Last week Wood Brothers Racing announced that Josh Berry would not be returning next season to drive the iconic Wood Brothers number 21 car; adding a replacement driver would be named soon.
Soon has arrived and Wood Brothers Racing has selected reigning O’Reilly Auto Parts Series champion Jesse Love – he currently drives the number two car for Richard Childress Racing in the O’Reilly Series – to drive the number 21 car beginning next season.
In a social media post, Love said, “words can’t describe what it means to me to realize this dream I’ve had for as long as I can remember. I am so grateful to every single person who has had a hand in my journey from the time I was five years old to now. This is for those people who have pushed me and helped me. Thank you to the Wood Brothers, Team Penske, and Ford for their belief in me starting in 2027.”
With a total of 101 race wins, the Wood Brothers have had a list of Hall of Fame calibre drivers behind the wheel of the 21 car including David Pearson, Cale Yarborough, A.J. Foyt, Neil Bonnett and Dale Jarrett.
With an alliance with Team Penske, Love will be moving from a Chevrolet to a Ford when he joins Wood Brothers Racing.
Love added via a team press release, “driving the number 21 for Wood Brothers Racing is truly an honor. 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.”
President of Wood Brothers Racing Jon Wood spoke on Jesse Love saying, “Jesse has accomplished a lot at a young age. 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 number 21 team.”
Hailing from Menlo Park, California, Love is a two time ARCA Series West champion and an ARCA National Series champion before winning the O’Reilly Auto Part Series championship (formerly Xfinity Series) in 2025. In 2024, Love was named O’Relly Series Rookie of the Year. He currently sits in second place behind Justin Allgaier.
Richard Childress Racing issued a statement via social media on Love saying, “Richard Childress Racing is appreciative of Jesse Love’s contributions during his three seasons with our organization and wishes him nothing but success in the future. Je sse is a talented racer, and we are proud to have played a role in his development into a NASCAR champion. All parties remain aligned and committed to defending the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series championship in 2026.”