Iowa-Bound NASCAR Star Jesse Love Plans Asia 'Cleanse' to Reset Karma Before Chase

NASCAR driver Jesse Love is taking an unconventional approach to break out of his recent slump: a spiritual reset on another continent. The Richard Childress Racing star, who will move to the Cup Series with Wood Brothers Racing next season, says he plans to travel to Asia for a holistic cleanse before the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series playoffs begin at Darlington.

Love made the comments after finishing 20th in Saturday's Winn-Dixie 250 at Daytona International Speedway, capping a frustrating stretch that has left him winless through 23 races this season.

What did Jesse Love say about his Asia trip?

Speaking to Above The Line Media after the Daytona race, Love explained his unusual preparation strategy.

I'll probably go somewhere in Asia and do like a cleanse of my holistic being. Come to Darlington with no, I don't know, karma again, Love said.

It's a unique approach compared to other drivers who have sought alternative methods to improve performance. Jimmie Johnson has used chiropractors in the past, while Tyler Reddick focused on improving his sleep and treating sleep apnea. Love believes he needs a complete mental reset after the way his 2026 season has unfolded.

Why is Jesse Love seeking a reset?

The 22-year-old driver admits he needs his mojo back after a winless campaign. His last four races have been particularly poor: 26th at Atlanta, 16th at Indianapolis, 35th at Iowa, and 20th at Daytona. Despite the slump, Love sits fourth in the final regular-season standings.

As the defending series champion, Love's 2025 season was statistically stronger, with two wins, nine top-five finishes, and 22 top-ten results. However, he insists he has been faster this year, even if the results haven't shown it.

I was a champion last year, and I have far more speed. I feel like I'm doing a way better job than I was last year. The finishes aren't there, Love said.

Has bad luck hurt Love's 2026 season?

Love has faced several unfortunate incidents that cost him strong results. At Dover, he was arguably the fastest car on track before Rajah Caruth slammed into his Chevrolet with 100 laps remaining, damaging the car and leading to a 23rd-place finish. At Watkins Glen, he lost the lead to Connor Zilisch in the final corner after a slight braking mistake, finishing second instead of winning.

He showed similar speed at Atlanta and Pocono, but accidents prevented those performances from translating into wins. Still, Love secured a Chase spot comfortably with seven top-five and 13 top-ten finishes.

What's next for Jesse Love?

Love will race for the championship at Darlington next week before moving to the Cup Series full-time with Wood Brothers Racing in 2027, replacing Josh Berry in the iconic No. 21 Ford. He remains confident in his ability to perform when it matters most.

I have that confidence, and I'm not going to lose that, and I believe that I can rise to the occasion in the Chase, like I always do, and it could be for a championship, Love said.

Whether the Asia trip delivers the karma reset he seeks, Love knows something needs to change. With a championship to defend and a Cup Series seat waiting, the next few weeks could define his young career.

This article is based on reporting from Yahoo Sports and Above The Line Media.