Austin Hill Uses Last Lap Pass to Win Xfinity Race at Vegas

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LAS VEGAS, NV – RIS – Austin Hill ran down Chandler Smith on the final lap to win the NASCAR  Xfinity Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Smith had dominated most of the race prior to the closing laps, leading 115 laps.   Hill and Justin Allgaier gained steadily on Smith over the final 10 laps and eliminated Smith’s 2.5-second lead. Allgaier also passed Smith to finish second. Smith was third, Kyle Busch fourth and Josh Berry fifth.

“I just knew I had to not abuse the tires and try to methodically work our way through traffic,” Hill said after the race. “Traffic was really tough. you had to really paint the line between 3 and 4.”

Smith is entering his first year in the Xfinity Series, but has five victories in the Craftsman Truck Series.  He commented that as the laps wore down, his car got tight which accounts for Hill and Justin Allgaier running him down on the final lap.

Hill, driving for Richard Childress Racing, also won the season opener at Daytona International Speedway.

Hill took the race’s second stage, leading Brandon Jones, Kyle Busch, Sam Mayer and Sammy Smith to the finish line. Allgaier, who challenged for the win, was hit with a pass-through penalty on a restart during the second stage but rallied to return to the top five.

John Hunter Nemechek, who rallied to a win at Auto Club Speedway last week, won the first stage, leading 24 of the 45 laps. Following in the top five were Allgaier, Austin Hill, Chandler Smith and Riley Herbst.

Smith appears to be set for a standout season with Kaulig Racing.  His performance so far has been exemplary in cars he is uncomfortable with after racing trucks. One driver was trying to get the triple.  With a win Friday night under his belt, didn’t succeed.  Las Vegas native Kyle Busch. Busch, winner of Friday’s Truck race, lost a shot at the Las Vegas “triple” but had a strong top-five finish in the No. 10 Camaro.  He will try to go two out of three in the Cup race on Sunday.

