Jesse Love, the defending NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series champion, had an unexpected social media moment during the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona. While watching the endurance race with Joe Gibbs Racing prospect Brent Crews in Charlotte, Love was frustrated when WCNC interrupted the race feed in the closing hours for a weather update. He took to social media to express his dismay, posting a photo of the local weather graphic on the TV screen instead of the live race and quipping, “@wcnc Thank you so much for turning off the Rolex 24 to tell us that it’s still cold outside. A shoe is about to go thru @Brentcrews tv screen.”
The Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona is a renowned endurance event held at the Daytona International Speedway’s 3.56-mile road course. The race brings together factory-backed prototypes and GT cars from around the world and is closely followed by many in the NASCAR garage. Felipe Nasr of No. 7 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963 secured a third straight overall victory for the team by holding off Jack Aitken’s No. 31 Whelen Cadillac in the final stint. The race also set attendance records at Daytona and experienced one of the longest caution periods in event history due to dense overnight fog.
Love is set to return to the No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet with Richard Childress Racing as the reigning O’Reilly Auto Parts Series champion, aiming to defend his title in the rebranded series. Meanwhile, Crews is gearing up for his first full campaign in NASCAR’s second tier with Joe Gibbs Racing in the No. 19 Toyota, though age eligibility rules will delay his season debut until the Circuit of the Americas.
In another exciting development, NASCAR rookie of the year, Connor Zilisch, was on the podium for the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona. Zilisch, who finished second behind Love in the 2025 Xfinity Series season, shared the No. 31 Cadillac with Jack Aitken, Earl Bamber, and Frederik Vesti, securing a second-place finish. This marked Zilisch’s third appearance at the 24 Hours of Daytona, with this year’s run in the top GTP class showcasing his growing skill and experience.
Despite weather-related challenges during the race, Zilisch’s performance at Daytona sets the stage for his upcoming rookie season in the NASCAR Cup Series, while Love focuses on preparing for his title defense in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. The NASCAR calendar is set to resume with the Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, followed by preseason testing for both the Craftsman Truck Series and the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in the first week of February.
As the motorsports season unfolds, fans can expect more thrilling races and exciting moments from their favorite drivers. Stay tuned for more updates and coverage on Sportskeeda.
Edited by Tushhita Barua
