Hill Makes It Three Straight at Atlanta
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HAMPTON, Ga. The Atlanta Motor Speedway is Austin Hills home track after all and the Georgia native proved again Saturday night that he absolutely owns it.
Hill dominated the NASCAR Xfinity Series Bennett Transportation and Logistics 250 on the Atlanta high banks leading 146 of the 163 laps to claim his first victory of the early 2025 season driving the No. 21 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet sponsored by the races title sponsor.
Hill has won four of the last six Atlanta races the last three consecutively and five in all including a sweep of both events last year. And although his laps led total is impressive, he really had to work for this trophy, after losing the lead briefly on a restart with three laps to go.
With a timely tap on Hills Chevrolets rear bumper from Parker Retzlaff, Hill was able to push forward and take the lead entering the first turn on the final lap. He held on to the win by a slight .216-second having to fend off reigning series champion, JR Motorsports Justin Allgaier and Joe Gibbs Racings veteran Aric Almirola who both previously led at various times on that final restart.
Thank you to Parker Retzlaff for giving me that push, and then once I got clear and into [turn] one I was just wide open and I was hoping they werent going to build up momentum, Hill said, adding, To be able to do this is something special.
Hills five Xfinity Series wins at Atlanta ties a record set by former NASCAR Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick. His eight-win total at drafting tracks ties a series record with a pair of NASCAR Hall of Famers, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Tony Stewart.
Hill swept the two stage wins for the second time in as many races this year giving him a 100 percent mark in 2025.
With his teammate Jesse Love winning the pole position for the race, it gives the RCR team a weekend sweep of pole and race wins for the second time no other team has won a pole position or hoisted a trophy in 2025. It also marks the 99th Xfinity Series victory for the NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Childresss team. Hill and Love led all but four laps in the race.
This is Hills 11th career win and after holding the point for the vast majority of the race, he ultimately earned it the hard way a last lap pass.
He definitely had the dominant car but I thought we might snooker one away, Almirola said of racing Hill in those final three laps. But it just wasnt meant to be.
JR Motorsports Sammy Smith and Big Machine Racing rookie Nick Sanchez rounded out the top-five. A final lap accident on the backstretch created chaos for several of the nights most consistent top-10 frontrunners.
Jeb Burton, rookie Daniel Dye, Leland Honeyman, rookie William Sawalich and Harrison Burton ultimately rounded out the top-10 at the checkered flag. Kaulig Racing rookie Christian Eckes earned the Fastest Lap Bonus point.
With the victory, Hill takes a 1-point lead over Haas Factory Team driver Sheldon Creed, who was eliminated from a top-10 finish in that multi-car accident on the last lap and scored 14th. Hills teammate, last weeks Daytona winner Love, finished 16th.