Showing posts with label Austin Hill. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Austin Hill. Show all posts

Monday, April 28, 2025

NASCAR / ARCA Race Weekend Recap (Talladega)

#NASCAR / #ARCA Race Weekend Recap (Talladega)

Winners: Austin Cindric (Cup); Austin-Hill (Xfinity); plus Lawless Alan (ARCA)

Winners: Austin Cindric (Cup); Austin-Hill (Xfinity); plus Lawless Alan (ARCA)
Recap Graphic by Rolando Ramirez - RTR Graphics



NASCAR Cup

Austin Cindric Edges Out Ryan Preece, Captures Talladega Victory

Austin Cindric Edges Out Ryan Preece, Captures Talladega Victory #NASCAR

 

Austin Cindric’s dramatic last-lap pass provided exactly the sort of Talladega Superspeedway thrill that NASCAR fans have come to expect at the sport’s biggest track, earning the 2022 Daytona 500 winner Cindric — and Team Penske — their first trophy of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season.

 

Cindric’s No. 2 Team Penske Ford pulled ahead of Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing driver Ryan Preece’s No. 60 Ford by the length of a front hood to claim a 0.022-second victory in Sunday’s Jack Link’s 500 — the two Ford Mustangs exchanged the lead five times in the final six laps and ultimately finished side-by-side holding off a pair of hard-charging Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet teammates just behind in Kyle Larson and William Byron.

 

“I’m just so proud of this team from the [pit] cycles to the fast cars to the fuel-only stops,” said the 26-year old Cindric, whose team — with 17 laps remaining — turned in the fastest final pit stop putting him back out front and able to contend for the win in a race that featured 67 lead changes among 23 drivers.

 

“It definitely wasn’t easy,” Cindric said of holding off the Hendrick teammates for the checkered flag. “I give a lot of credit, Kyle [Larson] did a lot to take care of me, pushing me at the right times in the tri-oval, and as mad as I was at him after Atlanta [race], I feel like we’re good now. That was great and having a photo-finish at Talladega and get in the playoffs in front of this amazing crowd, beautiful day in Alabama.”

 






Pole: Zane Smith



Click Here for Race Results


Next Race: The Cup Series will return on Sunday, May 4, 2025 at 3:30 pm ET for the ‘Würth 400 presented by LIQUI MOLY’ at Texas Motor Speedway.
 


NASCAR Xfinity

Austin Hill Tames Talladega

#NASCAR Austin Hill Tames Talladega

 

Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Hill prevailed in a three-wide photo finish in the Ag-Pro 300 NASCAR Xfinity Series race Saturday at Talladega Superspeedway — edging ahead of Jeb Burton and his RCR teammate Jesse Love at the time the field was frozen with an electronic timestamp approaching the checkered flag.

 

The caution flag and checkered flag flew simultaneously after Love’s No. 2 Chevrolet made contact with the rear of then-race leader, JR Motorsports rookie Connor Zilisch’s No. 88 Chevrolet just after the white flag came out signaling one lap to go. Zilisch’s car spun down into the track apron, hitting the wall, leaving Hill, Burton and Love to sort out the trophy.

 

“Man, we really had to work for that one,” said Hill, who now has a series-best three victories this year and 13 in his career. “It just seemed like our car was really good. Everyone at RCR and RCR engines are bad to the bone, like always. We had to work. I thought the 2 (Love) was really good and when we got the push from the 2 going into [turn] one, he got inside of me and I thought that was a bad mistake and I should have covered it. So I thought we were done. But I just locked in and kept pushing the heck out of the 2 car.

 

“I knew it was either me or the 27 [Burton],” he said of the photo finish. “Man, to win them — any way you win them is always great — and finally to conquer Talladega, that’s something I’ve really wanted to do for a long time.

 

“We’ve won at all these other superspeedways and to finally get it done at all the different superspeedways we go to, it just shows the 21 team can win at any of them and we’re really good at this style of racing.”

 






Pole: Jesse Love



Click Here for Race Results


Next Race: The Xfinity Series will return on Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 2:00 pm ET for the ‘Andy's Frozen Custard 300’ at Texas Motor Speedway.




NASCAR Trucks

No Truck Track Action Last Weekend







Next Race: The Truck Series will return on Friday, May 2, 2025 at 8:00 pm ET for the SpeedyCash.com 250 at Texas Motor Speedway.




ARCA

Lawless Alan Captures First ARCA Menards Series Win

Lawless Alan Captures First #ARCA Menards Series Win

 

When Lawless Alan joined Venturini Motorsports at the start of the 2025 season, his goals were simple.

 

He wanted to win races and contend for the ARCA Menards Series championship. After just three races, he can put a checkmark alongside one of those goals.

 

Alan, driving the No. 20 Toyota, was the leader on the final lap when a multi-car crash brought a premature end to the General Tire 200 at Talladega Superspeedway and Alan was declared the winner.

 

“First thing I’ve got to say is God is so good,” Alan said after his first ARCA Menards Series victory in his 10th start. “I didn’t have any sort of plan after Phoenix last year. Then Toyota called me, and we put this deal together with Venturini and AUTOParkIt and I am so thankful to them.”

