Jesse Love claims his fifth NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series win at Phoenix Raceway, narrowly defeating Sam Mayer by 0.128 seconds after last‑lap contact in Turn 3.

Starting from pole, Love controls the race. He leads 156 of 200 laps and extends his championship advantage to 36 points after Phoenix. The win echoes last year’s Phoenix success.

Mayer charges from 35th to second with relentless pace. His final‑corner tap unsettles Love’s Chevrolet, yet the leader gathers it up and wins the drag race to the line.

Love’s execution is strongest in stage management. He sweeps both stages and handles repeated restarts, despite occasional restart difficulties that compress the field.

A brief shower triggers an early caution. Brandon Jones gambles on wet‑weather tires, but the strategy fails and he slips off the lead lap.

Sheldon Creed briefly leads after a restart. Mechanical problems then strike, dropping him well back and effectively removing him from championship contention.

The final stage is shaped by a Brennan Poole and Lavar Scott collision. Restarts reorder the pack, and green‑flag cycles let Mayer trim Love’s margin.

Pit execution proves decisive. Box position and clean releases matter at the 2026 Phoenix pit stalls, where track position multiplies tire life and defensive options.

The demands of Phoenix’s braking zones further influence setup and confidence. Teams reference recent brake changes for Phoenix when tuning stability for late restarts and divebombs.

Love credits his pit crew and engineers. He acknowledges season hardships and praises adjustments that held up on worn tires under Mayer’s sustained pressure.

He jokes about pushing his crew chief for late tweaks, yet stays satisfied with execution under pressure.

Justin Allgaier completes the podium in third. Corey Day finishes fourth. Sammy Smith claims fifth.

Brandon Jones, Dean Thompson, William Sawalich, Rajah Caruth, and Carson Kvapil round out the top ten.

The result strengthens Love’s title position. Mayer’s recovery drive underlines momentum that can pressure the points leader through the closing stretch.

For broader weekend context, including schedules and support results, see the updated weekend information and results for added detail.

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John Martinez

John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.