Jesse Love to join Wood Brothers Racing for 2027 Cup season
It is finally official: Jesse Love is making the jump to the NASCAR Cup Series. At just 21 years old, the defending O'Reilly Auto Parts Series champion has secured a full-time seat with Wood Brothers Racing for the 2027 season. While the announcement marks a massive milestone in his career, Love seems remarkably grounded, noting that once the ink was dry, his focus immediately shifted back to his current goal: fighting for another title.
Currently sitting second in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series standings with Richard Childress Racing, Love is refusing to let the excitement of his future ride distract him from the job at hand. He speaks with a maturity that is rare for his age, emphasizing that he owes it to his current team to finish their tenure together on a high note. He isn't interested in a six-month victory lap; he is back in the simulator, working with crew chief Danny Stockman, and ready to compete.
His transition to the Wood Brothers will see him slotting into the No. 21 Ford, effectively joining the Team Penske fold alongside Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, and Austin Cindric. It is a calculated move that brings his career experience full circle, having already competed with Chevrolet and Toyota. Love views this as the ultimate learning opportunity, eager to pick the brains of his new teammates and refine his approach to the Next Gen car.
When asked about his preparation compared to his peers, Love remains candid. He acknowledges that while others might be viewed as the "shiny penny," his own path—built on grit and a constant willingness to fail in private to succeed in public—has prepared him for the intensity of the Cup Series. He isn't walking into 2027 with pre-set expectations; he is walking in with a toolkit full of hard-won lessons.