Dale Earnhardt Jr. Insists Jesse Love’s 2025 Xfinity Championship Triumph “Wasn’t a Fluke”

The 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series championship finale witnessed one of the most heartbreaking results of the recent memory, as Conor Zilisch loss the title despite winning 10 races this year. RCR’s Jesse Love was crowned the champion, making him only the second driver ever after Tyler Reddick to win the first and last races of the season, to win the title.   

While many claimed the title win was a fluke and Jesse Love is underserving, Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. doesn’t think so. In the latest episode of the Dale Jr. Download podcast highlighted how the No:22 RCR Chevy was a contender from lap one against his own driver Conor Zilisch. They won the race fair and square, taking advantage of the better execution.

The 2 was fast from the moment they unloaded. The car was a little bit off on the first stage, but they dialed it in, and they had amazing pit stops. They were doing four lugs, maybe three on the lefts but hey, as long as they got all the lugs on the car at the end of the race, they call it fair.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. said via Dale Jr. Download podcast.

Love produced one of the best races of his career, as he took advantage of the extra pace, he gained to gain position every corner and no amount of criticism can shadow the fact that they won playing by the same rules as everyone else. JRM failed to deliver when it matters then most in the 2025 season, while RCR did, and they deserve all the credit for it.

They took advantage of every single corner and anywhere they could cut and gain an advantage, they did. I can’t take anything away from them. It wasn’t a fluke, they ran great all night, they passed us, drove by and won the race. Had the faster car at the end when it counted. Under the current format that we ran this year, they did it.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. added.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. shared thoughts on heartbreaking Conor Zilisch loss

In the same conversation earlier, Junior shared thoughts on his heartbreak seeing his young driver loose. He admitted that though he has some issue, he wont say anything that is going to damage the legitimacy of the series and the impressive triumph of young Chevy driver Jesse Love, who like Zilisch is one of the biggest prospects of the sport.

It was heartbreaking. With all that being said… I pause to say anything that’s damaging to the legitimacy of the championship or doing anything that might take away or — I wouldn’t wanna say anything on this show that would rub Jesse Love the wrong way, RCR the wrong way, Danny Lawrence the wrong way.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. said.

RCR always has a special place in Earnhardt’s heart owing to their past and they are still close partners under the Chevy umbrella. So, them being family, he doesn’t want to make any critical assertion that would hurt the team that he sees as family and at the end of the day they won the race naturally, as the outside factors didn’t influence the results.  

All these people that are a part of that program, there’s people that are at RCR that are like family to me. … As frustrating as it is to lose having three teams against one, they won and the race played out naturally.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. added.

The comments from the veteran shows the amount of respect he has for the sport, RCR and especially Jesse Loves. Though it was disappointing the most dominant driver of the season didn’t win the title, the rules are the rules and the champion deserve the respect.

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