 






Pole: William Sawalich



Click Here for Race Results


Next Race: The ARCA Series East will return on Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 8:30 p.m. CT for the ‘Music City 150’ at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway


source: NASCAR Media
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Monday, March 31, 2025

NASCAR Weekend Recap (Martinville Speedway)

#NASCAR Weekend Recap (Martinville Speedway)

Winners: Denny Hamlin (Cup); Austin Hill (Xfinity); Daniel Hemric (Trucks)

#NASCAR Winners: Denny Hamlin (Cup); Austin Hill (Xfinity); Daniel Hemric (Trucks)

Recap Graphic by Rolando Ramirez - RTR Graphics


NASCAR Cup

Denny Hamlin Dominates for First Martinsville Win in a Decade

Denny Hamlin Dominates for First Martinsville Win in a Decade

 

It didn’t take Denny Hamlin long to find the recipe for success in Sunday’s Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway. 

 

Hamlin grabbed the lead on Lap 126 of 400 in the seventh NASCAR Cup Series race of the season and never looked back.

 

With flawless work from his pit crew, the driver of the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota led 274 of the last 275 laps — with the only exception a lap credited to polesitter Christopher Bell, who raced side-by-side with Hamlin after the final restart on Lap 326.

 

Hamlin pulled away toward the end of the final 75-lap green-flag run and beat Bell, his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, to the finish line by 4.617 seconds.

 

The victory was Hamlin’s sixth at the 0.526-mile short track, most among full-time active drivers, but his first at Martinsville since 2015. It was his first victory of the season and the 55th of his career, tying him with Rusty Wallace for 11th on the career victory list.

 

“You know, Chris Gayle, all the engineers, the pit crew, everybody really on that wall right there, just deciding they were going to come here with a different approach than what we’ve been over the last few years,” said Hamlin, who won at Martinsville for the first time with the Gen 7 race car.

 

“It was just amazing. The car was great. It did everything I needed it to do. Just so happy to win with Chris, get 55 … Obviously, back here in Martinsville where I spent so many years racing late models and whatnot — gosh, I love winning here.”

 






Pole: Christopher Bell



Click Here for Race Results


Next Race: The Cup Series will return on Sunday, April 6, 2025 at 3:00 pm ET for the ‘Goodyear 400’ at Darlington Raceway.



NASCAR Xfinity

Austin Hill Wins Bizarre, Action-Filled #NASCAR Xfinity Race at Martinsville

Austin Hill Wins Bizarre, Action-Filled #NASCAR Xfinity Race at Martinsville

 

The speedway that robbed Austin Hill of a spot in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship 4 two years ago gave him a gift on Saturday.

 

Diving underneath a trio of wrecking cars in the final corner of overtime at Martinsville Speedway, Hill beat perennial bridesmaid Sheldon Creed to the finish line by 0.190 seconds to win Saturday’s US Marine Corps 250, giving Richard Childress his 100th win in the series and earning a $100,000 Dash 4 Cash bonus for the unlikely winner.

 

“I chose the bottom because of how rough everybody was on restarts,” Hill said of the overtime. “I had to do what I had to do on the last lap. On that restart, it just got wild. We were definitely leaning on each other, and getting into (Turn) 3, I knew we were all going to get beating and banging, and I just drove it in as deep as I could.

 

“They all hit each other, and I hit the 7 (Allgaier) a little bit and dumped him off and got on the apron there and came home with the win… Man, I’m in disbelief that we’re in Victory Lane right not. It’s unbelievable. I actually said at the end of the race that I hated this place because of all the beating and banging that was going on-and to top it off, we won a hundred grand!”

 






Pole: Connor Zilisch



Click Here for Race Results


Next Race: The Xfinity Series will return on Saturday, April 5, 2025 at 3:30 pm ET for the ‘Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help a Hero 200’ at Darlington Raceway.




NASCAR Trucks

Daniel Hemric Claims First NASCAR Truck Series Win in Martinsville Shootout

Daniel Hemric Claims First NASCAR Truck Series Win in Martinsville Shootout

 

During the week before Friday night’s Boys and Girls Club of the Blue Ridge 200 at Martinsville Speedway, Daniel Hemric practiced his back flip.

 

It was the signature move he had been able to use just once in NASCAR national series competition-when he won the 2021 season finale at Phoenix Raceway to clinch the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship.

 

But on Friday, the 34-year-old from Kannapolis, N.C., had a chance to perform the celebratory move once again, after capitalizing on the misfortunes of others-notably series leader Corey Heim-to win the first NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race of his career.

 

Hemric even stuck the landing, reveling in the race win that earned him a coveted grandfather clock trophy and a $50,000 Triple Truck Challenge bonus as the highest finishing series regular.

 

“It’s a funny thing, because my wife asked me a couple weeks ago if I was not too old to do it,” Hemric said of the back flip. “I practiced once last week in the back yard and did a back flip on solid ground.

 

“I thought, ‘The old man’s still got it,’ and I proved that tonight.”

 






Pole: Corey Heim



Click Here for Race Results


Next Race: The Truck Series will return on Friday, April 11, 2025 at 7:30 pm ET for the Weather Guard Truck Race at Bristol Motor Speedway.




