Love Set For Cup Series Debut At Bristol In RCR’s No. 33

Jesse Love will make his NASCAR Cup Series debut in April at Bristol Motor Speedway. (David Rosenblum/Nigel Kinrade Photography)

WELCOME, N.C. – A dream from Jesse Love’s earliest days behind the wheel in California will become a reality for the 20-year-old next month.

Announced Friday afternoon by Richard Childress Racing officials, Love will make his NASCAR Cup Series debut on Sunday, April 13 during the Food City 500 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.

Love will drive the No. 33 Chevrolet with sponsorship from C4 Ultimate Energy, a pre-workout energy drink brand that has supported him going back to his short-track roots.

In addition to making his first Cup Series start, Love will compete in the NASCAR Xfinity Series the day before at Bristol, continuing his pursuit of a championship in his second year in that division.

“Racing in the Cup Series has always been my main goal and dream,” said Love. “Everything that I have done up to this point in my career has been building to this moment. To make my Cup Series debut at this age is very special, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to make it with RCR.

“Everyone has welcomed me with open arms over the last year and the organization feels like family.”

Since transitioning from midgets and late models into full-size stock cars, Love has excelled at everything he’s driven as he’s climbed the ranks into NASCAR’s three national series.

Love won back-to-back ARCA Menards Series West championships in 2020-’21, his first two seasons in the series, and followed up those efforts with a 10-win title run in the national ARCA Menards Series in 2023, only finishing outside the top 10 twice in 20 races that year.

His debut Xfinity Series campaign last year saw Love win in just his ninth series start, taking the checkered flag at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway last April to lock himself into the playoffs.

Love went on to finish seventh in the end-of-season point standings on the strength of 18 top 10s, as well as a series-leading five poles, earning Sunoco rookie-of-the-year honors because of those efforts.

Adding to that success, Love kicked off 2025 with a win in the season opener at Daytona (Fla.) Int’l Speedway and sits third in the regular season standings, behind only defending series champion Justin Allgaier and four-year veteran Sam Mayer after six of 33 races.

It’s a sterling testament to Love’s adaptability and work ethic that has team owner Richard Childress eager for the future – as well as what his young driver can do at the sport’s premier level.

“I’m excited to have Jesse make his Cup Series debut in the No. 33 Chevrolet,” said Childress. “From the moment I started watching Jesse race, I knew that he had the talent. He has passion for wanting to win and doing the best possible for his team. To be a great driver, you have to have passion behind the wheel and Jesse has that.

“We’ve seen him develop over the last year since he joined RCR, and I look forward to helping him compete at the highest threshold of our sport.”

Nutrabolt, owner of C4 Energy, is the top-selling global pre-workout brand and one of the fastest growing energy drink companies in the United States.

They recently introduced the Frost collection – a product extension available in three flavors, with can technology that transitions from silver to blue when cold and ready to drink.

“Having C4 be part of the biggest step in my racing career, competing in my first Cup race, is such a privilege and I’m so grateful for all the support they’ve given me through the years to this point,” Love noted. “Their products keep me energized on a daily basis and I can’t wait to showcase them on Sunday during Bristol weekend to the loyal fans that watch the Cup Series every week.”

Broadcast coverage of Love’s Cup Series debut, the Food City 500 at the Last Great Colosseum, is slated for Sunday, April 13 at 3 p.m. ET, live on FS1, the Performance Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.