{"id":50683,"date":"2025-03-29T20:20:48","date_gmt":"2025-03-30T01:20:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=50683"},"modified":"2025-03-31T07:00:47","modified_gmt":"2025-03-31T12:00:47","slug":"austin-hill-wins-bizarre-action-filled-nascar-xfinity-race-at-martinsville","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/29\/austin-hill-wins-bizarre-action-filled-nascar-xfinity-race-at-martinsville\/","title":{"rendered":"Austin Hill wins bizarre, action-filled NASCAR Xfinity race at Martinsville"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"

Austin Hill, driver of the #21 Bennett Transportation Chevrolet, waves with a flag celebrating (RCR) Richard Childress Racing 100th Xfinity Series win after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series US Marine Corps 250 at Martinsville Speedway on March 29, 2025 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Logan Riely\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service <\/em><\/p>\n

MARTINSVILLE, Va.\u2014The speedway that robbed Austin Hill of a spot in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship 4 two years ago gave him a gift on Saturday.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Austin Hill, driver of the #21 Bennett Transportation Chevrolet, takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Xfinity Series US Marine Corps 250 at Martinsville Speedway on March 29, 2025 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Logan Riely\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Diving underneath a trio of wrecking cars in the final corner of overtime at Martinsville Speedway, Hill beat perennial bridesmaid Sheldon Creed to the finish line by 0.190 seconds to win Saturday\u2019s US Marine Corps 250, giving Richard Childress his 100th win in the series and earning a $100,000 Dash 4 Cash bonus for the unlikely winner.<\/p>\n

The ending of the race couldn\u2019t have been more appropriate, given the rash of cautions that peppered green-flag action in the final stage. The ending also left 29th-place finisher Taylor Gray with thoughts of vengeance and 10th-place finisher Sammy Smith with an ostensible target on his back.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Austin Hill, driver of the #21 Bennett Transportation Chevrolet, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series US Marine Corps 250 at Martinsville Speedway on March 29, 2025 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Logan Riely\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

After the 14th caution for Matt DiBenedetto\u2019s spin in Turn 2 sent the race to overtime, Gray lined up behind Smith, the leader, and used his bumper to wrest the top spot from Smith\u2014returning the favor from the previous restart on Lap 249 of 256.<\/p>\n

Gray, seeking his first Xfinity Series win, held the lead until Turn 3 of the final lap, when Smith charged into the corner, spun Gray\u2019s No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota and knocked it into the outside wall.<\/p>\n

Hill hit the No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet of Justin Allgaier from behind, sent him crashing into Smith. Hill sneaked through on the bottom, bringing Creed with him, as Allgaier held on for third. In the surprising victory, Hill led less than a quarter mile before taking the checkered flag.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Austin Hill, driver of the #21 Bennett Transportation Chevrolet, celebrates with the Xfinity Dash 4 Cash $100,000 bonus checkin victory lane after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series US Marine Corps 250 at Martinsville Speedway on March 29, 2025 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cI chose the bottom because of how rough everybody was on restarts,\u201d Hill said of the overtime. \u201cI had to do what I had to do on the last lap. On that restart, it just got wild. We were definitely leaning on each other, and getting into (Turn) 3, I knew we were all going to get beating and banging, and I just drove it in as deep as I could.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe all hit each other, and I hit the 7 (Allgaier) a little bit and dumped him off and got on the apron there and came home with the win\u2026 Man, I\u2019m in disbelief that we\u2019re in Victory Lane right not. It\u2019s unbelievable. I actually said at the end of the race that I hated this place because of all the beating and banging that was going on\u2014and to top it off, we won a hundred grand!\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"

Connor Zilisch, driver of the #88 Carolina Carports Chevrolet, leads the field to the green flag to start the NASCAR Xfinity Series US Marine Corps 250 at Martinsville Speedway on March 29, 2025 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Logan Riely\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

After 14 cautions for 104 laps, pole winner Connor Zilisch\u2019s sweep of the first two stages seemed a distant memory. Zilisch, however, didn\u2019t figure in the outcome after a series of spins and contact with the outside wall eliminated him from contention.<\/p>\n

Gray took the lead for the second time on Lap 183 and held it for 66 circuits and a series of six restarts. But Smith lined up behind the No. 54 Toyota for the restart on Lap 249 and moved Gray for the lead.<\/p>\n

Smith\u2019s charge into Gray\u2019s Toyota on the final lap was more egregious.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like we had the best car all day,\u201d said Gray, who suffered a similar fate in a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series loss to Christian Eckes last year. \u201cI can\u2019t thank everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing enough. We brought a really fast Operation 300 Toyota GR Supra.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Connor Zilisch, driver of the #88 Carolina Carports Chevrolet, Justin Allgaier, driver of the #7 BRANDT Chevrolet, Aric Almirola, driver of the #19 Young Life Toyota, and Taylor Gray, driver of the #54 Operation 300 Toyota, race during the NASCAR Xfinity Series US Marine Corps 250 at Martinsville Speedway on March 29, 2025 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cJust unfortunate\u2014it\u2019s the same story I\u2019ve lived here for the past two Martinsville race in a row. It sucks, but it is what it is. Long year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Smith acknowledged that the last lap maneuver was over the top. He and Gray had a testy exchange after the race.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not proud of that, but if the roles were reversed, he would have done the same thing,\u201d Smith said. \u201cHe\u2019s got no respect for me\u2026 He was flipping me off on the red flag (for a multicar wreck that caused the 12th caution), swore at me. It was definitely uncalled for.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not proud of it, but he would have done the exact same thing. That\u2019s what I told him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"