ARCA

No ARCA Races Last Weekend

#ARCA Series West Returns to Tucson Speedway

 





Next Race: The ARCA Series West will return on Saturday, April 5, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. MT for the ARCA Menards Series 150 presented by the West Coast Stock Car Motorsports Hall of Fame at Tucson Speedway.


 

source: NASCAR Media
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Monday, October 28, 2024

NASCAR / ARCA Race Recap (Homestead Miami / Kevin Harvick's Kern-Raceway)

#NASCAR / #ARCA Race Recap (Homestead Miami / Kevin Harvick's Kern-Raceway)

Winners: Tyler Reddick (Cup); Austin Hill (Xfinity); Grant Enfinger (Trucks) and Sean Hingorani (ARCA West)


NASCAR Cup

Tyler Reddick Rides High Line to Homestead Victory

Tyler Reddick Rides High Line to Homestead Victory

 

A clutch last-lap pass following a late-race restart saw Tyler Reddick clinch a Championship 4 berth with his NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs victory at Homestead-Miami Speedway Sunday evening.

 

Ryan Blaney finished runner-up, while Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell and Chase Elliott completed the top five.

 

“I don’t know, we were backed in a corner and had no other choice. I knew we were on a tire deficit, and here at Homestead, that’s a death sentence, but I didn’t care,” Reddick said of moving back into the lead after being passed in a four-wide move on the restart only to work his way back to the point in the final six laps.

 





Pole: Tyler Reddick

Click Here for Race Results


Next Race: The Cup Series will return on Sunday, November 3, 2024 at 2:00 PM ET for the XFINITY 500 at Martinsville Speedway.

 

NASCAR Xfinity

Austin Hill Dominates Xfinity Series Playoff Race

Austin Hill Dominates Xfinity Series Playoff Race

 

An emotional Austin Hill climbed out of his No. 21 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet on the Homestead-Miami Speedway frontstretch to celebrate one of the most significant race wins of his burgeoning career — claiming the Credit One NASCAR Amex Credit Card 300 trophy Saturday and securing one of four positions to race for a trophy in the Nov. 9 Xfinity Series championship finale.

 

Hill — who also swept both of the race’s stage wins — took the lead from Stewart-Haas Racing’s Cole Custer with 12 laps remaining Saturday evening at the 1.5-mile South Florida track and raced off to a healthy 3.045-second win over the fellow playoff driver and reigning series champion Custer.

 

“I worked so hard for this, a lot of people doubt me but I wake up every day to prove them wrong,” Hill said. “I deserve to be here and I deserve to race for a championship. This 21 team deserves it just as much as I do. They work their [butts] off each and every day just like I do. I’ve got to give it up to those guys. They gave me a hell of a car.

 

“I can honestly say I’ve never cried coming to the start-finish line, but I had to get my emotions together going into Turn 1 after the checkered, all the hard work and dedication that goes into this. I don’t think everyone’s going to understand what this means for me, for my family and for [sponsor] Bennett. … I had to be on it today.

 

”Pausing to take it in, he added, “This is amazing. To be able to go the Final Four. I’ve worked so hard at this and my dreams came true.”

 





Pole: Chandler Smith

Click Here for Race Results


Next Race: The Xfinity Series will return on Saturday November 2, 2024 at 4:00 pm ET for the National Debt Relief 250 at Martinsville Speedway.



NASCAR Trucks

Grant Enfinger Stretches Fuel to Win Truck Series Playoff Race

Grant Enfinger Stretches Fuel to Win Truck Series Playoff Race

 

A strategy call from the pit box coupled with a patient move forward landed veteran Grant Enfinger his second consecutive NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series playoff race win in Saturday’s Baptist Health 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway while his closest competitors ran out of fuel behind him in the closing laps.

 

Enfinger, who also won the opening race in this playoff round at Talladega Superspeedway three weeks ago, denied the other seven playoff racers a chance at an automatic bid into the championship race at Phoenix. So now at least two drivers will advance based on points earned with only next Saturday’s race at Martinsville to settle which other three drivers move onward into the title fight.

 

“At the end of the day, [crew chief] Jeff [Stankiewicz] just had the best truck out here,” said Enfinger, who actually made up a lap on track after contact on a race restart cut his tire earlier in the day.

 

“Our car was really fast after about five laps yesterday [in practice] and was the same way today. Jeff did a good job managing me with the tires and then managing me with the fuel. I feel like I saved at least 20 percent more than I did in the first run. Jeff was on me pretty hard obviously and the 38 [Layne Riggs] ran out and the 2 [Nick Sanchez] did too.

 

“Hard to beat these two weeks,” he added with a grin.

 





Pole: Corey Heim

Click Here for Race Results


Next Race: The Truck Series will return on Friday November 1, 2024 6:00 pm ET for the Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 200 at Martinsville Speedway.


ARCA

Defending West Series Champ Sean Hingorani goes Flag to Flag

Defending West Series Champ Sean Hingorani goes Flag to Flag

 

With just one race remaining, Sean Hingorani left nothing to chance. The eighteen-year-old defending ARCA West champion dominated the NAPA Auto Care 150 at Kevin Harvick's Kern Raceway. Hingorani, starting from pole position, lead all 150 laps. He finished 0.302 seconds ahead of his hard-charging teammate Brett Crews.

