Jesse Love won at Gateway for first 2026 series victory

NXTbets Pro | Published On: September 13, 2026

Jesse Love won

Jesse Love broke through for his first O’Reilly Auto Parts Series win of 2026, taking the Nu Way 225 at World Wide Technology Raceway and delivering the fourth series victory of his career. The win snapped a 25-race winless streak and gave Love his first victory at Gateway, a breakthrough that came after he climbed to the front late and stayed there. He passed Carson Kvapil with 16 laps remaining and then held off Sheldon Creed to finish 0.896 seconds ahead of the championship leader. Love led 70 laps, won Stage 2 and set the fastest lap of the race, a complete performance that matched speed with control over the closing run.

Carson Kvapil led

Carson Kvapil started from the pole and led a race-high 105 laps, then backed that up by winning Stage 1. A major pit-road pileup slowed the event after Stage 1. Love eventually found a way through, yet Kvapil still finished fifth.

Championship standings

The result also carried weight in The Chase presented by Mobil 1, which was in its second race. Creed left Gateway as the championship leader by three points over Justin Allgaier, while Love moved up to fourth in the standings and trailed Creed by 16 points. Sam Mayer finished third and Taylor Gray took fourth behind Love and Creed. Love’s late move changed the outcome, and Creed still held the top spot in the standings.