February 19, 2022 | By Lee Spencer

Austin Hill collects first Xfinity Series win in season opener at Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.—Austin Hill moved to Richard Childress Racing to win races.

He did just that in Saturday’s Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner 300 at Daytona International Speedway. Hill grabbed the lead from AJ Allmendinger on the last lap just before Anthony Alfredo punted Myatt Snider into the wall on the backstretch and NASCAR black-flagged the race.

Hill’s first Xfinity Series win came in his first start with RCR and the 16th of his career.

“Me and Derek Kneeland (spotter) worked really well,” Hill said. “I was learning all night. I kept telling him, I'm just putting that in the bank, I'm putting that in the bank, I'm putting that in the memory bank to remember for late in the race.

“We timed it perfectly. Obviously, that caution came out but we had a heck of a run, so who knows what would have happened there.”

Allmendinger finished second followed by Noah Gragson, Riley Herbst, Justin Allgaier, Sheldon Creed, Alfredo, Ryan Sieg, Josh Bilicki and Brandon Brown.

“I'm happy with the night,” Allmendinger said. “Anytime you get out with a top-five here at Daytona, two top-fives in the stage is really good points, but damn it, man, that was close. But great thing, there's another race we'll go get again next week.”

Drew Dollar wiped out Jeremy Clements 14 laps into the race to trigger the first caution. Defending Xfinity Series champion and polesitter Daniel Hemric won the first and second stage. Sam Mayer, who sustained damage to the No. 1 Chevy after he spun coming to pit road on Lap 75 during green-flag pit stops. His rear bumper cover flew off of his car 10 laps later causing a debris caution on Lap 85.

Austin Hill took the lead on Lap 87. The first seismic wreck occurred five laps later when C.J. McLaughlin lost control of the No. 38 Ford coming into the front stretch. He over-corrected his car and spun into the rear of the field collecting Brett Moffitt, Jeffrey Earnhardt, Jesse Iwuji, Tommy Joe Martins, Joey Gase, Josh Williams, Kyle Weatherman and Hemric. Hemric, who led a race-high 38 laps, had dropped to the rear of the field after pitting during the previous caution for tires and to repair damage to the nose of his car.

Allmendinger reassumed the lead from Hill when the race returned to green on Lap 98. The drivers traded the point until a conga line formed behind Dinger on Lap 106. Several drivers—including Allgaier and Gragson—were jockeying for position during the end game. Gragson claimed the lead on Lap 118 but Allmendinger regained the point coming to the white flag. With a push Herbst, Hill drove past Allmendinger.

“I was able to drag back, 98 gave me a heck of a push, we were able to get by him,” Hill said.

Hill led the field to the backstretch. Before entering Turn 3, Alfredo slammed into the rear of Snider and sent him airborne. Matt Mills, Jade Buford, Martins, Jeb Burton, Landon Cassill, Ty Gibbs and Josh Berry were all involved in the incident.

Snider’s No. 31 Chevrolet slammed into the catch fence while his engine ended up in the grass. The Jordan Anderson Racing driver was seen and released from the infield care center. He survived the wreck with a sore left foot and 22nd-place finish.

“The whole car was basically in shambles,” Snider said. “I’m surprised that nothing else was even there—there was more race car left. I looked back and I looked forward when I got out of the car.  I see the motors gone. It looked like the fuel cell was almost gone. There was not much left to that race car. So yard sale.

“I just saw sparks and crap flying everywhere and it was quite the adventure. So I’m just so glad that I’m safe. I’ve not more torn up than I am. Just wish we could have gotten a better finish out of it.”

Hill was the top finishing rookie of the race. The 27-year-old became the fourth driver to win both the NASCAR Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series season-opener at Daytona.

“This is so crazy,” Hill said of scoring his first Xfinity and truck series wins at the 2.5-mile track. “I won it back in 2019 with a new team, now we're with RCR, first race with them. We were able to get the job done. Our Bennett United Rentals Chevrolet was just as fast as Xfinity internet.

“Man, I'm speechless. Andy Street (crew chief), Richard Childress (team owner), just all these guys back at RCR for believing in me. It's been a fun off-season, and now we get to go race for a championship.”