 

“Venturini Motorsports brought me such a great race car today and I can’t thank them enough for that. Had to hold off there at the end, but we were able to lead wire to wire and dominate here today,” Sean related post-race.

 

Sean leads the series championship points standing by fourteen over Tyler Reif.

 





Pole:  Sean Hingorani

Click Here for Race Results


Next Race: The ARCA Series will return on Friday, November 8, 2024 at 12:30 p.m. MT for the Desert Diamond Casino West Valley 100 at Phoenix Raceway.

 

source: NASCAR / ARCA Media
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Monday, September 9, 2024

NASCAR Weekend Recap (Atlanta Motor Speedway)

NASCAR Weekend Recap (Atlanta Motor Speedway)

Winners: Joey Logano (Cup) and Austin Hill (Xfinity)



NASCAR Cup

Joey Logano Wins Playoff Opener at Atlanta

Joey Logano Wins Playoff Opener at Atlanta
Joey Logano and crew celebrate in Victory Lane  after winning the NASCAR
Cup Series Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

 

With a strong last-lap push from Team Penske teammate Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano rocketed into the Round of 12 of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs with an overtime victory in Sunday‘s Quaker State 400 available at Walmart at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

 

In a two-lap shootout that sent the first playoff race of the 2024 season six laps past the posted distance of 260 laps, Logano had the lead by more than a car-length when NASCAR called a caution on the final circuit for a mid-pack wreck behind the leader.

 

The victory was Logano‘s second at Atlanta, his second of the season and the 34th of his career. The driver of the No. 22 Ford vaulted to fifth in the playoff standings, but the win guaranteed him a spot in the next round.

 

“They just give me really fast cars on superspeedways, and we always find ourselves towards the front of them, (but) we just end up wrecking more times than not,” said Logano, who led twice for nine laps, a far cry from teammate Austin Cindric‘s race-high 92.

 

“So, to be able to finally capitalize on a fast race car and win here in Atlanta again, I lived right over there in condo 805 for a long time (as a child racing Legend Cars), waking up dreaming of just racing on this race track.

 

“So, pulling into Victory Lane here is always a special one. We had such a really good team here today. It‘s awesome to get (sponsor) Autotrader into Victory Lane, and the JL Kids Crew (one of Logano‘s charitable enterprises) are here today, so it‘s really cool to finally win with them here.”

 





Pole: Michael McDowell

Click Here for Race Results  


Next Race: The Cup Series will return on Sunday September 15, 2024 at 3:00 pm ET for the Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International. 


NASCAR Xfinity

Austin Hill Wins Wild Xfinity Series Race at Atlanta for Season Sweep

Austin Hill Wins Wild Xfinity Series Race at Atlanta for Season Sweep
Austin Hill celebrates with RCR team owner and NASCAR Hall of Famer,
Richard Childress in Victory Lane at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

 

Austin Hill defended stout charges late from numerous competitors to score the NASCAR Xfinity Series victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Saturday.

 

Hill, winner of the series’ February visit to the 1.5-mile drafting-style track, was victorious by 0.34 seconds over Parker Kligerman, AJ Allmendinger, Chandler Smith and Corey Heim, who completed the top five.

 

“I‘m speechless right now,” Hill said in Victory Lane. “Our Bennett Chevrolet had speed all day, but the handling just was not there the way that I would like. You come to these superspeedway-style events, and you want to have a car that‘s trimmed out. You don‘t worry too much about handling.”

 

“But I thought handling was going to be an issue, and it definitely played a part today. We made some right moves at the right time between my spotter, Derek Kneeland, and me. We got up to second and when we had that restart (on Lap 150), I was contemplating ‘Do I go top, or do I go bottom? ”

 

“We both agreed that we have to go bottom and try to get to the lead, and if the bottom didn‘t work out, then so be it.”

 





Pole:  Jesse Love

Click Here for Race Results


Next Race: The Xfinity Series will return on Saturday September 14, 3:00 pm ET for the Mission 200 at the Glen at Watkins Glen International.


 

NASCAR Trucks

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series – Off Week




Next Race: The Truck Series will return on Thursday September 19, 2024 8:00 pm ET for the UNOH 200 presented by Ohio Logistics at Bristol Motor Speedway.

 

ARCA

ARCA Truck Series – Off Week





Next Race: The ARCA Series will return on Friday, September 13, 2024 at 5:23 p.m.ET for the General Tire 100 at Glen at Watkins Glen International.

 

source: NASCAR Media
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Friday, September 15, 2023

Nemechek and Hill are NASCAR Xfinity Favorites

Nemechek and Hill are #NASCAR Xfinity Favorites

Food City 300 Xfinity Playoff Opener Tonight

Food City 300 Xfinity Series Playoff Opener Tonight

 

For the first time in NASCAR history Bristol Motor Speedway will serve as host to a Playoff race in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. The longtime home of the final Xfinity regular season race, Bristol is now the Round of 12 kick-off race.

