“A lot of drivers don’t do that anymore these days. But if you call, I’m willing to talk to you and help you and give you as much as you ask…” This is what Kyle Busch had to say about Jesse Love. Even the 20-year-old admitted that it “would’ve been dumb” not to pick Busch’s brain, and that willingness to learn caught the Richard Childress Racing ace’s attention. Now, as the playoff opener rolls into Bristol this week, can the advice from Busch help him boost that 8-point cushion he currently has?

As the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series playoffs inch closer, the tension inside Richard Childress Racing is almost as thick as Bristol’s concrete walls. Jesse Love and Austin Hill, the only two RCR drivers who have punched their ticket to the postseason, know the spotlight is firmly on them. Currently sitting fourth in the championship standings with 2,013 points, Love has turned what once was a promising debut into a serious playoff bid.

And if there is one thing the phenom isn’t lacking, it’s swagger. To even sniff the Championship 4 in Phoenix, his team has to show up ready to win from the green flag of the postseason opener, and Love insists that RCR is built exactly for that. Speaking to SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, he said, “Hasn’t been totally ideal, but at the same time, man, you know, I feel like, there’s been a lot of guys that feel like it’s been really hard to win this year with a couple of guys, you know, scooping them all up.”

“So, um, you know, I feel like we’ve been in contention and, uh, been up front at the end of these races, especially recently, and have, uh, put ourselves in a position to win almost every week for the most part. So, yeah, I feel like we’re in a good spot for the start of the playoffs and, you know, to make it all the way to the final four, you have to be in position to win every single week. And I feel like we are one of, one of the very few teams that, uh, that can do that every week.” 

Jesse Love hasn’t been immune to heartbreak this season; his high-speed momentum was derailed more than once when likely wins slipped away at Rockingham Speedway. Love initially took the checkered flag only to be stripped of the victory after his car failed post-race inspection due to a rear suspension violation, dropping him to 37. Earlier at Talladega, he dominated most of the race, leading 50 of the 113 laps, only to settle for third after intense last-lap chaos and contact that cost him a better finish.

Even in Las Vegas, a penalty on pit road (tire violation) knocked him back after a strong showing, though he rallied for a top-three finish. Each of these races has shown flashes of brilliance, but the finishing line hasn’t always cooperated. However, there are stats that back his Championship 4 ambition.

In six of his last seven starts, Love has parked it inside the top 10, often flirting with the top five. Just last weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway, he snagged a P5, notching his eighth top-five finish of the season. Next on the docket? The Food City 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway is a 300-lap grinder under the lights that will push every ounce of grit and strategy RCR can muster. But looming large is one formidable obstacle. A young superstar already shaking up the garage with his fearless driving is none other than Connor Zilisch.

Connor Zilisch’s red-hot momentum makes him the driver to beat in the Xfinity playoffs

Connor Zilisch heads into the NASCAR Xfinity Series with the oddsmakers firmly in his corner, opening Friday night’s showdown at Bristol Motor Speedway as the clear favorite. After a dominant regular season, the JR Motorsports rookie sits atop the boards, while veteran Justin Allgaier is determined to keep his crown after capturing the 2024 title. Zilisch’s case for the spotlight is undeniable.

The driver of the No. 88 Chevrolet closed the regular stretch in scorching form, rattling off four straight wins and tallying nine victories in total, full of consistency and ability to finish strong. He has propelled himself to +100 odds at BetOnline Sportsbook to clinch his first Series Championship. Backed by a powerhouse team and momentum at full throttle, Zilisch enters the playoffs as the man to beat. However, team owner Dale Jr. believes that Connor Zilisch could expose NASCAR’s biggest playoff flaw.  

Allgaier, meanwhile, isn’t ready to surrender the throne. The seasoned JR Motorsports wheelman wrapped up the regular season in the runner-up spot, fueled by three wins earlier in the year. Though he hasn’t visited Victory Lane since Nashville, his wealth of postseason experience, now heading into his 10th consecutive playoff campaign, keeps him firmly in the hunt, with Sportsbooks giving him +230 odds to defend his title.

With Bristol serving as the opening battlefield, all eyes are on this JR Motorsports duel. Zilisch’s blistering momentum meets Allgaier’s veteran grit, setting the stage for an interesting fight in the Round of 12. Fans and bettors alike are bracing for fireworks and what could be one of the hottest NASCAR Xfinity Series championship runs in recent memory.