Folks, every weekend, NASCAR drivers are at each other’s throats to get a checkered flag. But there are some guys who are best buds the moment the race is over, probably like Bubba Wallace and Ryan Blaney. Remember, in the recent Darlington race, Wallace wrecked Kyle Larson with the last few laps left, and Blaney lost the lead and eventually ended in P5. And when Michael Jordan came to congratulate him on having a good day at the track, Blaney said, “Hey, if your boy (Wallace) didn’t spin out Larson, it would be…” Well, this might sound harsh as Wallace’s contact wasn’t deliberate, but this is how they keep yanking each other’s chain. The two also often travel together to race weekends and have family get-togethers. And similarly, now, a tight trio from the Xfinity Series blossomed recently, and they have decided to turn their off-track shenanigans into a business.
In NASCAR, drivers often progress by climbing the ranks over time (ARCA to Cup), and this allows them to spend a lot of time with the same guys on different levels. Developing strong friendships, it’s like you are running with the same guys at the ARCA series and then again the same one in maybe the Xfinity Series. Folks, here we are talking about Xfinity Series drivers Connor Zilisch, Daniel Dye, and Jesse Love. And the way they race each other on the track, it’s tough to tell how close they are after the white flag. Remember the Daytona race this season? Love and Zilisch were at each other, battling for the lead. Anyway, it was all forgotten when the race concluded. Zilisch was happy for his friend’s victory. And recently, they have decided to turn this friendship into something more!
The Xfinity stars are set on entertaining fans!
Look, in the day and age of social media, nothing is really hidden. Fans often get a glimpse into the lives of their favorite drivers off the track as well. And this is what makes them feel connected to the drivers. And fans love nothing more than off-track friendships, banter, and fun. Those golf videos of Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney are epic. Anyway, you get the point. Fans surely want more such content from more drivers. This is what Zilisch, Love, and Dye are planning to capitalize on.
The newly formed multimedia and entertainment company Shake N Bake Sports is launching a YouTube series featuring the three. They plan on showing their deep friendship through weekly YouTube videos of these guys having fun off the track. And the first video is probably already shot and edited. They plan to drop it on April 14th. Where the cast competes to see who can complete Hole No. 3 at The 500 Club, Lake Norman’s Premier Sports Club, in the fastest time. The episode is dubbed as “Speed Golf”.
So, basically, from what we can gather, the content would be mostly such challenges between the three. And fans would be able to see this other side of them. And Love is pumped about this. “I am really pumped to showcase this group of guys and how much fun we have, even though we may be rivals on the race track. Fans see us go head-to-head against each other on track each week, but this gives us a chance to show that not only are we fierce competitors, but great friends as well,” he said.
Our goal is to give the fans more content throughout the week and show y’all ourselves off the track. Hope you guys enjoy it! https://t.co/GPwB6a0DWP
— jesse love jr (@jesselovejr1) April 10, 2025
And maybe the content won’t be limited to just these three, they could have guest appearances from other Xfinity drivers and maybe a few Cup drivers, too. The possibilities are endless. Also, several people are involved in this project, including industry members Collin Fern and Will Rodgers, 500 Club Professional Alex Fourie, and group professional “Rip.” Collin Fern put their mission statement perfectly when he said, “This is just a great chance to show race fans and honestly fans of all sports, the athleticism and personalities that we strive for from our drivers in this industry.”
Also, maybe one video could be Connor Zilisch coaching Jesse Love for his Cup debut!
NASCAR’s Jesse Love is coming to the Cup Series in Bristol
Earlier this season, Zilisch made his Cup Series debut in the Circuit of the Americas race. And now, it’s the 2024 Xfinity Series’ Rookie of the Year’s chance. And how Zilisch picked a road course to show his prowess, Love is doing the same. He’s been running at the world’s fastest short track since his teenage days and knows the track like the back of his hand. Love is piloting Richard Childress Racing’s #33 car at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Naturally, Love is pumped, but still, he is keeping his nerves in check. “It’s going to be a high-pressure environment, so I don’t really feel like going into it overly excited, and ambitious is the best way to go about it. I’m just trying to keep a level head the whole weekend. I’ve got 500 laps to stay disciplined, so trying to keep the excitement level somewhat to a minimum.” However, the 2023 ARCA Series champion has only run the track once in the Xfinity Series, getting a P4 finish their last season.
But with the kind of season he’s had, winning the Daytona race and scoring two top 5s, five top 10s so early on in the season, he might have a surprise up his sleeve in Bristol. And in Love’s double duty weekend, he’ll have to battle NASCAR’s Kyle Larson twice, who is the track’s most successful active driver. Larson’s got triple duty in Bristol. Anyway, in the next gen, Larson has an average finish of 3.3 on Bristol Motor Speedway. So it won’t be easy for Love. Well, let’s just hope the youngster doesn’t end his Cup debut like Zilisch (in 37th position).
What do you think, folks? How will Jesse Love fare in the upcoming race? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
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