"I did the coolest s**t I think I will ever do": Richard Childress Racing's Xfinity prodigy Jesse Love thanks Alabama National Guard

Jesse Love, NASCAR Xfinity Series driver for Richard Childress Racing, recently shared a memorable experience at Talladega with the Alabama National Guard.

The 19-year-old is in his rookie season and drives the No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet Camaro SS for Richard Childress Racing. Love won the ARCA Menards Series in 2023, after winning half of the races. He also made his NASCAR Truck Series debut last year, and impressed everyone by winning the pole position for the playoff race at Talladega Superspeedway on Saturday.

Love posted on X on October 5 and shared his experience with the National Guard in Talladega ahead of the race.

"Yesterday I did the coolest s**t I think I will ever do. Thank you so much @TALLADEGA & the Alabama National Guard,” Love wrote.

The Alabama National Guard is part of the US military and offers part-time service options. It also allows civilians to serve while still having civilian jobs.

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Richard Childress Racing's fastest cars at Talladega

Richard Childress Racing's No. 2 and No. 21 Chevrolet Camaro are the two fastest cars at Talladega so far this weekend.

Jesse Love narrowly beat his Richard Childress Racing teammate Austin Hill, to secure the front row for the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ United Rentals 250. Love achieved a lap time of 52.578 seconds (182.129 mph) while Hill followed, reaching 181.77 mph.

This marks Love's fifth pole win of the season while 30-year-old Hill has one pole this season. Love won pole position in his first race at Daytona, the second the following week at Atlanta, and the third at Texas.

Love began racing at just five years old with the quarter-midgets. He quickly moved up through different racing series and earned six USAC Championships. He won the ARCA Menards Series West championship in 2020 and 2021 and also became the youngest champion of the Series West title at 16 years.

He stepped in for Sheldon Creed at Richard Childress Racing in 2023 and the chairman and CEO of RCR praised Love's talent last year saying:

"We‘ve been watching Jesse for a while now, and his breakout performance in the ARCA Menards Series was impressive this season. We know that he has the talent and determination to win races and compete for championships within RCR‘s NASCAR Xfinity Series program... We feel confident that Jesse will be a strong ambassador for Whelen."

Love is currently three points above the cut-line. He has five straight top-10 finishes in the Xfinity Series and also won the Ag-Pro 300 at Talladega earlier this season.