Austin Hill Scores 2023 Xfinity Hat Trick

(HAMPTON, GA – MAR 18, 2023 – RIS) Austin Hill won his third race in 2023’s NASCAR Xfinity Series today, holding off a challenge (and even an accidental hit at the finish line) from Parker Kligerman to celebrate victory at his home track with an extended family in attendance. “Once I got the lead I knew it was checkers or wreckers” said Hill after the race.

Joey Gase crashed on the first lap of the RAPTOR King of Tough 250 Xfinity race when Caesar Bacarella spun on the start and clipped Gase’s car, ending the day for Gase before it even got started. John Hunter Nemechek grabbed the lead from Sammy Smith before the caution flew.

Grala, Smithley and Earnhardt all crash lap 12 – Earnhardt spun with a T-bone from Grala and Smithley had no way to avoid the cars that slid up the track into his path.

The extended cleanup allowed Brandon Jones’ crew to tape up slight damage to the front of the No. 9 Camaro without losing a lap to the field.On the restart, Austin Hill moved into the lead in the outside lane, followed by Sheldon Creed and Chandler Smith, while Nemechek faded but only a couple of laps ran before Kyle Weatherman got looseand knocked the right front corner askew. Somehow, Josh Williams’ and Jeb Burton’s cars got damaged in the incident. The big piece of tape on Williams’ car flew off and he was parked for the day for ‘extending the caution. Williams stopped his car at the start finish line before getting out and walking back to his pits.

Two more cautions flew early in the second stage, for Chad Chastain’s when his car suddenly snapped on the back straight and again when Parker Retzlaff had a tire go down. Anthony Alfredo led after the caution but he dropped back and Brandon Jones led the inside line to the lead of the race. On lap 70, Conor Mosack spun in the last turn and Daniel Hemric couldn’t avoid the spinning Toyota. Damage to Hemric’s car was minimal

Brandon Jones took the lead from the restart until Parker Kligerman passed him but the stage ended under yellow when Justin Allgaier spun after contact with Josh Berry. “I’m kind of embarrassed for the sport” said Allgaier after being released from the care center.

After the green flag came back out, Riley Herbst held the lead before Austin Hill took the point position.

Kyle Sieg and Patrick Emerling brought out the tenth yellow flag of the race in Turn One, sending some of the field to the pits and scrambling the running order. Austin Hill held onto the lead until with 23 laps to run, Parker Kligerman closed for a brief challenge before the outside lane prevailed.

Parker Retzlaff spun in the fourth turn with a blown right front, bringing out a late race caution that allowed the cars that did not stop for fuel on the last yellow to stretch their mileage. Hill led Kligerman, Hemric, Herbst and Moffitt to the choose, with Kligerman following Hill in the outside line an Hemric and Herbst taking the outside lane approaching the restart with two laps left in the regulation distance.

One car length separated the lead pair at the white flag. Daniel Hemric touched Kligerman who nearly spun Hill while mayhem broke out behind the winner.

Unofficial Results: RAPTOR King of Tough 250, March 18, 2023, Atlanta Motor Speedway - Hampton, GA - 1.54 - Mile Paved

