Austin Hill Dominates for Another Atlanta Victory

Austin Hill celebrating in Victory Lane after winning the Bennett Transportation & Logistics 250. (Photo: Sydney Redden | The Podium Finish)

HAMPTON, Ga. — If there was still any doubt on who the king of superspeedway-style racing was in the NASCAR XFINTY Series, Austin Hill put those thoughts to rest en route to winning the Bennett Transporation & Logistics 250.

Along with sweeping the stages, Hill led a race-high 146 laps, with the next closest driver only leading 13 laps, which happened to be his teammate Jesse Love. He has now won three consecutive races at Atlanta Motor Speedway dating back to last season.

Even with the domination, securing the victory did not come easy. On a restart with three laps to go, Justin Allgaier got a great push from JR Motorsports teammate Sammy Smith to clear Hill. However, Allgaier but did not slide up in front of the No. 21 car.

“On that restart there the (No.) 7 got clear, I cannot believe he (Allgaier) didn’t go top there down the backstretch,” he said. “That was just a present for me.”

Then coming to the white flag, Aric Almirola got a huge run coming out of Turn 4 and got to the inside of Hill, but did not have any help from behind to complete the pass.

Austin Hill doing a burnout on the front stretch after winning at Atlanta Motor Speedway. (Photo: Hayden Hutchison | The Podium Finish)

“I was so worried about letting him (Almirola) get under me because he had a run, but I had help out back and was able to drag some brake as soon as I got off (Turn) 4,” said Hill. “Once I got clear and landed into (Turn) 1, I was just wide open and hoping they weren’t going to build momentum.”

With the win today, Hill tied Tony Stewart and the late Dale Earnhardt for the most wins at drafting-style tracks in NASCAR XFINITY Series history with eight. He also set the new series record for laps led at drafting-style races with 734, passing Dale Earnhardt Jr.‘s 691 in the process.

Allgaier came home in second place after beating Almirola back to the start/finish line following a multi-car wreck on the back straightaway.

“We rubbed doors coming to the line and we’ve been buddies for a long time,” Allgaier told reporters post-race. “He (Almirola) said he was trying to back up to me to get a run on the (No.) 21, I think he backed up a little more than I expected and I just went by him.”

Allgaier also cited a move earlier in the race as why he did not go up and try to block Hill after getting clear on the final restart.

Austin Hill racing during the Bennett Transportation & Logistics 250 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. (Photo: Sydney Redden | The Podium Finish)

“I had gotten enough separation from Sammy (Smith) and knew my speed wasn’t going to be there,” he told reporters following the race. “I did it earlier in the race and got swallowed up middle of three-wide and I think I was about 20th (place) by the time I got sorted back out.”

Finishing in third was Almirola, who after his big move to the inside of Hill coming out of Turn 4 with two laps to go just did not have the help he needed to stay in the lead.

“When I did that, I just didn’t have the help,” said Almirola. “The bottom lane started to break up there and Justin (Allgaier) was behind me and we just didn’t have the energy to be able to drag race the (No.) 21 heads up.

Rounding out the top five was Smith in fourth place and Nick Sanchez in fifth. Jeb Burton, Daniel Dye, Leland Honeyman, William Sawalich and Harrison Burton rounded out the top 10.

Stage 1 Top 10 Results

1. Austin Hill
2. Jesse Love
3. Sam Mayer
4. Taylor Gray
5. Carson Kvapil
6. Connor Zilisch
7. Justin Allgaier
8. Christian Eckes
9. Harrison Burton
10. Sheldon Creed

Stage 2 Top 10 Results

1. Austin Hill
2. Sam Mayer
3. Sheldon Creed
4. Justin Allgaier
5. Jesse Love
6. Aric Almirola
7. Sammy Smith
8. Connor Zilisch
9. Jeb Burton
10. Nick Sanchez

Bennett Transportation & Logistics 250 at Atlanta Motor Speedway Finishing Results