Jesse Love is perhaps the most exciting prospect in the world of NASCAR today. The 18-year-old became the youngest champion in a NASCAR-sanctioned competition when he won the ARCA Menards Series West in 2020 at just 15 years of age. Love also won the 2023 ARCA Menards Series, impressing a certain Richard Childress who signed the teenager to his Xfinity Series team. In an exclusive interview with Essentially Sports, Love’s former crew chief had some words of wisdom for NASCAR’s fastest-rising star at the moment.

Former crew chief puts his faith in teenager going to Richard Childress Racing

Anyone who watched the recent Xfinity playoff race at Martinsville would know the level of pressure on drivers at RCR and it can be unnerving for someone who does not have much experience at NASCAR’s highest levels. In the ARCA Menards Series, Jesse Love worked with crew chief Shannon Rursch. As per Rursch, the 18-year-old does have experience in dealing with pressure situations. However, he suggested the teenager keep his cool in public as much as possible.

“I would tell him just keep doing what he’s doing. You know, I think that he has experience in situations similar to that, we just kind of temper that and don’t let it get out not quite as public as it is in the Xfinity Series or the Cup Series. Obviously when you have an organization that prepares really fast race cars and you have really good race car drivers like RCR does, from time to time you’re going to be in that situation,” Rursch said in the exclusive interview with Essentially Sports.

The crew chief of the #20 in ARCA Menards Series acknowledged that there were a lot of variables that can lead to a driver losing his calm in a pressure situation. However, he has complete faith in the young man with whom he won the ARCA Menards Series this year. Rursch believes that Jesse Love has what it takes to make it no matter how big the league may be.

“I am a little bit biased because I know Jesse, I know him well, and again, like I said, he knows how to win. He puts himself in those situations, he puts himself in a position to win and get the best finish possible pretty much every single time he is in a race car,” he added.

Jesse Love’s inclusion in the 2023 Xfinity Series field has given rise to a lot of excitement among fans and experts. One of his future teammates also seems to be looking forward to working with him but at the expense of RCR’s current outcast.

Watch This Story: Rising Star Jesse Love: The New Face of Richard Childress Racing

RCR star ready to welcome new teammate at the expense of team outcast

A big reason why Austin Hill is not in the championship race is Sheldon Creed. The two RCR racers were battling for the lead on the last lap of the Martinsville race in the Xfinity Series. Out of turn 3, Creed was ahead but he drove up the track and parked his car in the center of the corner ahead of Hill. The #21’s radiator blew out as a result, causing him to lose power and wreck. After the race, Hill had some not-so-kind words for his teammate.

“I cannot wait for him to get out of RCR. I can’t wait to have Jesse Love as a teammate. Maybe he’ll work better with me. Just cannot wait for him to get over Joe Gibbs Racing, and I don’t have to put up with that s**t no more,” the driver of the #21 said.

So Sheldon Creed will be on his way to Joe Gibbs Racing next season and be replaced by Jesse Love. Whether the California-born 18-year-old will be successful will be an exciting storyline for 2024. Shannon Rursch has already expressed his faith in Love in the exclusive interview with Essentially Sports. How do you think the ARCA Menards Series champion will fare in the Xfinity Series?

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