NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series champion Jesse Love is joining Wood Brothers Racing to pilot the iconic No. 21 Ford Mustang Dark Horse, beginning with the 2027 NASCAR Cup Series campaign, the team announced Wednesday.
The Menlo Park, California-native is a rising star in the world of NASCAR, winning back-to-back ARCA Menards Series West championships in 2020 and 2021, before following that up with an ARCA Menards Series championship in 2023, and his NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series championship in 2025.
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“Driving the No. 21 for Wood Brothers Racing is truly an honor,” said Love. “This team has played such an important role in NASCAR history, and the drivers who have sat behind the wheel of this car are some of the greatest our sport has ever seen. I’m incredibly grateful to everyone at Wood Brothers Racing, Team Penske, and Ford Racing for believing in me – I’m excited to get to work, continue learning from the people around me, and compete at the highest level.”
The 21-year-old driver currently competes full-time in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series for Richard Childress Racing, where he remains in contention to potentially secure a second championship this Fall.
Love will replace Josh Berry, beginning with the 2027 DAYTONA 500 at Daytona International Speedway.
“Jesse has accomplished a lot at a young age,” said Jon Wood, president of Wood Brothers Racing. “He’s demonstrated the ability to win races, compete for championships, and handle the expectations that come with racing at a high level. We’re looking forward to giving him the opportunity to take the next step in his career with the No. 21 team.”
Additional details regarding the No. 21 team for the 2027 NASCAR Cup Series campaign will be announced at a later date.