 

While the Playoff opener is a huge deal and the 12 Playoff contenders will share the majority of headlines, one moonlighting driver is also garnering his share of the spotlight.

 

Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.

 

Dale Earnhardt Jr., who famously coined the phrase “It’s Bristol, baby!” is suiting up to race at the iconic short track for the first time since he retired from full-time driving in 2017. Earnhardt will be at the controls of the blue, yellow and white No. 88 Hellmann’s Mayonnaise Chevy for JR Motorsports, giving his team five entries in what promises to be a very thrilling Food City 300 (7:30 p.m., USA Network and PRN Radio) on Friday night.

 

John Hunter Nemechek
John Hunter Nemechek

 

Six-time season winner John Hunter Nemechek comes to Bristol as the Playoff top seed, fresh off a win in Kansas, where he dominated the action and took the checkered flag a full seven seconds in front of the second-place finisher. The veteran driver of the No. 20 machine for Joe Gibbs Racing, has posted 13 top fives and 19 top 10s in a season that he has been out front for most of the time.

 

“I’m looking forward to getting the Playoffs started at Bristol," Nemechek said. "We came (to Kansas) trying to get the Regular Season Championship. I thought that we were going to have a 60-point day this weekend, and that’s what we did. We controlled what we could control. We did everything that we possibly could. So, let’s go to the Playoffs—I’m ready.”

 





Austin Hill
Austin Hill

 

Meanwhile, Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Hill is right there behind Nemechek, and ironically claimed the regular season Xfinity title in his No. 21 Chevy. Hill won four times and posted 15 top fives and claimed 19 top 10s and certainly plans to battle door handle to door handle with Nemechek down the stretch.

 

“Just happy that we were able to bring home the Regular Season Championship, get the extra 15 bonus points--which is huge,” said Hill, who finished fifth in the regular season-finale. “But we’ve got to go to work. We’ve got to be better. The 20 (Nemechek) was the class of the field all day (at Kansas).”

 

In addition to Nemechek and Hill, there is a strong group of drivers among the 12 Playoff qualifiers, including former Bristol winner Justin Allgaier, and a host of drivers who have won at Bristol in either the Trucks or the ARCA series, including Sam Mayer, Chandler Smith, and Sammy Smith.

 

Five other drivers have tons of experience and are expected to make some Playoff noise come Friday night, including Josh Berry, Cole Custer, Sheldon Creed, Daniel Hemric and Parker Kligerman.

 

Trevor Bayne
Trevor Bayne

 

Two local Knoxville standouts are also in the field, as FOX race analyst Trevor Bayne, winner of the 2011 Daytona 500, will drive the No. 19 machine for Joe Gibbs Racing, and past Bristol ARCA winner Chad Finchum will pilot the No. 08 machine for SS GreenLight Racing.

 

Food City 300 - #NASCAR Xfinity Series

 

 

source: Bristol Motor Speedway Media
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Friday, August 25, 2023

Austin Hill Looks for a Daytona Single Season Sweep

Austin Hill Looks for a Daytona Single Season Sweep

#21 #NASCAR Xfinity Car for Richard Childress Racing

 

Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Hill will be coming back to Daytona International Speedway hoping for a single season sweep after winning the season opener in February (2023). The 29-year-old driver is all too familiar with finding Victory Lane at the iconic Daytona track, having also won the season opener in 2022.

 

Hill tried to sweep Daytona last season but after a wild race that saw three overtime restarts, Jeremy Clements ultimately took the checkered flag, while Hill finished in 14th.

 





The Winston, Georgia native, Hill, heads into the weekend with some momentum, having already accumulated four wins (Daytona, Las Vegas, Atlanta -1, Pocono), 13 top fives, 17 top 10s and has led 238 laps this season.

 

The NASCAR Xfinity Series started racing at Daytona twice a year in 2002. If Hill is able to win this weekend and accomplish the single season sweep, he will become just the second driver all-time to accomplish the feat, joining NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2003).

 





 

source: NASCAR Media
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Monday, March 20, 2023

NASCAR Triple Header in Race Weekend Recap (Atlanta Motor Speedway)

NASCAR Triple Header in Race Weekend Recap (Atlanta Motor Speedway)

Winners: Joey Logano (Cup); Austin Hill (Xfinity); & Christian Eckes (Trucks)

 

NASCAR Cup

Joey Logano Bags Atlanta Victory

Joey Logano Bags Atlanta Victory

 

Deftly maneuvering his No. 22 Ford through the final two laps of Sunday’s Ambetter Health 400, Joey Logano finished the NASCAR Cup Series race where he started – at the front of the field.

 

With a push from Christopher Bell on the backstretch on the final lap, Logano moved to the outside of leader Brad Keselowski with huge momentum and charged past Keselowski’s No. 6 Ford into the lead.

 

Logano pulled down to the inside lane through the final two corners and crossed the finish line .193 seconds ahead of Keselowski and .194 seconds ahead of third-place Bell.

 

“Yeah, first off so special to win Atlanta for me,” said Logano, a Connecticut native who began to refine his talent racing Legends cars at Atlanta. “So many memories of me and my dad racing right here on the quarter mile. This is the full circle for us. So many memories gritting over there with the Legends car, racing, having a big time.

