Completing an unlikely comeback, NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Austin Hill overcame a crash, flat tire and pit-road penalty to claim Monday night’s rain-delayed United Rentals 300.
The Richard Childress Racing pilot has captured the past three season-opening events at Daytona International Speedway, becoming the fourth driver to accomplish the feat.
Competing in a tapped-up No. 21 Chevrolet, Hill joked to Fox Sports that he “tried to screw it up,” but rallied over the few laps and edged rival and former teammate Sheldon Creed by 0.591 seconds. Creed has placed P2 in three consecutive Xfinity events dating back to last season.
“It tops it off-three-peat,” Hill said. “You know how hard it is to win at Daytona?
“I am so stoked.”
X (Twitter) users responded to Hill earning his third season-opening Daytona checkered flag Monday night as Ryan Sieg, Ryan Truex and Sammy Smith collided along the back stretch at the “World Center of Racing” …
Austin Hill cruised to his third straight victory in the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ opening race at Daytona on Monday.
It looks like Sheldon Creed wasn’t full throttle. Very weird ending.pic.twitter.com/nbEyPj3QEu
— Austin Konenski (@AustinKonenski) February 20, 2024
After rain delays on Saturday and Monday morning, Jeb Burton and his Xfinity Series peers finally got their chance following the Cup Series’ Daytona 500 …
The rain is gone and it’s race day in Daytona! 2️⃣7️⃣ @goldencorral pic.twitter.com/a714Nb5ysA
— Jeb Burton (@JebBurtonRacing) February 19, 2024
Rookie Jesse Love led the field to the Xfinity Series’ season-opening green flag …
& we’re back at it again 🤘#UnitedRentals300 | @NASCAR_Xfinity pic.twitter.com/zSXiANbQfB
— Daytona International Speedway (@DAYTONA) February 20, 2024
Choo choo choo …
Single file train early in the @NASCAR_Xfinity race pic.twitter.com/fGGoFLp6AK
— Joe Gibbs Racing (@JoeGibbsRacing) February 20, 2024
Kaulig Racing rookie Shane van Gisbergen, who earned a Cup Series win in his first outing at the Chicago Street Race, made his Xfinity debut Monday night. The three-time Supercars champion found himself caught up in trouble, but earned a 12th-place finish …
First EVER @NASCAR_Xfinity race for @shanevg97. 😤@WeatherTech | @KauligRacing pic.twitter.com/7r9lm06qOu
— Trackhouse Racing (@TeamTrackhouse) February 20, 2024
The circuit’s first caution period developed when Sam Mayer (1), Kyle Weatherman (91), Hailie Deegan (15) and Daniel Suarez (14), who had just executed a pit stop, were involved in a Lap 23 accident …
.@Daniel_SuarezG's view of the multi-car incident that brings out our first yellow. pic.twitter.com/JFm0kzTCOR
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) February 20, 2024
Deegan: The result of Monday’s debut as a full-time Xfinity driver “sucks” …
.@HailieDeegan on her frustrating early-end to tonight’s Xfinity Series race at Daytona. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/RTlo1mTwiE
— Noah Lewis (@Noah_Lewis1) February 20, 2024
Mirroring their narrow qualifying margin, Love barely beat his Richard Childress Racing teammate Austin Hill to the start/finish line, claiming his initial Stage 1. Love topped Hill in qualifying by 0.003 seconds …
Got him by 🤏 that much! pic.twitter.com/FXJRi1Ev0R
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) February 20, 2024
Love, who led a race-high 32 laps, may have learned a valuable lesson. The rookie made a move to the middle lane, but he put himself in a precarious position. He ended up getting bumped by John Hunter Nemechek, forcing him into AJ Allmendinger’s machine, igniting a 10-car crash on Lap 37 …
Three-wide racing leads to trouble on the backstretch! pic.twitter.com/TaNNAqgJOd
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) February 20, 2024
After being involved in the Lap 37 collision, Hill was able to save the machine in the infield and drive away with little damage. The No. 21 Chevrolet didn’t lose much speed as Hill captured Stage 2 points. RCR Racing has claimed five of the past six stages at Daytona (Hill three, Love 1 and Creed 1) …
Season-opening three-peat incoming?@_AustinHill takes #XfinitySeries stage two at @DAYTONA. pic.twitter.com/nAYZ645gBi
— Xfinity Racing (@XfinityRacing) February 20, 2024
After suffering a flat tire on Lap 97, Hill ran into more trouble along pit row. He lost focus and was in third gear – instead of second – and overshot his pit slot, creating a penalty and going back of the pack. “I don’t know what was going on with me,” he said after the race. “But my guys just kept telling me, ‘Look, man, dig deep” …
Trouble on pit road for @_AustinHill! pic.twitter.com/oKT7jUhaH8
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) February 20, 2024
Girl power …
With seven laps led at @DAYTONA, @NatalieRacing is the first woman to lead an Xfinity Series race since @DanicaPatrick in 2013. pic.twitter.com/i1lk0m3EPQ
— Xfinity Racing (@XfinityRacing) February 20, 2024
Chevy remained strong in a race that featured nine caution periods for 44 laps and 19 lead changes among 14 pilots …
Good weekend to be a Chevy driver.
Nick Sanchez wins in a Chevy in the Truck series.
Austin Hill wins in a Chevy in the Xfinity Series.
William Byron wins in a Chevy in the Daytona 500.
Well done to the bowties at Daytona 🤝
— The Daily Downforce (@dailydownforce) February 20, 2024
‘Amped’ Hill in Victory Lane …
Austin Hill wins his THIRD STRAIGHT February Xfinity Series race. Dude is amped in Victory Lane. @WFTV pic.twitter.com/AKvCjBQemI
— Alex Walker (@AlexWalkerTV) February 20, 2024
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