“Well, I really don’t give a sh-t what people say. I’ve got a trophy and a check.” Those were the words Jesse Love boldly uttered as a response to the playoff criticism. The newly crowned Xfinity champion has faced backlash from fans, with many calling him an “illegitimate champion.” But the 20-year-old Richard Childress Racing driver isn’t losing sleep over it.

Despite securing just one victory (until the finale race), at the Daytona opener, he made the most of NASCAR’s elimination-style win-and-in playoff format. Showing composure in a high-pressure situation, he stayed consistent and mistake-free through the race at Phoenix to claim the crown in the winner-take-all showdown. As debates over the playoff system heat up, Dale Earnhardt Jr. puts his foot down to set the record straight.

Dale Jr. clears off doubt with RCR amid heated championship debate

Speaking on the Dale Jr. Download, the 51-year-old co-owner said, “I paused to say anything that’s damaging to the legitimacy of the championship, or taking up doing anything that might take away, or I wouldn’t want to say. I wouldn’t want to say anything on this show that would rub Jesse Love the wrong way, RCR the wrong way, Danny Lawrence the wrong way. All these people that are part of that program. There’s people that are at RCR, they’re like family to me. That when we see each other, we tell each other we love each other.”

This stems from the whole “don’t hate the player, hate the game” concept Dale Earnhardt Jr. resonates with. Looking beyond the 3-to-1 JR Motorsports to Richard Childress Racing ratio for the championship race, Junior’s bond with Richard Childress is more than just a professional relationship. That connection began with his father, Dale Earnhardt Sr., who joined Childress’ team in 1984 and went on to win six of 7 Cup Series titles with RCR.

Together, they built a dynasty defined by grit, trust, and an unbreakable sense of loyalty, values that Dale Jr. continues to uphold to this day. Over the years, respect for Richard Childress has been evident, whether in defending RCR during controversies or in recalling the early days when Childress risked everything to secure Wrangler’s sponsorship for his father. So when the 2025 Xfinity Series Championship 4 rolled out, Junior knew what was at stake. More than the rivalry, the two teams also share a Chevrolet engine connection.

Reflecting on the Phoenix showdown, Dale Earnhardt Jr. also added, “And they had amazing pit stops. Yeah, I mean, they were doing 4 lugs, maybe 3 on the list. But hey, as long as they got all the lugs on the car at the end of the race. I mean, it’s they call it fair. 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. Yeah. I was gonna say you made a pass by and won the race. Had the faster car at the end when it counted.” 

Moreover, it all just comes down to the playoff format. Best friends Connor Zilisch and Jesse Love enter the season finale with a lopsided 10-1 win tally, making Zilisch the clear favorite to clinch the title. Having dominated the year with 10 victories and delivering his team their 100th win, the 19-year-old seemed destined for championship glory.

Yet, the modern playoff format had other plans. Despite being a rookie compared to Love’s sophomore experience, Zilisch lit up the 2025 season with 20 top-five finishes on 23 top-10s, proving himself both dominant and remarkably consistent. And if NASCAR’s old full-season point system were in place, the North Carolina native would have been crowned champion with ease. The current playoff system, sadly, doesn’t pay much heed to consistent performances.

Moreover, Junior has also expressed his discontent with the playoff system throughout the year, and now, Zilisch’s new boss at Trackhouse Racing, Justin Marks, also has a few things to say about it. But more importantly, Zilisch isn’t upset with his best friend who ousted him, despite the loss of a championship still stinging.

Connor Zilisch sets the record straight on Jesse Love’s title

The deep friendship between Jesse Love and Connor Zilisch added an emotional layer to Saturday’s championship race. Even after a heartbreaking loss, the 19-year-old made his way to victory lane to congratulate his best friend on the biggest moment of his career.

The sting of losing the championship still lingers even three days later, but ahead of the 2025 NASCAR awards, Zilisch unloaded what was on his mind. He said, “He did nothing wrong. He asked me, he’s like, ‘are you mad at me?’ And I was like, ‘I don’t have any reason to be mad at you, dude. You’re not the one who created the situation. You just executed when you needed to.’ And I have no reason to be upset about that. Yeah, I celebrated with him and we had fun. I mean, it’s just part of it. I have no reason to be upset with him and hold it against him.”

The North Carolina native led 37 laps and appeared in control for much of the race; Love stayed close on his tail before making a bold late-race move. The No. 2 Chevrolet pulled away in the final laps, and as the checkered flag waved, Love was crowned the champion. But Zilisch cannot help but be happy for his best friend, and as he heads into 2026, he turns his full focus to Trackhouse Racing as he aims to better himself in the Cup Series.