Jesse Love Wins NASCAR Xfinity Race at Rockingham
Jesse Love captured his third career NASCAR Xfinity Series victory — and second of the season — in Saturday’s North Carolina Education Lottery 250 at Rockingham Speedway. The win came in dramatic fashion, with the race stretching into overtime due to a fuel-mileage battle and late-race chaos.
Love, who wasn’t born when the Xfinity Series last raced at Rockingham in 2004, capitalized during an overtime restart, taking the lead after making contact with then-leader Sammy Smith. Smith held on to finish second, also claiming the final $100,000 Dash 4 Cash prize. Other contenders for the bonus were Brandon Jones (13th), Carson Kvapil (17th), and Justin Allgaier (22nd).
“This track is incredible. It really suits my style — full throttle, aggressive,” said Love in victory lane, celebrating the Xfinity Series’ return to the historic oval.
Parker Retzlaff claimed third, followed by Harrison Burton in fourth and Brennan Poole in fifth.
The race, originally set for 250 laps, was extended to 256 due to multiple late-race cautions — 14 in total, with nine occurring after lap 125. A major crash involving fuel-depleted cars on lap 248 triggered the overtime finish.
Ryan Sieg led the most laps (77) but fell back after his car began sputtering under a caution with 14 laps to go. Love, who had led 53 laps, regained the lead shortly after and held on through the final restarts.
Nick Sanchez dominated early, winning the opening 60-lap stage after leading the first 44 laps. Retzlaff finished second in the stage. Sanchez initially inherited the lead when pole-sitter Connor Zilisch dropped to the rear due to a tire change.
Love briefly led after passing Sanchez on lap 45, but he and Allgaier pitted under caution at lap 52 following a multi-car incident. Kvapil took over the lead for stage two, which was won by Dean Thompson — his first career stage win — with Jeb Burton finishing second.
After strategic pit stops, Love, Jones, and Kvapil cycled back to the front by the halfway mark. The race remained intense with several lead changes and incidents, including two red-flag periods in the final stretch.
Taylor Gray, who was second before the final restart, finished sixth, followed by Austin Hill (7th), Josh Williams (8th), Jeb Burton (9th), and Daniel Dye (10th).
