Jesse Little

This article is about the NASCAR driver. For the Mormon pioneer, see Jesse Carter Little.
Jesse Little
Little at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 2018
BornJesse Hardin Little
(1997-04-15) April 15, 1997 (age 27)
Sherrills Ford, North Carolina, U.S.
Achievements2010 USAC Eastern Young Guns Ford Focus Midget Car Series Champion
Awards2013 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Rookie of the Year
2010 USAC Eastern Young Guns Ford Focus Midget Car Series Rookie of the Year
NASCAR Cup Series career
2 races run over 1 year
2018 position70th
Best finish70th (2018)
First race2018 Quaker State 400 (Kentucky)
Last race2018 Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race (Bristol)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
56 races run over 2 years
2022 position110th
Best finish19th (2020)
First race2020 NASCAR Racing Experience 300 (Daytona)
Last race2021 Kansas Lottery 300 (Kansas)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 2 0
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career
47 races run over 7 years
2022 position27th
Best finish19th (2018)
First race2015 Lucas Oil 200 (Dover)
Last race2022 UNOH 200 (Bristol)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 8 0
Statistics current as of November 5, 2022.

Jesse Hardin Little (born April 15, 1997) is an American former professional stock car racing driver. He last competed part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series driving the No. 34 Chevrolet Camaro for Jesse Iwuji Motorsports and part-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, driving the No. 02 and 20 Chevrolet Silverado for Young's Motorsports. He is the son of former NASCAR driver Chad Little. He and his father as well as Jason Little (Jesse's uncle and Chad's brother) previously owned a Truck, East and West Series team, which was known as Team Little Racing and then JJL Motorsports, from 2012 to 2019.

Racing career

Early career

A native of Sherrills Ford, North Carolina and a third-generation racer, Little began his racing career in quarter midgets at the age of 7,[1] moving up to Bandoleros in 2007 and Legends cars in 2009.[2] He won the 2010 USAC Eastern Focus Young Guns midget car championship,[3] and in 2011 competed in the UARA Stars late model series.[2]

NASCAR

Little made his debut in NASCAR competition at the age of 15, competing in seven K&N Pro Series East events in 2012;[4] driving a family-owned No. 97 Chevrolet,[5] he was the youngest driver ever to start a race in the series.[2] He returned to the K&N Pro Series East full-time in 2013, driving for Coulter Motorsports;[6] he finished in the top 10 eight times on his way to the series' Rookie of the Year award. He returned to K&N East competition again in 2014, winning his first race at New Hampshire. Little raced in the K&N East series on a part-time basis in 2015, winning at Iowa Speedway with Hattori Racing Enterprises.

In 2015, he added a limited schedule in the Camping World Truck Series in a partnership with ThorSport Racing.[7]

In 2016, he joined his uncle's Truck Series team, JJL Motorsports. He made two attempts in the fall races at Texas and Homestead finishing 20th and 18th respectively.

In 2017, Little and JJL returned, running 4 races. The first one was at Dover, where he finished 14th. He then finished a season-best 8th in Iowa. Little next raced at Bristol, continuing his strong performance, finishing 13th. His last start of 2017 came in Phoenix, where he was involved in a late-race crash, finishing 18th.

In 2018, Little expanded his schedule to 9 races.[8] He finished with six top tens, the highest finish a 6th at Iowa, his best finish to date in the Truck Series. In July 2018, Little joined Premium Motorsports for his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series debut in the Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway, driving the No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and finishing 35th.[9] Little later joined Gaunt Brothers Racing at Bristol, also finishing 35th.[10]

In 2019, Little increased his Truck schedule again, planning to run 12 to 15 races in the newly renamed Gander Outdoors Truck Series.[11]

On November 7, 2019, JD Motorsports announced Little would race full-time for the team in the NASCAR Xfinity Series starting in 2020.[12] Little finished 19th in points with two top-ten finishes.[13]

Little moved to B. J. McLeod Motorsports' No. 78 for the 2021 season.[13] He lost his ride with McLeod's team to Josh Williams in 2022. On December 22, it was announced that Little would drive for Young's Motorsports in the Truck Series for at least 12 races with the No. 02, splitting with Kaz Grala.[14] Little also ran a one-off Xfinity event at Phoenix, replacing Jesse Iwuji, who was at his military duties.

On September 14, 2022, Little announced that he would retire from NASCAR after the 2022 UNOH 200 at Bristol.[15][16]

Personal life

He is the son of former NASCAR driver Chad Little. They are not related to NASCAR on Fox pit reporter Jamie Little.

