Jesse Love’s Team Falls Short in NASCAR Xfinity Championship
Brent Crews is set to drive the No. 19 Toyota full-time in the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. This announcement comes despite him missing four of the first seven races because he turns 18 on March 30.
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Highlights
Joe Gibbs Racing has named Crews as the full-time driver for the No. 19 Toyota. The team still has yet to confirm drivers for the No. 18 and No. 54 Toyota entries. The No. 19 car was previously the “star car,” primarily driven by Aric Almirola, who helped secure the owner championship for the team in 2025.
2025 Championship Recap
In the 2025 season, the No. 19 team and Almirola finished as the owner champion. Almirola tallied three wins, allowing the team to reach the Championship 4, despite not competing for the driver title.
- Owner Champion: No. 19 Team
- Primary Driver: Aric Almirola
- Total Wins: 3
Meanwhile, Jesse Love drove for the No. 2 Richard Childress Racing team and secured the driver championship. However, the No. 2 team ended the owner standings in fifth position, unable to qualify for the owner playoffs.
Complications in Playoffs
The structure of the NASCAR playoffs means that owner and driver competitions are separate. The No. 19 team qualified for the owner playoffs, whereas the No. 25 AM Racing team did not. Austin Hill’s No. 21 team faced challenges, including a penalty that impacted their playoff points.
- Key Teams in Owner Playoffs:
- No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing
- No. 21 Richard Childress Racing
- No. 25 AM Racing
Upcoming Season
The 2026 O’Reilly Auto Parts Season is set to begin on February 14, 2026, at Daytona International Speedway. The United Rentals 300 will be broadcast live on the CW Network at 5:00 p.m. ET.
Joe Gibbs Racing’s future strategy regarding the “star car” designation is still unclear. With Brent Crews and Brandon Jones now confirmed as drivers, the focus will be on Crews to help the team retain its champion title in the upcoming season.