 

“Dreaming of going straight at the quarter mile and going onto the big track. That was always the dream to do it. To finally win here means so much to me here personally, but the team.

 

“The Auto Trader Mustang – this thing was an animal. Very, very fast. Able to lead a ton of laps, race really hard there at the end, get a good push from the 20 (Bell) to clear myself. Huge victory. Nice to get one early in the season. Always feels better, but what a great day for us.”

 





Pole:Joey Logano

Click Here for Race Results
 

Next Race: The Cup Series will return on March 26th for the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas. 

 

 

NASCAR Xfinity

Austin Hill Continues Superspeedway Dominance

Austin Hill Continues Superspeedway Dominance

 

Austin Hill notched his third Xfinity Series win of the 2023 season, edging Parker Kligerman on an epic final run that saw him hold strong even as Kligerman knocked into him and spun out as he and the field crossed the start-finish line.

 

That final run came thanks to a caution that surfaced with about 10 laps to go. It featured Hill (21 car) taking the inside line and moving and blocking Kligerman (48 car). The 48 car then got hit and was nudged into Hill, but the 21 somehow stayed steady and powered through to victory.

 

“Once I got to the lead, I knew it was wreckers or checkers,” Hill told the remaining fans who’d braved the cold weather. “When the 48 hit me in the right-rear, I’m guessing he got hit or something, I thought I was heading into the outside wall, but I was able to gather it up, bring it on home. This is so special. That was a tough one to win.”

 





Pole:Sammy Smith

Click Here for Race Results
 

Next Race: The Xfinity Series will return on March 25th for the Pit Boss 250 presented by USA Today at Circuit of The Americas 

 

 

NASCAR Trucks

Christian Eckes Powers to Overtime Victory

Christian Eckes Powers to Overtime Victory

 

Christian Eckes finished where he started Saturday’s Fr8 208 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway  – with a lot of turmoil in between.

 

Eckes claimed his second victory in the series in overtime, choosing the bottom lane and front-row position for a restart on lap 136 of 137.

 

“It’s been a tough offseason,” said Eckes, in his first year with owner Bill McAnally after driving for ThorSport Racing in 2022. “I’m driving harder than I ever have – I have a lot to prove. The people know who they are.

 

“I’m really happy. Thanks to (crew chief) Charles (Denike), everybody on this team. They work so damn hard. This is what makes it all worth it. I’m pumped. It’s going to be a really good year.”

 





Pole: Zane Smith

Click Here for Race Results
 
Next Race: The Truck Series will return on March 25th for the XPEL 225 at Circuit of The Americas.
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Friday, March 17, 2023

NASCAR Xfinity Series at Atlanta Motor Speedway

#NASCAR Xfinity Series at Atlanta Motor Speedway

NASCAR Xfinity Series at Atlanta Motor Speedway
Austin Hill Wins at Atlanta Motor Speedway (July 9, 2022)

 

NASCAR Xfinity Series

  • Next Race: RAPTOR King of Tough 250
  • The Place: Atlanta Motor Speedway
  • The Date: Saturday, March 18
  • The Time: 5 p.m. ET
  • The Purse: $1,274,624
  • TV: FS1, 4 p.m. ET Radio: PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
  • Distance: 251.02 miles (163 Laps)
    • Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 40),
    • Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 80)
    • Final Stage (Ends on Lap 163)

 

With the conclusion of the West Coast Swing, the NASCAR Xfinity Series now sets its eyes on Atlanta Motor Speedway for the RAPTOR King of Tough 250 on Saturday, March 18 at 5 p.m. ET on FS1, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR radio as part of a doubleheader Saturday with the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race, the FR8 208, at 2 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

 

There have been 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races at Atlanta Motor Speedway producing 21 different race winners and 18 different pole winners. Seven races have been won from the pole or first starting position, most recently by Kyle Busch in 2021.

 

NASCAR Cup Series regular Kevin Harvick holds just about every Xfinity Series record at the Atlanta, Georgia track – most wins (five), top fives (11), top 10s (13), lead lap finishes (13), laps completed (3,135) and laps led (973).

 

Two previous winners are entered in this weekend’s RAPTOR King of Tough 250 – JR Motorsports’ Justin Allgaier (2021) and Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Hill (2022).

 

Allgaier snagged his win in 2021. In his 14 starts at the 1.5-mile track, he has posted one win, three top fives and nine top 10s.

 

Hill made the trip to Victory Lane in just his second start at Atlanta Motor Speedway after finishing runner-up in his first start as a rookie in the Xfinity Series.

 

The NASCAR Xfinity Series will be skipping practice this weekend and heading straight for qualifying on Friday, March 17 at 4:35 p.m. ET airing on FS1.

 





 

source: NASCAR Media
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Saturday, March 11, 2023

Phoenix Raceway Welcomes the Xfinity Series

Phoenix Raceway Welcomes the NASCAR Xfinity Series

Kyle Busch to Start Race in Last Position (39th)


Phoenix Raceway Welcomes the Xfinity Series
 

After a battle in the desert last weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway that saw Austin Hill snag the checkered flag for the second time this season, the NASCAR Xfinity Series will now be heading to Phoenix Raceway for the United Rentals 200 on Saturday, March 11 at 4:30 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR radio.

