Jesse Love joins Wood Brothers Racing for 2027 NASCAR Cup season

Jesse Love joins Wood Brothers Racing for 2027 NASCAR Cup season marks a major driver change for the 2027 NASCAR Cup Series. Love will drive the No. 21 car full-time for Wood Brothers Racing during the season, bringing NASCAR O’Reilly Series momentum as the 2025 champion. The move sets up an internal rookie storyline as he is expected to compete with Corey Heim for Rookie of the Year honors. Love has previously spent multiple seasons with Richard Childress Racing, but chose to shift to Ford as a route to a full-time Cup opportunity with Wood Brothers’ No. 21 team. He replaces Josh Berry, who is in his second season with Wood Brothers after Stewart-Haas Racing shut down. The team’s 2027 performance could depend on how Ford’s new car translates after a down year, directly affecting Love’s speed and prospects.