Defending O'Reilly Champ Love to Make First Cup Start of 2026 at COTA

21-year-old Jesse Love to pilot RCR's No. 33 Chevrolet with C4 Energy sponsorship

Mar. 1, 2026 at 10:39pm

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Jesse Love, the defending champion of the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series, will be making the first of "several" scheduled NASCAR Cup Series starts in next weekend's DuraMAX Texas Grand Prix Powered by RelaDyne at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas. The 21-year-old driver will get behind the wheel of a third entry for Richard Childress Racing (RCR), the No. 33 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, with C4 Ultimate Energy serving as the primary marketing partner.

Why it matters

Love is a rising star in NASCAR, having won the ARCA Menards Series West championship in 2020 at just 16 years old. This Cup Series start at COTA will be an important step in his development as he looks to advance to NASCAR's top level on a more full-time basis.

The details

Love will make his first NASCAR Cup Series start on a road course in Austin, Texas on March 1. This will be the first of four road course events on the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series schedule that Love is scheduled to compete in. C4 Ultimate Energy, a long-time sponsor for Love, will serve as the primary marketing partner on the No. 33 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1.

  • Love will make his first NASCAR Cup Series start on March 1, 2026.
  • Love is also scheduled to compete in the NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway in April 2026.

The players

Jesse Love

A 21-year-old driver who is the defending champion of the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series. He will be making his first NASCAR Cup Series start at COTA.

Richard Childress Racing (RCR)

The NASCAR team that Love drives for in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series and will be fielding a third entry for him in the Cup Series race at COTA.

C4 Energy

A long-time sponsor of Love who will be the primary marketing partner on the No. 33 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 that Love will drive in his Cup Series debut at COTA.

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What they’re saying

“At C4 Energy, we're drawn to athletes who embody drive, discipline, and relentless ambition, and Jesse represents all of that and more. He's a rising star who competes with intensity and authenticity, which aligns perfectly with our brand. We're especially excited to have him at COTA right here in our own backyard of Austin, bringing together speed, performance, and community in a way that feels uniquely C4.”

— Robert Zajac, Chief Marketing Officer, C4 Energy (si.com)

“C4 Energy has been with me throughout many major moments in my career and I'm excited for them to be showcased on the No. 33 Chevrolet when I make my 2026 Cup Series debut next weekend at Circuit of the Americas. C4 Energy powers me on race days, prep days, and beyond so it's only fitting that they come along with me for my first NASCAR Cup Series start of 2026. Racing in the Cup Series is my goal, and I'm ready to capitalize on these opportunities this season thanks to the strong team behind me at RCR, including Richard Childress, Mike Verlander, Danny Lawrence, and all the hard-working men and women at the race shop, ECR and CT Spring in Welcome, NC.”

— Jesse Love (si.com)

What’s next

In addition to COTA, Love also has a confirmed NASCAR Cup Series start coming at Talladega Superspeedway in April 2026, with sponsorship from 1-800-PACK-RAT.

The takeaway

This opportunity for Jesse Love to make his first NASCAR Cup Series start at COTA is an important step in his development as a rising star in the sport. With the support of his long-time sponsor C4 Energy and the resources of Richard Childress Racing, Love will look to capitalize on this chance to showcase his talent at NASCAR's highest level.