Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Hill triumphed in a hair-raising three-wide photo finish during the Ag-Pro 300 NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Talladega Superspeedway on Saturday afternoon. Hill edged past Jeb Burton and his teammate Jesse Love moments before the field was frozen by an electronic timestamp, just as the checkered flag waved. This victory marks a significant milestone, as it also makes Hill the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ all-time winningest driver on superspeedway tracks, with nine victories to his name.
The thrilling conclusion unfolded when the caution flag and checkered flag flew together after Love’s No. 2 Chevrolet collided with the rear of then-race leader Connor Zilisch’s No. 88 Chevy, shortly after the white flag indicated just one lap remained. Zilisch’s car careened down into the track apron, slamming into the wall hard, leaving Hill, Burton, and Love to battle for the coveted trophy.
This victory solidifies Hill’s status as a formidable competitor in the Xfinity Series, as the 30-year-old Georgia native broke a tie with legendary NASCAR Hall of Famers Tony Stewart and the late Dale Earnhardt. With three victories already this year, Hill has accumulated 13 wins in his career, showcasing his growing dominance on the track.
“Man, we really had to work for that one,” Hill remarked after the race. “It just seemed like our car was really good. Everyone at RCR and RCR engines are bad to the bone, like always. I thought the 2 [Love] was really good. When we got the push from the 2 going into [turn] one, he got inside of me, and I thought that was a bad mistake and I should have covered it. So I thought we were done. But I just locked in and kept pushing the heck out of the 2-car.”
Describing the intensity of the photo finish, Hill said, “I knew it was either me or the 27 [Burton]. Man, to win them – any way you win them is always great – and finally to conquer Talladega, that’s something I’ve really wanted to do for a long time. We’ve won at all these other superspeedways, and to finally get it done at all the different superspeedways we go to, it just shows the 21 team can win at any of them, and we’re really good at this style of racing.”
Burton, who has previously won twice at Talladega, expressed frustration despite a commendable performance. He believed that his No. 27 Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet was leading at the time of caution. “I felt like we did everything we could today, so just frustrated,” an emotional Burton stated. “Every angle I see, we won the race. Just appreciate my guys. We do a lot with a little team. We don’t have a lot of chances to win, you know. That’s what’s frustrating.”
Love, who finished in third place, was a standout performer throughout the race, leading a race-high 50 of the 113 laps. Reflecting on the chaotic final moments, he said, “I’m pretty sure I wrecked my best friend, I’m going to owe him an apology.” He described the end of the race as an all-out sprint, emphasizing how crucial it was to get pushes from his teammates.
Reigning NASCAR Xfinity Series champion Justin Allgaier secured a fourth-place finish, followed closely by Matt DiBenedetto from Viking Motorsports. The remaining top ten was rounded out by Anthony Alfredo, Blaine Perkins, Harrison Burton, Sheldon Creed, and rookie Daniel Dye. Zilisch, who led nine laps, finished in 27th place, far from the podium but with valuable experience gained.
In a remarkable feat, Katherine Legge became the fourth woman ever to lead a NASCAR Xfinity Series race, and the second at Talladega. She led on lap 75 in her No. 32 Jordan Anderson Motorsport Chevrolet, matching Danica Patrick’s historic one-lap lead at the same venue in 2012. Unfortunately, Legge’s debut was cut short when she was caught in an accident initiated by NASCAR veteran Aric Almirola. He later expressed regret, noting miscommunication with his spotter as the cause of the incident.
As the NASCAR Xfinity Series heads to Texas Motor Speedway for the Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 next Saturday, the intensity of the competition continues to build. Hill’s victory at Talladega is not just another win, but a testament to his evolving prowess on the track, setting the stage for an exciting remainder of the season. With Allgaier leading Hill by 79 points in the standings, fans can expect fierce rivalry and thrilling races ahead as the series progresses through the year.
