Jesse Love scores first NASCAR O'Reilly Series win of 2026 at Gateway

Defending NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series champion Jesse Love earned his first win of the 2026 season Saturday at Gateway, going back to victory lane for the first time in 25 races.

Love earned the fourth win of his NOAPS career after moving Carson Kvapil up the hill with 17 laps to go and clearing him for the lead off of Turn 2 with 16 laps remaining. Love held off Darlington winner Sheldon Creed to win for the first time this year. 

"Just had to put 'em on the dash," Love told CW Sports. "It's been really hard, but I knew if I keep my grit, if I keep my tenacity, if I keep my work ethic... eventually, one of these opportunities is going to be there and I'm going to frickin' take it."

Love is fourth in the standings and only 16 points back of Creed for the points lead as he searches for a second championship. 

Creed, who finished runner-up to Love, will leave Gateway as the series points leader, making it the first time since Feb. 28 at Circuit of the Americas that a driver other than Justin Allgaier is the series points leader. Creed leads Allgaier by three points going into the Sept. 18 Chase race at Bristol, the third event of the nine-race postseason. 

Allgaier was running in the top 10 when his No. 7 Chevrolet was damaged after contact with William Sawalich and Corey Day. Allgaier clawed his way back to a 13th-place finish.