Not only did the NASCAR Cup Series finale leave fans buzzing at Phoenix, but it also left many fuming over the format. And since then, every passing day brings in more chatter. Does a single high-stakes race fairly crown a champion, especially when the regular-season grind ends up getting overlooked? Richard Childress Racing’s new champ, Jesse Love, sits right in the center of it all, after winning over Connor Zilisch’s dominating ten-win season to grab the crown.

The backlash over Love’s win is evident, as fans argue that Zilisch’s dominance throughout the season deserved the crown more than a late surge in a single race. And now, the champ himself, addresses the elephant in the room…

Jesse Love breaks his silence on the immense playoff backlash

In a candid chat on Eric Estepp’s podcast, Jesse Love dove straight into the fan firestorm. “I definitely, I was on social media. I didn’t shy away from it at all. I was definitely on it. I wasn’t really like active and engaging with any of it, but I was I mean I’ve read a lot of stuff. I enjoy it, right?” the driver said.

“And I think like for and I think all the fans would agree with me, like if you’re coming after like me or my team, like personally you’re probably deserve to be on what an idiot… I think that if you’re a fan that’s upset about Connor losing or the format or, you know, just the playoffs as a whole, like, your opinions are completely valid,” Love said, acknowledging the raw emotions of the fans without dodging them.

This came days after his thrilling pass on Conor Zilisch with 24 laps left at Phoenix Raceway. He led the rest to clinch the title. And that win marked a perfect cycle for Jesse Love, as he won the first race of the season in Daytona and the last and most important race. And in between that cycle, there was Zilisch, who dominated the whole season with ten wins and a record-breaking 18 consecutive top fives but fell short in the final.

Love‘s words hit home because the playoff debate has long divided fans. Introduced in 2016 and tweaked over the years, the elimination-style setup amps up drama but often sidelines drivers like Zilisch, who logged the most victories and Rookie of the Year honors yet settled for second-best on the main night.

Love, in his sophomore Xfinity year after a 2023 ARCA title, stayed steady with nine top-fives and 22 top-10s across 33 races. Still, the backlash stung, with online chatter calling out the “unfair” single-race decider, echoing complaints from past champs like Kyle Busch. The reigning champ also showed empathy for those fans who have been waiting for NASCAR to switch to a 36-race points-based format.

“I want what’s going to make the most fans happy… Because at the end of the day, like, we don’t have a job if the fans aren’t happy and the fans don’t want to tune in,” Love concluded. This mindset stems from his roots, including starting in quarter midgets at the age of 5, grinding through ARCA championships, and now balancing stardom with humility under the guidance of crew chief Danny Stockman.

In the finale, Love credited his edge bluntly: “I knew I had to throttle up and get my nose ahead. He was running a really good race. My car was just better tonight,” a nod to RCR’s pit strategy and setup that outshone Zilisch’s JR Motorsports machine. But Love’s poise hints he’s got more on his mind beyond the title. As the dust settles on his championship glow, he turns his attention to rising talents facing their own hurdles, like a young prospect’s unexpected setback.

Love’s quick take on Brent Crews’ tough break

NASCAR’s next generation took a hit when 17-year-old Brent Crews, fresh off four ARCA wins in 2025 with Joe Gibbs Racing and Nitro Motorsports, landed in the hospital during off-season prep. Crews, who kicked off his pro career in 2023 with Venturini, posted a video from his bed where his face was swollen and his right hand was in a cast, captioning it “Offseason activities…” with dark humor.

It’s the kind of resilience that defines racers; even in the most painful moments, they don’t leave their sense of humor behind. However, these incidents underscore how brutal even casual off-season practices can be for young prospects eyeing Xfinity runs.

Jesse Love, no stranger to such incidents, couldn’t resist chiming in with his signature wit. “Bro, you look chopped,” the champ commented on Crews’ post, a four-word witty reply that lightened the mood while showing brotherly concern. This exchange captures the tight-knit vibe in NASCAR’s lower ranks.

Crews’ solid year positioned him for bigger things, but injuries like this test mental grit, much like Love’s own sophomore season that ended in gold.