NASCAR drivers chose to spend their Olympic break in a variety of ways. Some went to the Bahamas while others got married. Jesse Love traveled to Montana to win a Super Late Model race.
The California native won Saturday night's Missoula Motor Company Wildfire 125 at the Mission Valley Super Oval in Polson, Montana. He locked up $7,500 for his efforts after holding off a packed entry list at the .375-mile tri-oval. This list of drivers included track record holder Alex Lessor.
Love drove for Racing Dynamiks owner Travis Sharpe, who originally proposed the creation of the Montana Big 5 Super Series featuring Super Late Model cars.
The win was only the latest example of Love's success while working with Sharpe. The duo worked together at Bill McAnally Racing during the 2020 and 2021 ARCA Menards Series West seasons.
Love won the championship at the end of both seasons while winning five total races. Sharpe served as his crew chief for several of these ARCA West races.
"Oh man! I have been looking forward to this event all year," Sharpe said in a statement ahead of the Wildfire 125. "Having Jesse in a Racing Dynamiks car has been a dream of mine since we worked together at BMR (Bill McAnally Racing).
"Jesse is like a son to me, so I have really enjoyed watching his success as he progressed through the NASCAR ranks and I really appreciate him taking his week off to come race here in Montana."
With the unique Super Late Model win on his resume, Love will now continue to wait for the return of the Xfinity Series season. He and the No. 2 Richard Childress Racing team will not be back in action until a trip to Michigan International Speedway on Aug. 17.
Love is currently seventh in the Xfinity standings after posting one win, five top-five finishes, and nine top-10s. He has also scored four stage points to lock up four more playoff points.
A spot in the playoffs is guaranteed through Love's win at Talladega Superspeedway. This will put him in a position to contend for the championship trophy as a rookie, as well as more points that could help him lock up Rookie of the Year honors over his main challenger, Shane van Gisbergen.