Unofficial Results: Alsco Uniforms 300, March 4, 2023, Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Fin, St, Driver, Car, Laps , St1, St2, Tms Led, Laps Led, Playoff Pt, Pts, Status
1)
 9, Austin Hill, No. 21 Global Industrial Chevrolet, 200, 3, 1, 3, 19, 6, 58, Running
2) 2, Justin Allgaier, No. 7 BRANDT Chevrolet, 200, 2, , 2, 10, , 44, Running
3) 1, Chandler Smith #, No. 16 Quick Tie Products Inc. Chevrolet, 200, 4, 6, 4, 118, , 46, Running
4) 11, Kyle Busch(i), No. 10 LA Golf Chevrolet, 200, 7, 3, 1, 4, , 0, Running
5) 5, Josh Berry, No. 8 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Boats Chevrolet, 200, 10, , 1, 2, , 33, Running
6) 7, John Hunter Nemechek, No. 20 Mobil 1 Toyota, 200, 1, , 2, 45, 1, 41, Running
7) 13, Sam Mayer, No. 1 Accelerate Pros Talent Chevrolet, 200, , 4, 1, 1, , 37, Running
8) 10, Riley Herbst, No. 98 Monster Energy Ford, 200, 5, 7, , , , 39, Running
9) 12, Sheldon Creed, No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet, 200, 9, 10, , , , 31, Running
10) 8, Daniel Hemric, No. 11 South Point Hotel and Casino Chevrolet, 200, 6, , , , , 32, Running
11) 6, Parker Kligerman, No. 48 Big Machine Racing Spiked Chevrolet, 200, , , , , , 26, Running
12) 3, Cole Custer, No. 00 Haas Automation Ford, 200, , 8, , , , 28, Running
13) 15, Tyler Reddick(i), No. 24 GearWrench Toyota, 199, , , , , , 0, Running
14) 24, Jeb Burton, No. 27 Alsco Uniforms Chevrolet, 199, , , , , , 23, Running
15) 17, Joe Graf Jr., No. 19 CoverSeal Toyota, 199, , , , , , 22, Running
16) 26, Kyle Weatherman, No. 02 Our Motorsports Chevrolet, 199, , , , , , 21, Running
17) 14, Sammy Smith #, No. 18 Pilot Flying J Toyota, 199, 8, 5, , , , 29, Running
18) 32, Alex Labbe, No. 28 G Coin/Larue Ford, 199, , , , , , 19, Running
19) 23, Anthony Alfredo, No. 78 Dude Wipes Chevrolet, 198, , , 1, 1, , 18, Running
20) 22, Kyle Sieg, No. 38 TopPool.com Ford, 198, , , , , , 17, Running
21) 19, Brandon Jones, No. 9 Menards/Jeld-Wen Windows Chevrolet, 198, , 2, , , , 25, Running
22) 4, Brett Moffitt, No. 25 AM Technical Solutions Ford, 198, , 9, , , , 17, Running
23) 21, Kaz Grala, No. 26 Fire Department Coffee Toyota, 198, , , , , , 14, Running
24) 18, Ryan Sieg, No. 39 CMRroofing.com Ford, 197, , , , , , 13, Running
25) 25, Jeremy Clements, No. 51 First Pacific Funding Chevrolet, 197, , , , , , 12, Running
26) 16, Rajah Caruth(i), No. 45 Wendell Scott Foundation/Microsoft Chevrolet, 197, , , , , , 0, Running
27) 36, Ryan Ellis, No. 43 Shine Water Chevrolet, 197, , , , , , 10, Running
28) 29, Bayley Currey, No. 4 KSDT CPA Chevrolet, 197, , , , , , 9, Running
29) 35, Jeffrey Earnhardt, No. 44 Jesus Revolution - The Movie Chevrolet, 197, , , , , , 8, Running
30) 27, Josh Williams, No. 92 Call 811/Alloy Employer Chevrolet, 197, , , , , , 7, Running
31) 31, Josh Bilicki, No. 91 JAG Metals LLC Chevrolet, 196, , , , , , 0, Running
32) 34, Gray Gaulding, No. 08 Panini NFT Ford, 196, , , , , , 5, Running
33) 33, Brennan Poole, No. 6 Macc Door Systems Chevrolet, 196, , , , , , 4, Running
34) 38, Patrick Emerling, No. 53 Sci Aps Chevrolet, 194, , , , , , 3, Running
35) 30, Blaine Perkins #, No. 07 AUTOPARKit.com Chevrolet, 192, , , , , , 2, Running
36) 28, Garrett Smithley, No. 99 PCARx Chevrolet, 187, , , , , , 1, Running
37) 20, Parker Retzlaff #, No. 31 FUNKAWAY Chevrolet, 186, , , , , , 1, Running
38) 37, Joey Gase, No. 35 Nevada Donor Network Toyota, 156, , , , , , 1, Fuel Pump
(i) Ineligible for driver points in this series, (#) Rookie

Time of Race: 2 Hrs, 11 Mins, 51 Secs.
Race Length: 200 Laps - 300. Miles
Average Speed: 136.519 MPH
Margin of Victory: 0.268 Seconds

Stage 1 Top 10: 20, 7, 21, 16, 98, 11, 10, 18, 2, 8
Stage 2 Top 10: 21, 9, 10, 1, 18, 16, 98, 00, 25, 2

Comments: Austin Hill has won the Alsco Uniforms 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, his fourth career victory in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

Prior to the start, the following vehicle(s) dropped to the rear of the field under penalty for the reason(s) indicated: Nos. 2, 8, 9, 10, 00, 08 (backup cars), No. 53 (driver change), Nos. 6, 28, 43, 99 (unapproved adjustments)

Failed to Qualify: (2) 66 Mason Maggio(i), 74 Ryan Vargas.

Cautions: 4 for 22 laps;
Laps: 4-6 (No. 48 Spin Turn 2 [None]);
47-53 (Stage 1 Conclusion [45]);
75-78 (No. 8 Spin Turn 4 [51]);
90-97 (No. 45 Spin Turn 2 / Stage 2 Conclusion [4]).

Lead Changes: 14 among 8 drivers;
C. Smith # 1-12;
J. Allgaier 13-21;
J. Nemechek 22-48;
A. Hill 49-53;
J. Nemechek 54-71;
C. Smith # 72-85;
A. Hill 86-97;
K. Busch(i) 98-101;
C. Smith # 102-140;
J. Allgaier 141;
S. Mayer 142;
J. Berry 143-144;
A. Alfredo 145;
C. Smith # 146-198;
A. Hill 199-200.

