When Jesse Love first crossed the finish line at Rockingham Speedway, it was supposed to mark the end of that saga, the making of his true arrival in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. The 20-year-old wonder did not just have an ARCA Menards Series, but his skyrocketing rise within stock car iconography was now sealed with dominating performance in one of NASCAR’s most challenging short tracks in the No. 2 Chevrolet of Richard Childress Racing. But before one could even pop the champagne, it was taken away.

Love was disqualified by NASCAR officials after the post-race inspection revealed a rear suspension infraction, which involved the truck’s trailing arm and U-bolt saddle not being in full contact. Technical? Yes. Controversial? Yes again. And now, Jesse Love and RCR are appealing this verdict.

The moment when Love crossed the finish line was when it became evident that he was the best on the track. Fastest on restarts, steadfast on the outside groove, and calculating under pressure, he appeared to be in command of the No. 2 car before a teardown became a more unpleasant affair and the verdict was generated: disqualified on the grounds that “all mating surfaces between the truck trailing arm and the U-bolt saddle must be in complete contact.” Apparently, they weren’t. 

Richard Childress Racing, as true to its name as ever, reportedly made a very plain and very forthright pronouncement: “RCR will appeal NASCAR’s decision to disqualify the number two team’s win from the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Rockingham Speedway.” And while Love was disappointed about the disqualification, he joked, “Good thing my house has a safe.”

The penalty left many scratching their heads, especially when looking at past precedents. In 2017’s Goody’s 500, Team Penske and Logano admitted after the race that their rear suspension violated the NASCAR rules. Penske did not appeal that penalty. Logano himself said, “Yeah, we were pushing the limits.” On the contrary, in 2021, during an appeal process, JR Motorsport’s Noah Gragson was disqualified for a suspension-related issue in winning a Dash 4 Cash at Darlington. The rule says, “All suspension mounts and mounting hardware must not allow movement or realignment of any suspension and/or drivetrain component beyond normal rotation or suspension and/or drivetrain travel.”

However, when JR Motorsports made the appeal, it worked, and the win was reinstated. However, Roger Werner, the final appeal officer, didn’t reveal the factor that led to him reversing the decision. Would this be Jesse Love’s story as well?

Before the appeal was filed, Xfinity Series Director Eric Peterson said, “One thing is for sure, Jesse Love is riding a nice wave of momentum. Being proven on this level speaks volumes-if not more than all the controversy surrounding it. The Rockingham event for the young driver had given him a chance to showcase so much talent, toughness, and precision. He is now hanging back into history and betting that a JR Motorsports-type do-over will prevail in getting that Rockingham trophy back on his shelf.” 

As for when the NASCAR appeal is going to take place, that’s a question on everyone’s mind. For now, RCR and Love are stuck in purgatory. The ins and outs of the protest are somewhat vague. Was it a sly, gray-area modification on purpose, or was it a true mistake? Some of that for sure was Jesse Love being a badass, but it wouldn’t surprise me if some of that was also RCR finding a little extra speed in the rear end of that Chevrolet.

Full Throttle Into the Future

One thing is for sure: Jesse Love is riding a nice wave of momentum. Being proven on this level speaks volumes-if not more than all the controversy surrounding it. The Rockingham event for the young driver had given him a chance to showcase so much talent, toughness, and precision. He is now hanging back into history and betting that a JR Motorsports-type do-over will prevail in getting that Rockingham trophy back on his shelf.

Now to what lies ahead: Jesse Love’s schedule has no breathing room. With tracks like Dover, Charlotte, and Iowa, the pressure after Rockingham will scream louder. And, if anything, it serves as a testament to his quick recovery from the bump in the road with raw speed and mental fortitude. 

Should the appeal turn in their favor, the reinstatement of the win at Rockingham would be proof that it wasn’t a flash in the pan, but rather a launchpad to a title run. But if NASCAR says no, it does not change the fact that Jesse Love has already made a name for himself. With the likes of Richard Childress in his camp, and with the kind of entertaining racing fans want, his time to win is now!

Love’s appeal may decide whether or not his victory at Rockingham becomes an official win in the books. But no matter the outcome, Jesse Love shone on the racetrack. Wherever his next move takes him, it’s sure to attract attention, be it on the track or in court.