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Monster Energy Cup Series

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 MENCC Pts Ref
2018 Premium Motorsports 7 Chevy DAY ATL LVS PHO CAL MAR TEX BRI RCH TAL DOV KAN CLT POC MCH SON CHI DAY KEN
35 		NHA POC GLN MCH 70th 01 [17]
Gaunt Brothers Racing 96 Toyota BRI
35 		DAR IND LVS RCH CLT DOV TAL KAN MAR TEX PHO HOM

Xfinity Series

NASCAR Xfinity Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 NXSC Pts Ref
2020 JD Motorsports 4 Chevy DAY
19 		LVS
14 		CAL
28 		PHO
21 		DAR
36 		CLT
15 		BRI
26 		ATL
20 		HOM
18 		HOM
15 		TAL
13 		POC
10 		IND
18 		KEN
14 		KEN
14 		TEX
14 		KAN
33 		ROA
28 		DAY
18 		DOV
23 		DOV
23 		DAY
10 		DAR
18 		RCH
25 		RCH
33 		BRI
25 		LVS
23 		TAL
25 		TEX
15 		MAR
22 		PHO
29 		19th 527 [18]
15 CLT
30 		KAN
19
2021 B. J. McLeod Motorsports 78 Chevy DAY
17 		DAY
14 		ATL
22 		MAR
32 		TAL
26 		DAR
32 		DOV
37 		MOH
24 		TEX
29 		GLN
27 		IND DAR
32 		RCH BRI
28 		LVS TAL CLT TEX
31 		KAN
30 		MAR PHO 33rd 215 [19]
Toyota HOM
32 		LVS
26 		PHO
40 		COA
DNQ 		CLT
18 		NSH
27 		POC
29 		ROA ATL
28 		NHA
28
99 MCH
32 		DAY
2022 Jesse Iwuji Motorsports 34 Chevy DAY CAL LVS PHO
DNQ 		ATL COA RCH MAR TAL DOV DAR TEX CLT PIR NSH ROA ATL NHA POC IND MCH GLN DAY DAR KAN BRI TEX TAL CLT LVS HOM MAR PHO N/A 0 [20]

Camping World Truck Series

NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 NGTC Pts Ref
2015 Team Little Racing 97 Toyota DAY ATL MAR KAN CLT DOV
30 		TEX GTW IOW KEN ELD POC MCH BRI MSP CHI
30 		NHA LVS TAL MAR TEX
15 		PHO HOM
14 		42nd 87 [21]
2016 Rette Jones Racing 30 Toyota DAY ATL MAR KAN DOV CLT
DNQ 		35th 62 [22]
81 TEX
19 		IOW GTW KEN ELD POC
Hattori Racing Enterprises Toyota BRI
17 		MCH MSP
MB Motorsports 63 Chevy CHI
29 		NHA LVS TAL MAR
JJL Motorsports 97 Toyota TEX
20 		PHO HOM
18
2017 DAY ATL MAR KAN CLT DOV
14 		TEX GTW IOW
9 		KEN ELD POC MCH BRI
13 		MSP CHI NHA LVS TAL MAR TEX PHO
18 		HOM 33rd 110 [23]
2018 Ford DAY ATL
8 		LVS MAR DOV
9 		KAN CLT
16 		TEX IOW
6 		GTW
7 		CHI KEN ELD POC MCH BRI
26 		MSP LVS
15 		TAL MAR TEX
7 		PHO HOM
9 		19th 275 [24]
2019 DAY ATL
23 		LVS
19 		MAR TEX
13 		DOV
29 		KAN CLT
14 		TEX IOW
22 		GTW
21 		CHI KEN POC ELD MCH BRI
32 		MSP LVS TAL MAR PHO
DNQ 		HOM
17 		26th 149 [25]
2020 Diversified Motorsports Enterprises Chevy DAY
24 		LVS CLT
21 		ATL
35 		HOM POC KEN TEX KAN KAN MCH DAY DOV GTW DAR RCH BRI LVS TAL KAN TEX MAR PHO 90th 01 [26]
2022 Young's Motorsports 02 Chevy DAY
6 		LVS ATL
15 		COA MAR
27 		BRI DAR
14 		KAN
24 		TEX
19 		CLT
32 		GTW
20 		SON KNO NSH
19 		MOH BRI
25 		TAL HOM PHO 27th 213 [27]
20 POC
26 		IRP
15 		RCH KAN
28

K&N Pro Series East

NASCAR K&N Pro Series East results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 NKNPSEC Pts Ref
2012 Team Little Racing 97 Chevy BRI GRE RCH
11 		IOW
18 		BGS JFC
17 		LGY CNB COL IOW NHA
23 		DOV
22 		GRE
3 		CAR
5 		20th 210 [28]
2013 BRI
14 		GRE
16 		FIF
26 		RCH
16 		BGS
5 		IOW
14 		LGY
3 		COL
12 		IOW
4 		VIR
11 		GRE
7 		NHA
6 		DOV
5 		RAL
16 		9th 449 [29]
2014 NSM
18 		DAY
12 		BRI
13 		GRE
4 		RCH
10 		IOW
16 		BGS
16 		FIF
6 		LGY
9 		NHA
1 		COL
4 		IOW
10 		GLN
5 		VIR
8 		GRE
9 		DOV
23 		6th 546 [30]
2015 Toyota NSM GRE BRI
25 		IOW
3 		BGS LGY COL NHA
11 		DOV
30 		21st 184 [31]
Hattori Racing Enterprises 1 Toyota IOW
1 		GLN
13 		MOT VIR RCH
2016 Rette Jones Racing 29 Toyota NSM MOB
3 		GRE BRI
Wth 		VIR DOM STA COL NHA
17 		IOW
7 		GLN GRE NJM DOV
2 		21st 161 [32]
2017 JJL Motorsports 97 Toyota NSM GRE BRI
23 		SBO SBO MEM BLN TMP NHA 34th 55 [33]
Hattori Racing Enterprises 01 Toyota IOW
10 		GLN LGY NJM DOV

