Jesse Love was NOT happy with Sammy Smith after being moved out of the way for the victory in the ARCA Menards Series season-finale at Toledo Speedway.
Love, piloting the No. 20 for Venturini Motorsports, was bumped out of the way in the middle of an already-heated, side-by-side battle for the victory with the 17-year-old driver and NASCAR Truck Series veteran Grant Enfinger.
The driver that carried out the bump? Sammy Smith. The driver of the Kyle Busch Motorsports No. 18, the main competition for Venturini Motorsports in the ARCA Menards Series Owner’s Championship.
Sammy Smith went on to take the lead of the event and cruise to the victory, while Jesse Love was able to still maintain the runner-up spot, but the recovery wasn’t enough to give the No. 20 the Owner’s Title.
After the race, things got pretty heated on multiple occasions…
While Smith was celebrating his victory – and the Owner’s Championship – doing burnouts on the front straightaway, Jesse Love decided to take his No. 20 on track and try to block the path of the No. 18.
After the Johnston, Iowa native had finished his extravagant series of burnouts, Jesse Love then emerged from his vehicle to show the part-time NASCAR Xfinity Series driver how he really felt, lowering the window net of the No. 18 and throwing a punch.
And there was this, too …@jesselovejr1 was not thrilled with @sammysmithSS pic.twitter.com/ECwDdacNQE
— ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) October 8, 2022
Keep in mind, this isn’t necessarily the first time that Love and Smith’s teams have had a major disagreement this season. The two drivers had a run-in earlier in the year Pocono, which resulted in the No. 20 spinning off the front bumper of the No. 18.
Some words exchanged between @sammysmithSS and @jesselovejr1’s crew Chief Shannon Rursch following contact late @PoconoRaceway. (NSFW) pic.twitter.com/BwfLuuYArd
— Davey Segal (@DaveyCenter) July 23, 2022
With Toyota’s driver lineups remaining to be unknown at this point in time, there will have to be a number of things sorted out, including the relationship between these two young Toyota Racing Development teammates.
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