Jesse Love captured his first career NASCAR Xfinity Series win at Talladega Superspeedway in Saturday’s (April 20) Ag-Pro 300. He led 23 laps and survived a fuel mileage battle to close out his first win. Love ran out of fuel in overtime at Atlanta Motor Speedway earlier this year after leading the most laps in that race.
“It’s been a journey to get to this point,” Love said. “I had a PTSD flashback to Atlanta and burned her to the ground. I watched The Master’s and took one off of Scottie Scheffler. I knew my victory was secured on a cross, and I didn’t have to worry about much. If we run out, than we ran out. My team did a phenomenal job. We fought.”
Riley Herbst survived to be the highest-finishing Ford in the field, crossing the line second. Herbst made his way from deep in the top 10 to finish 0.141 seconds behind the leader.
“It was hectic for sure, a lot of people battling fuel,” Herbst said. “Just really, really proud of everyone at Stewart Haas Racing. It’s been no joke that we lack a little bit on the plate tracks to the RCR cars, and I felt like we’re as good as them now. Kind of up and down start to the year, but I’m proud of everyone on this [No.] 98 team sticking with me, and I’m ready to go win $100,000 at Dover.”
Anthony Alfredo tied his career-best Xfinity finish at third. Alfredo led laps late ahead of strong drivers throughout the day such as Parker Kligerman, Austin Hill, Herbst and others.
Leland Honeyman logged his career-best finish of fourth after saving enough fuel and restarting second on the final restart.
Brennan Poole fought Love off of turn 4 for the win, reminiscent to his battle with Elliott Sadler at Talladega in 2016. However, instead of being side-by-side at the line, Poole finished fifth.
Sheldon Creed, Caesar Bacarella, Matt DiBenedetto (career-best), Jeb Burton and Cole Custer rounded out the top 10.
The RCR teammates of Hill and Love started from the front row, and quickly, Hill and Love settled in and led the top line for the majority of the 25-lap first stage.
With two laps to go in the stage, Love made the move on his teammate for the lead just in time before Justin Allgaier spectacularly wrecked on the backstretch infield wall opening on the final lap of stage one.
“It was a weird hit,” Allgaier said. “At first, I thought I was going to be ok and I was going to do a 360 through the apron there, and it was weird because it kept…
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