 

There have been 42 NASCAR Xfinity Series races at the Arizona track, producing 23 different race winners and 22 different pole winners. Eleven races have been won from the pole or first starting position, most recently by Ty Gibbs in last season’s Championship Race.

 

Although Gibbs is the most recent pole winner, Kyle Busch is the most decorated driver in the Xfinity Series at Phoenix Raceway. He holds the qualifying record with a speed of 138.504 mph, leads the Xfinity Series in poles (10), has posted the most wins (11), top 10s (20), lead lap finishes (23), and is tied with Kevin Harvick for most top fives (17).

 

Xfinity Series drivers will kick off their weekend with practice on Saturday, March 11 at 12:35 p.m. ET followed by qualifying at 1:05 p.m. ET on FS1.

 

Busch looks to score Xfinity record for most wins at a single track at Phoenix





Leading the NASCAR Xfinity Series in wins at Phoenix Raceway is Kaulig Racing’s Kyle Busch,  who will be pulling double duty and making his second Xfinity Series start of the season in the No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet this weekend. In the process, Busch will have the opportunity to break the tie with NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin for the most wins in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at a single track if he wins this weekend at Phoenix. Martin and Busch are currently tied for series most wins a single track at 11 wins each – Busch (Phoenix Raceway) and Martin (Rockingham Speedway).

 

In his 24 starts at Phoenix, Busch has posted 11 wins (2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013 sweep, 2014, 2015, 2016 sweep, 2019), 17 top fives and 20 top 10s.

 

His most recent Xfinity Series stint at the track was in 2020, where he won the pole and ultimately finished third.

 

Winners Galore: Xfinity Drivers to watch at Phoenix

With Phoenix Raceway serving as home of the 2023 Championship Race, it is a track that all drivers hope to conquer – and three fulltime Xfinity Series drivers entered in this weekend’s United Rentals 200 have done just that – Justin Allgaier, Brandon Jones and Daniel Hemric.

 

JR Motorsports’ Justin Allgaier has made a name for himself at the one-mile track, posting two wins (2017, 2019), nine top fives and 17 top 10s in his 25 Phoenix starts. In his most recent appearance, he posted a third-place finish.

 

Allgaier’s JRM teammate, Brandon Jones, added his name to this list of drivers who have found Victory Lane at Phoenix Raceway in 2020. Jones has made 14 starts at Phoenix, posting one win (2020), three top fives and six top 10s. In last year’s Spring Phoenix race, he posted a runner-up finish.

 

Kaulig Racing’s Daniel Hemric heads into the weekend looking to post his second win at Phoenix Raceway after taking the checkered flag at the 2021 Xfinity Series Championship Race. In his 10 series starts at Phoenix, he has posted one win (2021), three top fives and seven top 10s. In both Phoenix races last season, he posted an eighth-place finish.

 

 

source: NASCAR Media

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Monday, July 11, 2022

NASCAR / ARCA / SRX Race Weekend Recap (Atlanta; Mid-Ohio; Nashville)

NASCAR / ARCA / SRX Race Weekend Recap (Atlanta; Mid-Ohio; Nashville

Winners: Chase Elliott (Cup); Austin Hill (Xfinity); Parker Kligerman (Trucks); Taylor Gray (ARCA West) plus Bobby Labonte (SRX)

 

NASCAR Cup

Chase Elliott denies LaJoie in Late-Race Battle

Chase Elliott denies LaJoie in Late-Race Battle

 

Chase Elliott is a former NASCAR Cup Series champion and currently the 2022 title leader. But finally scoring a dramatic victory Sunday afternoon at his home track – Atlanta Motor Speedway – in front of a vocal and adoring home crowd ranks right up there as far as he’s concerned.

 

Elliott’s No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet led a race-best 97 of the 260 laps and held off a charging field to win Sunday’s Quaker State 400 Presented by Walmart, ultimately securing the trophy when the caution flag came out in the closing portion of the frenzied final lap.

 

Corey LaJoie, who was dueling it out with Elliott on the last lap, brought out that caution after hitting the wall in Turn 1 in a final attempt to pull alongside and pass Elliott for what would have also been a popular first-career NASCAR Cup Series victory for the well-liked LaJoie.

 

“This one’s up there for sure, to win at your home track is a real big deal I think to any race car driver,’’ said Elliott, 26, of nearby Dawsonville, Ga. “I watched a lot of guys do it over the years, Jimmie [Johnson] out in California. We haven’t really had a very good run here, so I felt like today was a good opportunity for us.

 

“I’m just so proud. This is obviously home for me and home to a lot of great fans who made a lot of noise today. Couldn’t be more proud of our team.”

 

Corey LaJoie, who was dueling it out with Elliott on the last lap, brought out that caution after hitting the wall in Turn 1 in a final attempt to pull alongside and pass Elliott for what would have also been a popular first-career NASCAR Cup Series victory for the well-liked LaJoie.

