Jesse Love: NASCAR vs F1, Xfinity Debut, and Jeff Gordon Roots – 12 Questions
Jesse Love, a 19-year-old rookie driver for Richard Childress Racing in the Xfinity Series, recently sat down for an interview with The Athletic to answer their 12 Questions. In this revealing interview, Love discusses his aspirations, his thoughts on NASCAR and Formula One (F1) racing, and the challenges he faces in his career. Here are the key takeaways from the interview:
Bucket List: Love’s number one goal is to win an Xfinity Series race. He is determined to achieve this feat and has set his sights on victory.
Media Consumption: Love consumes a lot of media coverage of NASCAR, including podcasts like “The Teardown” and “DBC.” He believes that consuming as much information as possible helps him become a better racer, but he avoids the drama and focuses on the racing aspect.
Measuring Success: According to Love, success in racing is measured by performance. Both the driver’s performance and the team’s performance play a crucial role in determining success. Love acknowledges that there is room for improvement in his own performance and hopes to learn from past mistakes.
Racing Quality: Love believes that NASCAR racing is highly underrated. He argues that even when races are not perfect, they still offer phenomenal racing compared to other series like F1. He recognizes the appeal of F1’s high-quality cars and superstar drivers but believes that the actual racing product falls short.
Choosing RCR: Love explains that joining Richard Childress Racing (RCR) was the right move for him after his previous plans for full-time Truck Series racing fell through. He wanted to avoid getting stuck in the Truck Series and felt that RCR offered a clearer path to the Cup series. The family-oriented nature of RCR was also appealing to him.
Growing Up in Menlo Park: Love’s passion for racing comes from his family background. His dad and grandpa were involved in racing, and they even raced alongside Jeff Gordon and John Bickford. Love’s early exposure to racing through his family led him to pursue a career in motorsports.
Mindset Matters: Love emphasizes the importance of mindset in racing. He believes that having a positive mindset and staying motivated by both wins and losses are crucial to success. He credits the Josh Wise performance coaching group for helping him develop a winning mindset.
Authenticity: Love prides himself on being genuine and not holding back his thoughts and emotions. While this trait has sometimes gotten him in trouble, he believes that people appreciate his authenticity and knowing where he stands.
Elevator Companion: Love humorously mentions that he would least like to be stuck in an elevator with Sheldon Creed, although they get along well. He admits it would be awkward due to their history of switching cars.
Missed TV Moments: Love reveals that he has had run-ins with fellow driver Sammy Smith that were not captured by the TV or media. These incidents highlight the competitive nature of their racing and the occasional clashes on the track.
Transition to Xfinity: Love discusses the transition from the ARCA series to Xfinity. He finds the increased responsibilities in Xfinity, such as having travel arrangements taken care of, to be a relief. However, he acknowledges that his workload has also increased due to his motivation to perform at his best.
Question for William Byron: Love would like to ask William Byron how he developed his quietly confident mindset. Love admires Byron’s ability to show up at the racetrack with the belief that he is the one to beat and wants to know if this confidence was innate or acquired through hard work.
In conclusion, Jesse Love’s interview provides valuable insights into his career, his thoughts on NASCAR and F1 racing, and his personal experiences in the sport. As a young and ambitious driver, Love is determined to achieve success and make a name for himself in the racing world. With his genuine personality and passion for the sport, Love is undoubtedly a rising star to watch in the Xfinity Series.