K&N Pro Series West

NASCAR K&N Pro Series West results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 NKNPSWC Pts Ref
2013 Team Little Racing 97 Chevy PHO S99 BIR IOW L44 SON CNS IOW EVG SPO MMP SMP AAS KCR PHO
2 		49th 42 [34]
2014 PHO IRW S99 IOW KCR
5 		SON SLS CNS IOW EVG KCR
3 		MMP AAS PHO
4 		21st 121 [35]

* Season still in progress
1 Ineligible for series points

References

  1. ^ Kaminski, Steve. "Jenison-based business teams with third-generation NASCAR driver". September 25, 2013. Grand Rapids, MI: The Grand Rapids Press. Accessed 2013-10-19.
  2. ^ a b c "Jesse Little". NASCAR.com. Accessed 2013-10-19.
  3. ^ "Clauson Feted During USAC Banquet". December 4, 2010. National Speed Sport News. Accessed 2013-10-19.
  4. ^ "Jesse Little Carving Out His Own Career". September 10, 2013. National Speed Sport News. Accessed 2013-10-19.
  5. ^ Courchesne, Shawn. "Jesse Little, Son Of Whelen Modified Tour Series Director Chad Little, To Compete In K&N Pro Series East In 2012 Archived 2013-10-19 at archive.today". October 12, 2011. Hartford, CT: Hartford Courant. Accessed 2013-10-19.
  6. ^ "Jesse Little joins Coulter Motorsports K&N Pro Series East Team". August 17, 2012. Spokane, WA: The Spokesman-Review. Accessed 2013-10-19.
  7. ^ Pace, Doug. "Behar to test with Rev Racing". October 4, 2013. Spokane, WA: The Spokesman-Review. Accessed 2013-10-19.
  8. ^ "JJL Motorsports set for increased NASCAR Truck Series presence in 2018". Jayski's Silly Season Site. ESPN Internet Ventures. January 22, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  9. ^ Boarman, John (July 10, 2018). "Jesse Little making MENCS debut at Kentucky". Tireball Sports. Retrieved July 10, 2018.[permanent dead link‍]
  10. ^ Long, Dustin. "Gaunt Brothers Racing expanding its schedule". NASCAR on NBC. NBC Sports. Archived from the original on 5 August 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  11. ^ "Jesse Little; JJL Motorsports set to return to Trucks in 2019 – JJL Motorsports". Archived from the original on 2019-02-17. Retrieved 2019-02-17.
  12. ^ "JD Motorsports with Gary Keller tabs Jesse Little to race full time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2020". JD Motorsports. November 7, 2019. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  13. ^ a b Estrada, Chris (December 8, 2020). "Jesse Little moving to BJ McLeod Motorsports for 2021 Xfinity season". NBC Sports. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  14. ^ Christie, Toby (December 22, 2021). "Jesse Little Joining Young's Motorsports For Majority of 2022 NASCAR Truck Season, Possibly More". TobyChristie.com.
  15. ^ Jesse Little [@jesselittle97] (September 14, 2022). "Some personal news👇🏼 Looking forward to finishing strong @youngsmtrsports" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  16. ^ "Jesse Little Announces Bristol Truck Race Will Be His Last". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. September 14, 2022. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  17. ^ "Jesse Little – 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved August 4, 2018.
  18. ^ "Jesse Little – 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
  19. ^ "Jesse Little – 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
  20. ^ "Jesse Little – 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  21. ^ "Jesse Little – 2015 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  22. ^ "Jesse Little – 2016 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  23. ^ "Jesse Little – 2017 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  24. ^ "Jesse Little – 2018 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  25. ^ "Jesse Little – 2019 NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  26. ^ "Jesse Little – 2020 NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  27. ^ "Jesse Little – 2022 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved February 19, 2022.
  28. ^ "Jesse Little – 2012 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  29. ^ "Jesse Little – 2013 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  30. ^ "Jesse Little – 2014 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  31. ^ "Jesse Little – 2015 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  32. ^ "Jesse Little – 2016 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  33. ^ "Jesse Little – 2017 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  34. ^ "Jesse Little – 2013 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  35. ^ "Jesse Little – 2014 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 31, 2018.