 

“This one’s up there for sure, to win at your home track is a real big deal I think to any race car driver,’’ said Elliott, 26, of nearby Dawsonville, Ga. “I watched a lot of guys do it over the years, Jimmie [Johnson] out in California. We haven’t really had a very good run here, so I felt like today was a good opportunity for us.

 

“I’m just so proud. This is obviously home for me and home to a lot of great fans who made a lot of noise today. Couldn’t be more proud of our team.”

 





Pole: Chase Elliott

Click Here for Race Results

 

 

Next Race: The Cup Series will return on Sunday, July 17 for the Ambetter 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. 

 

 

NASCAR Xfinity

Austin Hill Fends Off Final-Lap Challenges for Home-State Win

Austin Hill Fends Off Final-Lap Challenges for Home-State Win

 

Radio trouble prevented driver Austin Hill from being able to speak to his Richard Childress Racing crew during the Alsco Uniforms 250 NASCAR Xfinity Series race Saturday afternoon at Atlanta Motor Speedway, but he sure understood the final hand signal.

 

Number one.

 

The Georgia native, 28, won at his hometown track for the first time in his NASCAR career – holding off JR Motorsports driver Josh Berry by a mere .111-second –the closest Xfinity Series race finish in track history and another fitting number nod to Hill’s finish.

 

His 73 laps led in the No. 21 RCR Chevrolet was most on the day and the most of his young NASCAR Xfinity Series career.

 

“Man, look at this crowd, I love the fans,’’ a smiling Hill said, looking toward the loud and enthusiastic grandstands. “What a car. Man, RCR has been working their ever-loving tails off to give me a car that will race really fast.’’

 





Pole: Ty Gibbs

Click Here for Race Results

 

 

Next Race: The Xfinity Series will return on Saturday, July 16 2:30 PM ET for the Crayon 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. 

 

 

NASCAR Trucks

Parker Kligerman holds off Zane Smith Mid-Ohio

Parker Kligerman holds off Zane Smith Mid-Ohio

 

Parker Kligerman may be a popular television race commentator but the 31-year-old Connecticut driver reminded the NASCAR world that he is first a race car driver, winning Saturday’s inaugural O’Reilly Auto Parts 150 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in a highly spirited closing-laps battle with Zane Smith.

 

Ultimately, Kligerman held off the three-time race winner Smith – the two crossing the line in close formation with Kligerman’s No. 75 Henderson Racing Chevrolet taking a .119-second margin of victory in a race that concluded with all the drama expected of a road course event.

 

“It’s just unbelievable when you put a talented group of humans together, what they achieve,’’ Kligerman said of his Henderson Racing team, which employs only one full-time crew member. “And we’re doing this on absolutely a fraction of the trucks we run against.

 

“This is a small team that ‘could,’ but we’re not a small team that doesn’t win,’’ Kligerman shouted, turning toward the crowd. “We win.”

 





Pole: Corey Heim

Click Here for Race Results

 

 

Next Race: The Truck Series will return on Saturday, July 23 for the CMC Brakeleen 150 at Pocono Raceway. 

 

 

ARCA

Taylor Gray Perseveres to Win Wild Dawn 150

Taylor Gray Perseveres to Win Wild Dawn 150

 

For the vast majority of Friday evening’s Dawn 150 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Taylor Gray was not in contention for the victory.

 

Then late-race chaos changed everything about the ninth ARCA Menards Series event of the season.

 

Driving the No. 17 Ford Performance Ford for David Gilliland Racing, Gray moved Kris Wright out of the lead coming to two laps to go at the 13-turn, 2.258-mile road course. Armed with fresh tires, the 17-year-old Gray after that pass for the lead coasted to his second ARCA Menards Series victory.

 

“First of all I want to say sorry to Kris,” Gray said. “I didn’t want to race him like that; I wanted to race him clean. He bobbled getting into [Turn] 12, and I took the bottom, and it’s just so slick down there I lost the front and doored him.

 

“But we got the win. That’s all that matters.”

 





Pole: John Hunter Nemechek

Click Here for Race Results

 

 

Next Race: The ARCA Series will return on Friday, July 22 for the General Tire Delivers 200 at Pocono Raceway. 

 

 

Superstar Racing Experience

Bobby Labonte Scores His First SRX Series Win

Bobby Labonte Scores His First SRX Series Win

 

Bobby Labonte scored his first Camping World SRX Series win on Saturday night at the Nashville Fairgrounds. Labonte finished Heat 1 in the third position followed by a fourth-place finish in Heat 2. 

 

For the 75-lap Main Event, Labonte started from the pole position and following a late-race caution, held off a hard charging Marco Andretti and Matt Kenseth to earn the win. Prior to Saturday night, Labonte’s best SRX finish was last season at Lucas Oil Raceway where he finished second to Ernie Francis Jr. This season his best finish was third at South Boston Speedway.

 

“First and foremost, I’ve got to thank the fans for being here tonight and then also, these guys on this SRX group, all these men and women, you won’t believe how hard they work to get these cars to the race track week in and week out.” Bobby Labonte.

 





Pole: Josef Newgarden

Race Results

SRX Race Results

 

Next Race: The SRX Series will return on Saturday, July 16 for the SRX Event at I-55 Raceway.

 

source: NASCAR Media
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