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Xfinity Series: Austin Hill dominates at home race in Atlanta

Writer: Ashleigh McGregorAshleigh McGregor
Feb 234 min read

Written by Ashleigh McGregor


Credit - Jonathan Bachman / Getty Images
Credit - Jonathan Bachman / Getty Images

Last week Jesse Love dug deep and took the first win of the season, but this week is all about his teammate Austin Hill. Claiming the top step three years in a row at his home race Hill has proved he dominates this track. He further extends his record of the most wins (five) at the new Atlanta configuration. 


As it unfolded


Jesse Love was looking to add onto last weeks win as he started this race on pole but he was never safe with Austin Hill starting right beside him. When the lights went green Love had a great start. 


No. 26 Dean Thompson brought out the caution in lap six due to a flat tire. 


Ryan Sieg battling it out at the front of the pack sent sparks flying and smoke into the air with an impressive save. As he slid down the track he was able to right the car and keep it out of the walls. 


Ultimately Hill got in front and led an impressive 34 of the 45 laps. With Love behind him the teammates locked out a one- two for stage one. 


Stage 1 Results:

  1. No. 21 - Austin Hill (Richard Childress Racing)

  2. No. 2 - Jesse Love (Richard Childress Racing)

  3. No. 41 - Sam Mayer (Haas Factory Team)

  4. No. 54 - Taylor Gray (Joe Gibbs Racing)

  5. No. 1 - Carson Kvapil (JR Motorsports)

  6. No. 88 - Connor Zilisch (JR Motorsports)

  7. No. 7 - Justin Allgaier (JR Motorsports)

  8. No. 16 - Christian Eckes (Kaulig Racing)

  9. No. 25 - Harrison Burton (AM Racing)

  10. No. 00 - Sheldon Creed (Haas Factory Team)


Sam Mayer gets a good start for stage two and jumps to second. 


Laps 72-75 saw some teammate battles between Jesse Love and Austin Hill, with the former grabbing the lead before Hill ultimately took it back. 


As the laps dwindled down the inside line had come to try and threaten the domination that was Hill but he was just too quick for anyone to get next to him. After blocking both lanes Hill goes on to win stage two. 


Jeb Burton, Aric Almirola, and Sammy Smith were all able to move up into the top 10 and get some points in stage two. 


Stage 2 Results:

  1. No. 21 - Austin Hill (Richard Childress Racing)

  2. No. 41 - Sam Mayer (Haas Factory Team)

  3. No. 00 - Sheldon Creed (Haas Factory Team)

  4. No. 7 - Justin Allgaier (JR Motorsports)

  5. No. 2 - Jesse Love (Richard Childress Racing)

  6. No. 19 - Aric Almirola (Joe Gibbs Racing)

  7. No. 8 - Sammy Smith (JR Motorsports)

  8. No. 88 - Connor Zilisch (JR Motorsports)

  9. No. 27 - Jeb Burton (Jordan Anderson Racing)

  10. No. 16 - Christian Eckes (Kaulig Racing)


After winning both stage one and two, it was no shock that Hill would cross the final lap first. 


CJ McLaughlin brought out the caution as he crashed into the wall. He wasn’t the only one to bring out the caution in the final stage. Jeremy Clements tapped the wall and spun at turn two taking Taylor Gray with him. Zilisch miraculously skated by the chaos caused by Clements. 


Turn three saw Brandon Jones bring out the caution with a flat tire. 


With only 22 laps remaining Sam Mayer gets tapped by Nick Sanchez and has a big crash head on into the wall and directly into Anthony Alfredo. Taking them both out of the race. 

 

Three laps remaining and a last ditch effort, Sammy Smith shoves teammate Justin Allgaier to the lead. With two to go Almirola shoves Hill to first but then takes the inside and the lead goes to him. 


Final lap down the back straight away saw multiple crashes but Hill pulled ahead as Almirola got tapped from behind. 


The outside line was the victory line today as the speed just wasn’t there for the bottom line. Austin Hill crushes the Atlanta race as he takes victory at the chequered flag. 


Provisional Results:

  1. No. 21 - Austin Hill (Richard Childress Racing)

  2. No. 7 - Justin Allgaier (JR Motorsports)

  3. No. 19 - Aric Almirola (Joe Gibbs Racing)

  4. No. 8 - Sammy Smith (JR Motorsports)

  5. No. 48 - Nick Sanchez (Big Machine Racing)

  6. No. 27 - Jeb Burton (Jordan Anderson Racing)

  7. No. 10 - Daniel Dye (Kaulig Racing)

  8. No. 70 - Leland Honeyman Jr. (Cope Family Racing)

  9. No. 18 - William Sawalich (Joe Gibbs Racing)

  10. No. 25 - Harrison Burton (AM Racing)

  11. No. 51 - Jeremy Clements (Jeremy Clements Racing)

  12. No. 99 - Matt DiBenedetto (Viking Motorsports)

  13. No. 20 - Brandon Jones (Joe Gibbs Racing)

  14. No. 00 - Sheldon Creed (Haas Factory Team)

  15. No. 11 - Josh Williams (Kaulig Racing)

  16. No. 2 - Jesse Love (Richard Childress Racing)

  17. No. 44 - Brennan Poole (Alpha Prime Motorsports)

  18. No. 71 - Ryan Ellis (DGM Racing)

  19. No. 31 - Blaine Perkins (Jordan Anderson Racing)

  20. No. 39 - Ryan Sieg (RSS Racing)

  21. No. 35 - Joey Gase (Joey Gase Motorsports)

  22. No. 07 - Nick Leitz (SS Greenlight Racing)

  23. No. 1 - Carson Kvapil (JR Motorsports)

  24. No. 14 - Garrett Smithley (SS Greenlight Racing)

  25. No. 92 - CJ McLaughlin (DGM Racing)

  26. No. 5 - Kris Wright (Our Motorsports)

  27. No. 4 - Parker Retzlaff (Alpha Prime Racing)

  28. No. 45 - Masson Massey (Alpha Prime Racing)

  29. No. 16 - Christian Eckes (Kaulig Racing) +1 lap

  30. No. 91 - Josh Bilicki (DGM Racing) +1 lap

  31. No. 53 - Mason Maggio (Joey Gase Motorsports) +1 lap

  32. No. 74 - Carson Ware (Mike Harmon Motorsports) +2 laps

  33. No. 28 - Kyle Sieg (RSS Racing) +9 laps

  34. No. 88 - Connor Zilisch (JR Motorsports) [DNF]

  35. No. 26 - Dean Thompson (Sam Hunt Racing) +14 laps

  36. No. 41 - Sam Mayer (Haas Factory Team) [DNF]

  37. No. 42 - Anthony Alfredo (Young’s Motorsports) [DNF]

  38. No. 54 - Taylor Gray (Joe Gibbs Racing) [DNF]

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