Jesse Love Wins Nu Way 225 at World Wide Technology Raceway

NXTbets Pro | Published On: September 13, 2026

Love’s late charge

Jesse Love won the Nu Way 225 Powered by Bobcat and Sauced by Blues Hog at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois, and he did it with a late push that held up under pressure. The victory was his first NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series win of the 2026 season and the fourth win of his career. Love got by Carson Kvapil with 16 laps remaining, then held off Sheldon Creed in the closing laps to win by 0.896 seconds. He also led 70 laps, won Stage 2 and set the fastest lap of the race, a clean summary of a run that kept him in control when the race reached its final stretch.

Carson Kvapil leads

Kvapil still gave the field the strongest early performance. He started from the pole, won Stage 1 and led a race-high 105 laps before Love cut into his advantage late. Kvapil spent much of the day at the front and controlled the opening stage, then watched the lead change hands as the race moved into its deciding run. Creed chased Love to the finish and took second, while Sam Mayer finished third and Taylor Gray crossed in fourth.

Championship standings shift

The race also changed the championship picture. It was red-flagged at the end of Stage 1 after a chain-reaction crash on pit road damaged multiple cars and trapped much of the field. The crew members involved were okay. Love earned 72 points from the event and moved to fourth in the championship standings, 16 points behind Creed. Creed left Gateway as the new championship leader, three points ahead of Justin Allgaier. Love’s win tightened the battle near the top and gave him a stronger position heading deeper into the season, while Creed backed up his runner-up finish with the points lead.