“To my crew chief, Danny Stockman, oh, you’re making me cry, I love you, dude. You are the best, and we have been so honest with each other. I can’t look at you — and never gave up on one another.” Those were the words of a teary-eyed Jesse Love, the newly crowned Xfinity champion at the NASCAR Awards banquet.

It wasn’t just a thank-you speech. Rather, it was raw, unfiltered emotion. The kind you hear only when the grind, the scars, the late-night calls, and the near-breakdowns have all finally paid off. Because for Jesse Love, this title wasn’t won alone. It was earned alongside the one person who pushed him, challenged him, and believed in him as fiercely as he believed in himself. And that brings us to the heart of his story.

Jesse Love thanks Danny Stockman

Jesse Love’s journey to the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series championship was defined by the close partnership he forged with crew chief Danny Stockman. This was a relationship that stretched over two relentless years of racing, learning, and growing together.

“For the last two years, the person that I have answered to every single day the person that I’ve you know went through life with you know every single day there’s been probably three maybe four people that I’ve done that with but one of those people has been Danny Stockman,” Love explained on Eric Estepp’s latest podcast.

Stockman joined as Love’s crew chief in 2024 with Richard Childress Racing and worked tirelessly to elevate their performance. Love had an amazing rookie season, winning multiple poles, a streak of top-ten finishes, and his first career win at Talladega. In 2025, the duo’s persistence paid off, as Love nabbed his Xfinity Championship at Phoenix after defeating his best friend, Connor Zilisch.

Stockman’s technical expertise was frequently cited during race broadcasts, and his influence was evident during late-race adjustments that brought the No. 2 car to life when it mattered most. Love isn’t the first driver to benefit from Stockman’s skills and expertise.

In the past, he’s mentored talents like Brandon Jones, Daniel Hemric, Chandler Smith, Nick Sanchez, and Austin and Ty Dillon. All NASCAR stars are in their own rights. While their collaboration between Love and Stockman was often harmonious, it wasn’t without friction. Love candidly described heated arguments and candid exchanges over the radio. But together they turned it into a winning season.

“So when you like have to work that hard for something and you do it with somebody that makes all these sacrifices for you and you have like those arguments, right? And you have those fights, and then on top of that all the work you guys both put into it and you do it together. When you both accomplish something, it’s like a humongous deal, right?” Love explained.

“It definitely meant a lot to me to, you know, talk about him,” Love concluded, underlining the huge significance of teamwork in NASCAR success. Their story stands as a testament to perseverance, loyalty, and the unbreakable bonds formed in the pursuit of a championship dream.

Love also thanks his close-knit family

While Jesse Love’s emotional tribute to Danny Stockman stole the spotlight, it was far from the only heartfelt moment in his championship speech. In fact, Jesse made it clear that his victory was not just his. In fact, it belonged to the people who held him up long before the trophies, cameras, and headlines – his family.

“To my mom and my sister, I know what you have sacrificed for me to chase this dream,” he said, voice trembling. “The trips you didn’t take, the things that you gave up, and the years of uncertainty that you went through… tonight, this championship is yours too.”

Jesse’s mother, Elizabeth Love, carries a legacy of resilience. A fourth-generation Mexican-American, her family story traces back to the 1870s – from England to Mexico, and then across generations into the United States. From her great-grandparents to her father, each generation worked for a better life. That grit shaped Jesse, too.

Then came a moment of young love, steady and sincere. “To my beautiful girlfriend, Georgia. Thank you for standing by me through it all. You have seen many versions of myself, and accepted all of them.” Georgia Kryssing, a realtor working across the Carolinas, has been one of Jesse’s most visible supporters. Whether she’s posing with him in Victory Lane, cheering from the pits, or celebrating at awards shows, she’s been part of the journey at every step.

But everything shifted when Jesse’s thoughts turned to the man who set his path in motion. “The one person who’s been there from the very beginning is my dad,” he said, fighting back emotion. His father, Jesshill Love, was a midget racer himself. And later, a businessman who built the financial foundation that allowed Jesse to chase racing full-time. Now a lawyer, real estate investor, and CEO of three portfolios in California, as well as HomeSmiles, Jesshill didn’t just fund the dream. He believed in it before anyone else did.

And on that stage, Jesse made sure no one missed the truth: He may have driven the car. But he never made this journey alone.