Driving the No. 21 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, Austin Hill ran down Cole Custer and easily passed the reigning series champion for the lead with just 12 laps to go at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
After passing Custer, Hill drove off with the race win in hand. This will be his first ever appearance in the Championship 4, causing him to become emotional on the radio after taking the checkered flag. This victory is Hill’s fourth of the year and the tenth of his Xfinity career.
“I work so hard at this,” said Hill after the race. “A lot of people doubt me but I wake up everyday to prove everyone wrong. I deserve to be here. I deserve to race for a championship. This No. 21 team deserves it just as much as I do.
“They worked their asses off each and every day just like I do.I have to give it up to those guys. They gave me a hell of a car. I didn’t have to go run the wall. I could run wherever I wanted to … Oh my God, I am out of breath. I can honestly say I’ve never cried coming to the start/finish line — I couldn’t even get my emotions together getting into Turn 1 after the checkered. All the hard work and dedication that goes into this. I don’t think anyone is going to understand what this means to me (and) my family.”
The run to the finish
After the final round of green-flag pit stops with about 40 laps to go, A.J. Allmendinger was actually in control of the race. He was already locked into the final four via his Las Vegas win last weekend, so he chose to gamble for a late caution while saving his final set of tires. Kaulig Racing teammate Shane van Gisbergen and JR Motorsports’ Brandon Jones did the same.
Once Allmendinger finally pitted from the lead with 20 laps to go, Custer regained control of the race. However, it was short-lived as Hill rapidly closed in, making the move to the outside and snatching the lead away.
Custer ended the race three seconds behind Hill with Aric Almirola, Jesse Love and Sheldon Creed rounding out the top-five. Riley Herbst, Ryan Sieg, Justin Allgaier, Sam Mayer, and Allmendinger filled out the rest of the top-ten.
Van Gisbergen was the only driver to never use their final set of tires, stretching the fuel to the very end in hopes of a caution that never came and finishing 17th.
Heading into the Round of 8 elimination race at Martinsville, the following drivers are below the cut-line: Chandler Smith (-28 points), Jesse Love (-35 points), Sam Mayer (-47 points), and Sammy Smith (-95 points).
Allgaier is 35 points above the cut-line and Custer is 28 after their showings at Homestead.
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