Jesse Love Clinches 2025 Xfinity Title at Phoenix

Jesse Love, 20, passed Connor Zilisch with 24 laps to go at Phoenix Raceway to win the race and clinch the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series championship for Richard Childress Racing. The victory was Love’s third career win and his second of the season; he held off Aric Almirola, who finished second while Zilisch — a 10-race winner and Rookie of the Year — faded to third and finished runner-up in the championship. Almirola’s runner-up result secured the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota the Owner’s Championship, leaving JR Motorsports without a title despite a dominant campaign. The winner-take-all Championship 4 finale again produced a champion who did not have the most wins during the season. Saturday’s race was the final event under the Xfinity sponsorship; the series will be renamed the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in 2026, with the next season opening at Daytona.