Austin Hill Ahead at Right Time in Daytona Xfinity Race

Photo Credit to Chris Graythen/Getty Images for NASCAR

NASCAR

Austin Hill Wins Xfinity Daytona Race as Myatt Snider Goes Airborne on Last Lap

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – A horrific wreck ended the Xfinity Series race from Daytona. Myatt Snider went airborne midway down the backstretch, triggering an immediate caution. Just edging ahead at the time of yellow would be Austin Hill, who scores victory in his first Richard Childress Racing start. Hill made a last-lap pass on AJ Allmendinger; the 21 was narrowly in front of the 16 when the race ended prematurely.

Kaulig Racing dominated the opening Stages; with Daniel Hemric’s No. 11 taking both victories. However, Hemric would be one of several victims in a lap 92 crash. CJ McLaughlin went sliding uncontrollably across traffic, collecting nine other drivers.

Once racing resumed, AJ Allmendinger seemingly had the win secured, until the final lap. Down the backstretch, Austin Hill got by the 16, just as Myatt Snider was turned. The No. 31 Chevrolet was immediately sent airborne, making huge contact with the catch fence. The car’s abrupt stopping was violent enough to rip out both the engine and the rear end. Thankfully, Snider walked away with only minor leg pain. Amazingly, the driver cockpit remained intact and mostly unharmed. Meanwhile, Austin Hill was declared the winner.

The top 10 finishers from Daytona were Hill, Allmendinger, Noah Gragson, Riley Herbst, Justin Allgaier, Sheldon Creed, Anthony Alfredo, Ryan Sieg, Josh Bilicki, and Brandon Brown. See reactions from some of the top finishers below.

Hill In Awe Over Win in First RCR Start

“Me and [spotter] Derek Kneeland 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.

I was able to drag back, 98 gave me a heck of a push, we were able to get by him, and this is so crazy. 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, Richard Childress, 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.”

Hill, RCR, and the No. 21 Chevrolet are locked into the Playoffs because of this win. The Rookie of the Year contender could put together a great run for the 2022 Xfinity Series championship this fall. Daytona could be just the first of many wins for the Georgia native.

Snider’s Post-Crash Reactions

See the video here for Snider’s comments from the infield care center. Thankfully Snider quickly got out of his wrecked car under his own power. He had some leg pain he will monitor ahead of next week’s race.

The Xfinity Series will be back in action next Saturday from Auto Club Speedway. The Production Alliance Group 300 will go green at 5:00 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Written by Peter Stratta

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Photo Credit to Chris Graythen/Getty Images for NASCAR