In NASCAR, every driver says the same thing when they get promoted to Cup.
“It’s a dream come true.”
Usually because it is.
But every now and then, somebody gets promoted into a ride where that phrase actually feels inadequate.
On Wednesday, Wood Brothers Racing announced that Jesse Love will take over the wheel of its legendary No. 21 Ford beginning with the 2027 NASCAR Cup Series season.
And suddenly, one of NASCAR’s oldest names has handed one of its most famous cars to one of its youngest champions.
At 21 years old, Love arrives with a résumé that already reads like somebody accidentally left career mode on easy. ARCA West champion at 16. Another West title the following year. National ARCA champion in 2023. NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Rookie of the Year in 2024. Series champion in 2025.
Now comes the part where everybody finds out whether all of that translates under NASCAR’s brightest lights.
With seven Cup starts already under his belt through Richard Childress Racing, Love won’t be arriving completely cold. But there’s a massive difference between making appearances and showing up every week with expectations attached to your name and one of the most recognizable numbers in stock car racing painted on the door.
And make no mistake, the No. 21 is not just another car.
This is the car that built legends.
David Pearson drove it. Cale Yarborough drove it. A.J. Foyt drove it. Neil Bonnett drove it. Dale Jarrett drove it.
Over decades, Wood Brothers Racing stacked up 101 victories and became one of the foundational names of the sport. Today, with Team Penske’s support behind the operation, the expectation isn’t to simply participate. The expectation is to matter.
Love understands the weight of that.
“Words can’t describe what it means to me to realize this dream I’ve had for as long as I can remember,” Love wrote in a social media post. “I am so grateful to every single person who has had a hand in my journey from the time I was 5 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.”
He expanded on that in the team announcement.
“Driving the No. 21 for Wood Brothers Racing is truly an honor,” Love said. “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.”
Love replaces Josh Berry, whose departure from Wood Brothers Racing after the 2026 season became public earlier this month.
Berry’s tenure included a memorable victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March of 2025 and periods of genuine promise, but NASCAR’s silly season waits for nobody. One minute you’re building momentum. The next, somebody younger arrives carrying trophies and a manufacturer’s future plans.
Wood Brothers president Jon Wood believes Love is ready.
“Jesse has accomplished a lot at a young age,” Wood said. “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.”
Richard Childress Racing, where Love has spent the last three seasons, also released a statement backing their outgoing driver.
“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,” the statement read. “Jesse 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.”
For now, though, Love still has unfinished business.
He remains full-time in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and enters the stretch run sitting second in the standings behind Justin Allgaier.
But the countdown has already started.
Because beginning in 2027, Jesse Love won’t just be driving a Cup car.
He’ll be driving history.
Greg was a writer for DriveTribe supporting Amazon's The Grand Tour and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, and a Masters degree in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek and a regular contributor to Forbes.
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