Jesse Love jokes about locking trophy in his safe after NASCAR DQ

Jesse Love battled from third to first in an overtime restart to win last weekend’s NASCAR Xfinity race at Rockingham. After earning his third career win and his first at a non-drafting track, he was fired up in the post-race celebration that followed. Love climbed through the roof hatch, slid down the windshield and hood, and watched happily as his now-driverless car rolled away.

But the elation was short-lived as Love was stripped of his Rockingham victory just hours later due to issues with the rear suspension. Speaking on the DQ, NASCAR said: “All mating surfaces between the truck trailing arm and the U-bolt saddle must be in complete contact with each other.” 

Richard Childress Racing intends to appeal the penalty, believing they have a case in their attempt to overturn the penalty. 

This was the first NASCAR Xfinity race at the iconic oval in 21 years. The last Xfinity race at ‘The Rock’ took place before Love was even born, but the rising star did not response with dismay following the disqualification, at least publicly. He took to social media, posting on X (formerly Twitter): “Good thing my house has a safe.”

And if you’re wondering how other drivers have responded after having race wins ripped from their hands following post-race inspection issues, it should be no surprise to hear that they were less-than-eager to return their checkered flags and trophies.

For example, after winning the 2025 NASCAR Truck Series opener at Daytona, Parker Kligerman was also disqualified after failing inspection. As is tradition for Kligerman, he planted the checkered flag in the infield in his initial post-race celebration. And despite losing the final appeal, Kligerman later posted:

And then there’s Denny Hamlin, who infamously won at Pocono in 2022 by walling rival Ross Chastain. It was supposed to be payback for Chastain wrecking Hamlin earlier in the year, but it was all for naught as Hamlin later failed post-race inspection. Chase Elliott won the race instead, but Hamlin was in no hurry to return the hardware.