Jesse Little

Jesse Hardin Little (born April 15, 1997) is an American former professional stock car racing driver who currently serves as the vice president of business development for Sam Hunt Racing. 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 seven,^[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 fifteen, 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-ten 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.^[7] 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, Little added a limited schedule in the Camping World Truck Series in a partnership with ThorSport Racing.^[8]

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

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

In 2018, Little expanded his schedule to 9 races.^[9] He finished with six top-tens, the highest finish a sixth 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.^[10] Little later joined Gaunt Brothers Racing at Bristol, also finishing 35th.^[11]

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

On November 7, 2019, JD Motorsports announced Little would race full-time for the team in the NASCAR Xfinity Series starting in 2020.^[13] Little finished 19th in points with two top-ten finishes.^[14]

Little moved to B. J. McLeod Motorsports' No. 78 for the 2021 season.^[14] 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.^[15] 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.^[16][17]

Post-racing career

On April 21, 2025, it was revealed that Little would serve as the vice president of business development for Sam Hunt Racing.^[18]

Personal life

Little 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

Xfinity Series

Camping World Truck Series

K&N Pro Series East

K&N Pro Series West

^* 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. ^ "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. ^ "Biggie: Jesse Little Scores First Win After Wild K&N Pro Series East Finish At NHMS". RaceDayCT.com. Retrieved March 27, 2026.
8. ^ Pace, Doug. "Behar to test with Rev Racing". October 4, 2013. Spokane, WA: The Spokesman-Review. Accessed 2013-10-19.
9. ^ "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.
10. ^ Boarman, John (July 10, 2018). "Jesse Little making MENCS debut at Kentucky". Tireball Sports. Retrieved July 10, 2018.^{[dead link]}
11. ^ 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.
12. ^ "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.
13. ^ "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.
14. ^ Estrada, Chris (December 8, 2020). "Jesse Little moving to BJ McLeod Motorsports for 2021 Xfinity season". NBC Sports. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
15. ^ Christie, Toby (December 22, 2021). "Jesse Little Joining Young’s Motorsports For Majority of 2022 NASCAR Truck Season, Possibly More". TobyChristie.com
16. ^ Jesse Little. "Some personal news👇🏼 Looking forward to finishing strong @youngsmtrsports". No. 1570193686398660611.
17. ^ "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.
18. ^ Srigley, Joseph (April 21, 2025). "Jesse Little Named VP of Business Development for Sam Hunt Racing". TobyChristie.com
19. ^ "Jesse Little – 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved August 4, 2018.
20. ^ "Jesse Little – 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
21. ^ "Jesse Little – 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
22. ^ "Jesse Little – 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
23. ^ "Jesse Little – 2015 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
24. ^ "Jesse Little – 2016 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
25. ^ "Jesse Little – 2017 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
26. ^ "Jesse Little – 2018 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
27. ^ "Jesse Little – 2019 NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
28. ^ "Jesse Little – 2020 NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
29. ^ "Jesse Little – 2022 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved February 19, 2022.
30. ^ "Jesse Little – 2012 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
31. ^ "Jesse Little – 2013 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
32. ^ "Jesse Little – 2014 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
33. ^ "Jesse Little – 2015 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
34. ^ "Jesse Little – 2016 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
35. ^ "Jesse Little – 2017 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
36. ^ "Jesse Little – 2013 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
37. ^ "Jesse Little – 2014 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 31, 2018.

External links

• Official website