Fin, Str, Driver, Car, Laps , St1, St2, Tms Led, Laps Led, Playoff Pts, Pts, Status
1) 3, Austin Hill, No. 21 Bennett Transportation Chevrolet, 163, 1, 8, 3, 103, 6, 53, Running
2) 11, Daniel Hemric, No. 11 Chevrolet Accessories Chevrolet, 163, 7, , , , , 39, Running
3) 4, Ryan Truex, No. 19 Toyota Genuine Parts Toyota, 163, , , , , , 34, Running
4) 13, Parker Kligerman, No. 48 Big Machine Racing Spiked Chevrolet, 163, , 1, 1, 5, 1, 43, Running
5) 5, Riley Herbst, No. 98 Monster Energy Ford, 163, 5, 2, 2, 11, , 47, Running
6) 12, Brett Moffitt, No. 25 AM Technical Solutions Ford, 163, 6, , , , , 36, Running
7) 9, Josh Berry, No. 8 Tire Pros Love The Drive Chevrolet, 163, , 7, , , , 34, Running
8) 2, John Hunter Nemechek, No. 20 Mobil 1 Toyota, 163, 3, , 1, 10, , 37, Running
9) 10, Sam Mayer, No. 1 Accelerate Pros Talent Chevrolet, 163, , , , , , 28, Running
10) 18, Justin Haley(i), No. 10 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet, 163, 10, , 2, 5, , 0, Running
11) 14, Ryan Sieg, No. 39 CMRroofing.com Ford, 163, 8, 6, , , , 34, Running
12) 8, Cole Custer, No. 00 Haas Automation Ford, 163, 9, 9, , , , 29, Running
13) 29, Brennan Poole, No. 6 Walton Press Inc. Chevrolet, 163, , , , , , 24, Running
14) 15, Anthony Alfredo, No. 78 JAG Metals LLC Chevrolet, 163, , 5, 2, 18, , 29, Running
15) 23, Jeremy Clements, No. 51 One Stop/All South Electric Chevrolet, 163, , 10, , , , 23, Running
16) 16, Jeb Burton, No. 27 Rocky Chevrolet, 163, , , , , , 21, Running
17) 1, Sammy Smith #, No. 18 Pilot Flying J Toyota, 163, , , , , , 20, Running
18) 32, Patrick Emerling, No. 35 Sci Aps Ford, 163, , , , , , 19, Running
19) 21, Brandon Jones, No. 9 Menards/Jeld-Wen Windows Chevrolet, 163, , 3, 1, 10, , 26, Running
20) 35, Gray Gaulding, No. 08 FollowMe Global Bus. Solutions Chevrolet, 163, , , 1, 1, , 17, Running
21) 7, Sheldon Creed, No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet, 163, 2, 4, , , , 32, Running
22) 36, Blaine Perkins #, No. 07 To the Point NC Chevrolet, 163, , , , , , 15, Running
23) 24, Ryan Ellis, No. 43 Pella Windows & Doors Chevrolet, 163, , , , , , 14, Running
24) 37, Chad Chastain, No. 91 Protect Your Melon Chevrolet, 163, , , , , , 13, Running
25) 27, Joe Graf Jr., No. 38 Jacob Companies Ford, 163, , , , , , 12, Running
26) 26, Kyle Sieg, No. 28 Cedar Ridge Landscaping Ford, 161, , , , , , 11, Running
27) 17, Parker Retzlaff #, No. 31 FUNKAWAY Chevrolet, 154, , , , , , 10, Accident
28) 6, Chandler Smith #, No. 16 Quick Tie Products Inc. Chevrolet, 127, 4, , , , , 16, Rear Gear
29) 19, Justin Allgaier, No. 7 RaptorTough.com Chevrolet, 77, , , , , , 8, Accident
30) 25, Connor Mosack, No. 24 Toyota Racing Development Toyota, 69, , , , , , 7, Accident
31) 30, Sage Karam, No. 45 Til Valhalla Project Chevrolet, 43, , , , , , 6, Radiator
32) 22, Josh Williams, No. 92 Coolray/Alloy Employer Chevrolet, 33, , , , , , 5, Accident
33) 20, Kyle Weatherman, No. 02 The King Of Lemonade Chevrolet, 26, , , , , , 4, Accident
34) 31, Jeffrey Earnhardt, No. 44 Advanced Material Handling Chevrolet, 11, , , , , , 3, Accident
35) 28, Kaz Grala, No. 26 CRUSH Lime Margarita Toyota, 11, , , , , , 2, Accident
36) 34, Garrett Smithley, No. 4 Trophy Tractor Chevrolet, 11, , , , , , 1, Accident
37) 33, Joey Gase, No. 53 Donate Life GA Chevrolet, 1, , , , , , 1, Accident
38) 38, Caesar Bacarella, No. 66 Prime Bites Protein Brownie Chevrolet, 1, , , , , , 1, Accident
(i) Ineligible for driver points in this series, (#) Rookie

Length: 163 Laps, 251.02 Miles
Time of Race: 2 Hrs, 44 Mins, 49 Secs.
Average Speed: 91.382 MPH
Margin of Victory: 0.085 Seconds

Stage 1 Top 10: 21, 2, 20, 16, 98, 25, 11, 39, 00, 10
Stage 2 Top 10: 48, 98, 9, 2, 78, 39, 8, 21, 00, 51

Comments: Austin Hill has won the RAPTOR King of Tough 250 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, his 5th 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. 28, 38 (unapproved adjustments)

Failed to Qualify: (1) 74 Dawson Cram.

Cautions: 12 for 68 laps;
Laps: 3-7 (Nos. 53, 66 Incident Frontstretch [None]);
13-24 (Nos. 26, 4, 44 Incident Turn 3 [None]);
28-31 (Nos. 02, 27, 92 Incident Turn 1 [None]);
33-37 (Debris on Frontstretch  [None]);
41-47 (Nos. 91, 35 Incident Turn 4/ Stage 1 Conclusion  [None]);
57-60 (No. 91 Spin Turn 3 [35]);
63-66 (No. 31 Spin Turn 1 [91]);
70-75 (Nos. 11, 24 Incident Turn 4 [91]);
79-86 (Nos. 7, 8, 51 Incident Backstretch / Stage 2 Conclusion [None]);
118-123 (Nos. 35, 28 Incident Turn 1 [2]);
156-161 (No. 31 Incident Turn 4 [2]);
163-163 (Nos. 48, 98, 11 Incident Frontstretch  [None]).

Lead Changes: 13 among 8 drivers;
S. Smith # 0;
J. Nemechek 1-10;
A. Hill 11-43;
J. Haley(i) 44-46;
A. Alfredo 47;
J. Haley(i) 48-49;
A. Alfredo 50-66;
B. Jones 67-76;
P. Kligerman 77-81;
G. Gaulding 82;
R. Herbst 83-92;
A. Hill 93-98;
R. Herbst 99;
A. Hill 100-163.