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A week ago at Rockingham, Jesse Love had a day that included a wild swing of emotions. He was ecstatic after crossing the finish line first and being declared the Xfinity Series race winner in NASCAR's return to The Rock. Then, hours later, he was understandably dejected when learning NASCAR had disqualified his No. 2 car after failing post-race inspection for a violation with his rear suspension.
On Saturday at Talladega, it was yet another emotional rollercoaster for the Richard Childress Racing driver. He was the dominant car at the superspeedway, winning the first stage, finishing second in the second stage and leading a race-high 50 laps.
But, as is often the case on the Alabama circuit, it came down to the final lap. And on that last trip around the 2.66-mile circuit, the 20-year-old got a big push on the outside row from his teammate Austin Hill going down the backstretch, which allowed the No. 2 pilot to slide down to the middle lane for the pass on the leader and his best friend Connor Zilisch.
Jesse Love races at Talladega Superspeedway.Jason Allen-Imagn Images
However, the No. 88 attempted to drop down and make the block when he received a bump on the left rear, which got the JR Motorsports car sideways and heading down toward the infield wall, where it hit nose-first in a massive impact.
When the caution came out, NASCAR officials declared Austin Hill the winner. Jeb Burton finished second while Love came in third.
A few minutes after the race, Love was interviewed about that last-lap incident.
”I'm pretty sure I wrecked my best friend,” Love admitted. “Gonna owe him an apology. I don't know if I kind of pulled out late or if he made a late block. He'll probably tell me I pulled out late and I'll probably tell him he made a late block. But, yeah, I just gotta see a replay and then I'll kind of be able to know."
Moments later, the RCR driver was shown a replay.
“Yeah, we're watching the replay right now,” reporter Alan Cavanna said. “Jesse Love’s seeing it for the first time.”
“Yeah, I don't know,” Love said. “I think I [expletive] wrecked him. Oof. He alright? Is he alright, Connor?"
“Yeah. He was talking with the safety crew. We know that much,” the reporter informed him.
“Well, he is not dead, so that's good,” the driver grimly responded.
Continue reading...
On Saturday at Talladega, it was yet another emotional rollercoaster for the Richard Childress Racing driver. He was the dominant car at the superspeedway, winning the first stage, finishing second in the second stage and leading a race-high 50 laps.
But, as is often the case on the Alabama circuit, it came down to the final lap. And on that last trip around the 2.66-mile circuit, the 20-year-old got a big push on the outside row from his teammate Austin Hill going down the backstretch, which allowed the No. 2 pilot to slide down to the middle lane for the pass on the leader and his best friend Connor Zilisch.
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Jesse Love races at Talladega Superspeedway.Jason Allen-Imagn Images
However, the No. 88 attempted to drop down and make the block when he received a bump on the left rear, which got the JR Motorsports car sideways and heading down toward the infield wall, where it hit nose-first in a massive impact.
When the caution came out, NASCAR officials declared Austin Hill the winner. Jeb Burton finished second while Love came in third.
A few minutes after the race, Love was interviewed about that last-lap incident.
”I'm pretty sure I wrecked my best friend,” Love admitted. “Gonna owe him an apology. I don't know if I kind of pulled out late or if he made a late block. He'll probably tell me I pulled out late and I'll probably tell him he made a late block. But, yeah, I just gotta see a replay and then I'll kind of be able to know."
Moments later, the RCR driver was shown a replay.
“Yeah, we're watching the replay right now,” reporter Alan Cavanna said. “Jesse Love’s seeing it for the first time.”
“Yeah, I don't know,” Love said. “I think I [expletive] wrecked him. Oof. He alright? Is he alright, Connor?"
“Yeah. He was talking with the safety crew. We know that much,” the reporter informed him.
“Well, he is not dead, so that's good,” the driver grimly responded.
Continue reading...
