You’ve seen the highlights by now, but honestly, the clips don't really capture the tension in the air at Phoenix. If you're asking about who won NASCAR Xfinity race at the end of the last campaign, you're looking for Jesse Love. The kid is 20 years old, drives like he's been doing it for forty seasons, and just pulled off a "bookend" performance that’s going to be talked about for a long, long time in the garage area.
It wasn't just a race win. It was a career-defining moment where a rookie basically stared down his best friend and didn't blink.
The Duel in the Desert
Let’s talk about the actual racing for a second. We’re out there in the Arizona heat, and everyone’s eyes were glued to the No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet and the No. 88 of Connor Zilisch. These two aren't just competitors; they’re basically brothers. But when you’re 24 laps away from a championship, friendship sort of goes out the window.
Love made a move that looked aggressive even by Phoenix standards. He got underneath Zilisch, cleared him, and then had to deal with Aric Almirola charging like a freight train in the final eight laps. Almirola, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, managed to get around Zilisch too, but he couldn't quite reach Love’s bumper. The margin of victory? A measly 0.861 seconds.
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That’s basically the length of a few heartbeats.
Why This Race Was Weirdly Significant
Usually, the person who won the championship is the one who dominated the whole season. Not this time. This is where people get kinda confused about the points. Connor Zilisch had ten wins—ten!—going into that final weekend. He was the heavy favorite. But Jesse Love had won the very first race of the season at Daytona and then didn't find victory lane again until the very last race at Phoenix.
He only won twice all year. But because those two wins were the opener and the finale, he walked away with the big trophy.
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It’s one of those "only in NASCAR" scenarios where the fastest car all year (Zilisch) loses out to the guy who knew exactly when to peak. You could see the heartbreak on Zilisch’s face afterward. He was gracious, sure, but losing a title to your best friend when you’ve won ten races is a bitter pill to swallow.
Looking Ahead to the 2026 Season
If you're wondering when the next chance to see these guys is, the 2026 schedule is already looking like a total reset. NASCAR is actually bringing back a version of "The Chase" for the 2026 O'Reilly Auto Parts Series (which is what we’re calling the Xfinity Series now).
- Darlington Raceway kicks off the postseason on September 6.
- Homestead-Miami Speedway is the new host for the season finale on November 8.
- The 2026 season officially starts with the America 250 at Daytona in February.
What’s interesting is that Zilisch is moving up to the Cup Series with Trackhouse Racing, so we won't see a direct rematch for the Xfinity title. Instead, we’re looking at guys like Corey Day and Rajah Caruth to fill that void. Rajah just signed a massive deal to run 23 races for JR Motorsports and 10 for Jordan Anderson Racing. He’s going to be a problem for the rest of the field.
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Quick Stats: The Phoenix Finale
- Race Winner: Jesse Love (No. 2 RCR Chevrolet)
- Champion: Jesse Love
- Runner-up: Aric Almirola
- Third Place: Connor Zilisch
- Average Speed: 99 mph
- Cautions: 4 for 31 laps
Honestly, if you missed the live broadcast, you missed a masterclass in defensive driving. Love’s car wasn't necessarily the fastest in clean air, but he placed it perfectly every time Almirola tried to peek inside.
If you’re planning your 2026 calendar, keep an eye on the transition to the new points format. NASCAR is trying to reward consistency more than the "win and you’re in" chaos we saw last year. They want to avoid a situation where a 10-race winner loses the title to a 2-race winner, though it certainly made for a dramatic Saturday night in Phoenix.
Keep your eyes on the Daytona opener next month. Between the new sponsor names and the rookie class moving up, the landscape is shifting fast. You’ll want to watch how the veterans like Justin Allgaier handle the younger guys like Rajah Caruth and Corey Day, who are coming in with a "dirt-track" style of aggression that’s shaking up the pavement world.
The best way to stay ahead is to track the "Silly Season" driver moves through January. Most of the top-tier seats for 2026 are already filled, but the technical alliances between teams like RWR and RCR are still being finalized, which will have a huge impact on who has the horsepower when the green flag drops at Daytona.