Advertisement

Austin Hill Wins NASCAR Xfinity Race at Daytona; Natalie Decker, Hailie Deegan Make History

24
Mike Pryson
·5 min read
nascar xfinity series united rentals 300
Hill Makes It an Xfinity Threepeat at DaytonaMike Ehrmann - Getty Images

In a race that saw no less than 11 cars knocked out due to either accident or NASCAR's damaged vehicle policy, Austin Hill reigned supreme once again on Monday night at Daytona International Speedway.

Hill shined brightest on a weekend dominated by rain and postponements to win the NASCAR Xfinity Series United Rentals 300. The win came in a race that was originally scheduled for Saturday night but not run until after Monday's Daytona 500 that was won by William Byron.

Hill's margin of victory was 0.591 second over runner-up Sheldon Creed and marked Hill's third consecutive season-opening win in the series. Parker Retzlaff, Jordan Anderson and Chandler Smith rounded out the top five. Fourth-place Anderson made up the most ground in race, as he started back in 29th in the 38-car field.

ADVERTISEMENT

Hill, driving a Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, overcame a rough night in the pits for the win.

nascar xfinity series united rentals 300
After winning his third straight season-opening race in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, it’s clear that Austin Hill has figured out Daytona.Sean Gardner - Getty Images

“Three-peat. Do you know how hard it is to win at Daytona?" Hill said after the win. "When I got caught up in the first accident that also hurt my teammate, (pole sitter) Jesse Love, I wasn’t sure how bad the damage actually was. The No. 21 crew did an excellent job of making the repairs without losing a lap and I was able to drive back to the front immediately after.

"I don’t know what was going on with me on pit road today though. I sped on pit road and slid through the box, which put us back in the field once again. I about did it earlier on the first stop, too. My Richard Childress Racing guys kept telling me to dig deep and remember that I’m really good at these superspeedway tracks.

"Winning, especially at Daytona, is a great way to start the season."

Women Make History

Meanwhile, Chevrolet driver Natalie Decker and Ford driver Hailie Deegan were making a little history of their own. The two women starting the race marked the first time a two women started a NASCAR Xfinity race since Jennifer Jo Cobb and Milka Duno pulled it off at Kansas in 2014. That night, Cobb finished 24 and Duno 40th.

On Monday night, Decker stayed clean to finish on the lead lap in 18th, while Deegan was collected in an early wreck and finished 37th. Decker led seven laps to become the first woman to lead an Xfinity Series race since Danica Patrick in 2013.

Also noteworthy was the finish of Shane van Gisbergen, who won the NASCAR Cup Series race at Chicago last summer. On Monday, van Gisbergen finished 12 in his Kaulig Racing Chevrolet.

Actor Frankie Muniz, making his first NASCAR Xfinity start, was a victory of early contact and finished 33rd.

NASCAR Xfinity Series

United Rentals 300

Daytona International Speedway

Monday's Results

1. (2) Austin Hill, Chevrolet, 120.

2. (14) Sheldon Creed, Toyota, 120.

3. (9) Parker Retzlaff, Chevrolet, 120.

4. (29) Jordan Anderson, Chevrolet, 120.

5. (19) Chandler Smith, Toyota, 120.

6. (11) Riley Herbst, Ford, 120.

7. (8) John Hunter Nemechek(i), Toyota, 120.

8. (6) Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet, 120.

9. (22) Brandon Jones, Chevrolet, 120.

10. (3) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 120.

11. (36) Ryan Ellis, Chevrolet, 120.

12. (5) Shane Van Gisbergen #, Chevrolet, 120.

13. (17) Cole Custer, Ford, 120.