Unofficial Points: Alsco Uniforms 300
Rank    Driver  Car      Starts  GL        Points  Ldr       Nxt      Race Wins       Stage Wins     Playoff Pts
1)         Austin Hill        21        3          0          156      0          0          2          2          12
2)         Justin Allgaier  7          3          1          135      -21       21        0          1          1
3)         John Hunter Nemechek          20        3          -1         132      -24       3          1          1          6
4)         Chandler Smith #        16        3          0          122      -34       10        0          0          0
5)         Riley Herbst    98        3          0          112      -44       10        0          0          0
6)         Sam Mayer      1          3          1          95        -61       17        0          0          0
7)         Cole Custer     00        3          -1         88        -68       7          0          2          2
8)         Josh Berry       8          3          1          85        -71       3          0          0          0
8)         Josh Berry       8          3          1          85        -71       3          0          0          0
9)         Joe Graf Jr)      19        3          -1         78        -78       7          0          0          0
10)       Parker Kligerman        48        3          1          77        -79       1          0          0          0
11)       Sammy Smith #           18        3          4          73        -83       4          0          0          0
12)       Jeb Burton      27        3          1          71        -85       2          0          0          0
13)       Ryan Sieg        39        3          -3         65        -91       6          0          0          0
14)       Daniel Hemric 11        3          7          65        -91       0          0          0          0
15)       Brett Moffitt   25        3          -1         63        -93       2          0          0          0
16)       Sheldon Creed 2          3          7          61        -95       2          0          0          0
17)       Brandon Jones 9          3          2          59        -97       2          0          0          0
18)       Kyle Sieg          38        3          0          55        -101     4          0          0          0
19)       Parker Retzlaff #         31        3          -7         51        -105     4          0          0          0
20)       Jeremy Clements        51        3          -3         51        -105     0          0          0          0
21)       Anthony Alfredo         78        3          1          51        -105     0          0          0          0
22)       Josh Williams  92        3          -6         50        -106     1          0          0          0
23)       Kaz Grala         26        3          1          43        -113     7          0          0          0
24)       Myatt Snider               1          -4         33        -123     10        0          0          0
25)       Alex Labbe      28        2          8          28        -128     5          0          0          0
26)       Joey Gase        35        3          -1         28        -128     0          0          0          0
27)       Jeffrey Earnhardt        44        3          1          28        -128     0          0          0          0
28)       Stefan Parsons                        1          -2         24        -132     4          0          0          0
29)       Gray Gaulding 08        3          0          23        -133     1          0          0          0
30)       Parker Chase               1          -3         21        -135     2          0          0          0
31)       Kyle Weatherman       02        1          -31       21        -135     0          0          0          0
32)       Brennan Poole 6          3          -1         20        -136     1          0          0          0
33)       David Starr                  2          -3         17        -139     3          0          0          0
34)       Bayley Currey  4          3          0          17        -139     0          0          0          0
35)       Ryan Ellis         43        3          3          15        -141     2          0          0          0
36)       Jade Buford                 1          -4         12        -144     3          0          0          0
37)       Blaine Perkins #          07        3          0          9          -147     3          0          0          0
38)       Jesse Iwuji                   1          -3         7          -149     2          0          0          0
39)       CJ Mclaughlin              2          -3         7          -149     0          0          0          0
40)       Josh Bilicki       91        1          8          6          -150     1          0          0          0
41)       Patrick Emerling          53        1          10        3          -153     3          0          0          0
42)       Garrett Smithley         99        1          3          1          -155     2          0          0          0
43)       Kyle Busch(i)   10        1          0          0          -156     1          0          0          0
44)       Austin Dillon               1          -5         0          -156     0          0          0          0
45)       Justin Haley                 1          -5         0          -156     0          0          0          0
46)       Tyler Reddick(i)           24        2          -2         0          -156     0          0          0          0
47)       Rajah Caruth(i)            45        2          -6         0          -156     0          0          0          0
48)       Ross Chastain              1          -6         0          -156     0          0          0          0
49)       Timmy Hill                   1          -6         0          -156     0          0          0          0
50)       Dexter Stacey              0          -4         0          -156     0          0          0          0
51)       Mason Maggio                        0          0          0          -156     0          0          0          0
52)       Ryan Vargas                0          -5         0          -156     0          0          0          0
 -Ldr/-Nxt = Points behind Leader/Next higher, (i) Ineligible for driver points in this series

Ronald Fleshman with John Davison

Ron Fleshman  and John Davison are Editors at ris-news.com

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Volume 2023, Issue 3, Posted 7:50 PM, 03.04.2023