Brent Crews recently clarified the extent of Connor Zilisch and Jesse Love’s involvement in his newly formed NASCAR Truck Series team, Brent Crews Motorsports, ahead of his ARCA Menards race at Iowa Speedway. Crews addressed confusion regarding the roles of the two Chevrolet drivers, emphasizing their limited official connection to the team.
Explanation of Zilisch and Love’s Roles in Crews’ Team
Following an August 1 report by Jeff Gluck of The Athletic about Crews’ team debuting at Watkins Glen International, confusion emerged over statements claiming Zilisch and Love were part of Crews’ “executive team.” Since Zilisch and Love are Chevrolet drivers, and Crews drives a Toyota, the claim drew some scrutiny. Crews quickly clarified on social media that their roles had been exaggerated.
“Connor and Jesse are great friends of mine, but we went a little overboard in exaggerating their roles. To be clear, they have no official capacity, other than they are friends who want me to do well.”
—Brent Crews, Driver
Jesse Love reaffirmed his position within Chevrolet and Robert Childress Racing, distancing himself and Zilisch from any formal association with Crews’ team.
“There was a misunderstanding in conversations talking with Brent about me and Connor’s involvement with his new truck team at WGI. We all share a strong friendship. But I just wanted to be clear I’m not associated with any team outside of RCR or Chevy.”
—Jesse Love, NASCAR Driver
Rising Stars: Zilisch and Love’s Performance in the Xfinity Series
Zilisch and Love are recognized as promising talents in the Xfinity Series, currently ranked within the top five in their sophomore seasons. Connor Zilisch, racing for JR Motorsports, holds second place in the standings, ahead of Jesse Love, who drives the No. 2 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing. Their competitive performances have made them notable names as they advance their careers.
Jesse Love’s Reflection on the Pocono Race
At Pocono Raceway, both Love and Zilisch started in the fifth row, but the race ended with Zilisch claiming a commanding victory by a 34-lap margin, while Love finished second. Despite the loss, Love remained composed in his post-race remarks, highlighting his competitive spirit while acknowledging life beyond racing.
“At the end of the day, I’m a competitor before anything else. So, it stings because I was the bridesmaid, but at the same time, life is more than just being a race car driver. Life is more beautiful than just that,”
—Jesse Love, NASCAR Driver
Jesse Love’s Recent Racing Highlights
Love achieved a notable win at the Daytona 500 and appeared to secure another victory at Rockingham Speedway. However, that win was nullified after his car failed post-race inspection, resulting in disqualification and the race win going to Sammy Smith of JR Motorsports. Love rebounded by clinching the pole position at Talladega Superspeedway and finishing third in the race. Since then, he has consistently finished within the top 10 but has yet to secure another race victory.
Implications of the Clarification and Future Prospects
The clarification by Brent Crews serves to set the record straight regarding the official roles of his friends Zilisch and Love in Brent Crew Motorsports, emphasizing that while they support him personally, they have no formal involvement with his NASCAR truck team. This distinction helps maintain transparency within the competitive racing community as Crews prepares for his team’s debut at Watkins Glen International. Moving forward, both Crews and his acquaintances remain focused on their individual racing paths, with the hope that Crews’ team will build momentum in the Truck Series season ahead.
