hinges on Charter Ownership

Currently, LMC claims that RWR agreed to sell them a charter for the 2026 season, while RWR claims the transaction was for the 2027 season. LMC ultimately filed a lawsuit against RWR on Apr. 1, and the link above provides an in-depth look at all the moving pieces involved in this sale.

Though the LMC could not obtain this charter once proceedings are complete, if they do not, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports’ recent ruling in their NASCAR antitrust lawsuit could see upwards of six charters on the open market in the future.

Aside from charter talk, this report only leaves fans with more questions than answers. For example, it’s easy to ask whether Love is even ready for the next level. In 47 career Xfinity Series starts, Love has two wins and one stripped by NASCAR via post-race disqualification.

While he adapted to the Xfinity Series with ease, his three Cup Series starts this season, two with RCR and one with Beard Motorsports, have been rather lackluster. In this small sample size, Love finished no better than 29th at Kansas Speedway.

But who can say that if the 23XI/FRM charters hit the market, RCR will not buy one themselves? If RCR were to lose Love, it would be the second time since 2020 that the team has lost a top prospect to Toyota, with Tyler Reddick making the jump to 23XI Racing for the 2023 season.

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