Carson Kvapil, driver of the #1 Roto-Rooter Chevrolet, and Kyle Sieg, driver of the #28 Lightingsouthwest.com Ford, race during the NASCAR Xfinity Series US Marine Corps 250 at Martinsville Speedway on March 29, 2025 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Logan Riely\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Brennan Poole finished fourth after the melee, joining Hill, Creed and Allgaier as eligible contenders for the next Dash 4 Cash bonus, to be contested April 12 at Bristol Motor Speedway.<\/p>\n

Sam Mayer was fifth, followed by Dean Thompson, Daniel Dye, Ryan Sieg, Kris Wright and Smith.<\/p>\n

Zilisch, who finished 28th, led a race-high 100 laps to 87 for Gray. Creed, still seeking his first Xfinity victory, finished second for the 14th time, extending his record number of runner-up results for a non-winner.<\/p>\n

Coincidentally, it was contact from Creed that denied Hill a spot in the Championship 4 in the fall race of 2023\u2014when both drivers raced for RCR.<\/p>\n

In a cosmic sense, the ledger was balanced with Hill\u2019s win on Saturday.<\/p>\n

Interview:<\/h3>\n

NXS Race Winner Austin Hill (No. 21 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet) – <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

NASCAR Xfinity Series Race – US Marine Corps 250<\/b><\/p>\n

Martinsville Speedway<\/b><\/p>\n

Martinsville, Virginia<\/b><\/p>\n

Saturday, March 29, 2025<\/b><\/p>\n

            <\/b>    1. (3)  Austin Hill, Chevrolet, 256.<\/p>\n

                2. (18)  Sheldon Creed, Ford, 256.<\/p>\n

                3. (6)  Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet, 256.<\/p>\n

                4. (29)  Brennan Poole, Chevrolet, 256.<\/p>\n

                5. (16)  Sam Mayer, Ford, 256.<\/p>\n

                6. (12)  Dean Thompson #, Toyota, 256.<\/p>\n

                7. (9)  Daniel Dye #, Chevrolet, 256.<\/p>\n

                8. (13)  Ryan Sieg, Ford, 256.<\/p>\n

                9. (30)  Kris Wright, Chevrolet, 256.<\/p>\n

                10. (10)  Sammy Smith, Chevrolet, 256.<\/p>\n

                11. (38)  Jeb Burton, Chevrolet, 256.<\/p>\n

                12. (27)  Parker Retzlaff, Chevrolet, 256.<\/p>\n

                13. (15)  Aric Almirola, Toyota, 256.<\/p>\n

                14. (23)  Jeremy Clements, Chevrolet, 256.<\/p>\n

                15. (34)  Garrett Smithley, Chevrolet, 256.<\/p>\n

                16. (33)  Patrick Staropoli, Toyota, 256.<\/p>\n

                17. (26)  Josh Williams, Chevrolet, 256.<\/p>\n

                18. (24)  Ryan Ellis, Chevrolet, 256.<\/p>\n

                19. (22)  Blaine Perkins, Chevrolet, 256.<\/p>\n

                20. (2)  Carson Kvapil #, Chevrolet, 256.<\/p>\n

                21. (8)  Corey Day, Chevrolet, 256.<\/p>\n

                22. (7)  Brandon Jones, Toyota, 256.<\/p>\n

                23. (32)  Brad Perez, Chevrolet, 256.<\/p>\n

                24. (5)  Harrison Burton, Ford, 256.<\/p>\n

                25. (31)  Mason Maggio, Ford, 256.<\/p>\n

                26. (28)  Matt DiBenedetto, Chevrolet, 256.<\/p>\n

                27. (14)  William Sawalich #, Toyota, 256.<\/p>\n

                28. (1)  Connor Zilisch #, Chevrolet, 256.<\/p>\n

                29. (11)  Taylor Gray #, Toyota, 256.<\/p>\n

                30. (37)  Carson Ware, Chevrolet, 254.<\/p>\n

                31. (25)  Thomas Annunziata, Chevrolet, 252.<\/p>\n

                32. (20)  Nick Sanchez #, Chevrolet, Accident, 232.<\/p>\n

                33. (21)  Myatt Snider, Chevrolet, Accident, 232.<\/p>\n

                34. (19)  Christian Eckes #, Chevrolet, Accident, 231.<\/p>\n

                35. (35)  Kyle Sieg, Ford, Accident, 231.<\/p>\n

                36. (36)  Greg Van Alst, Chevrolet, 229.<\/p>\n

                37. (4)  Jesse Love, Chevrolet, Accident, 216.<\/p>\n

                38. (17)  Anthony Alfredo, Chevrolet, Engine, 110.<\/p>\n

Average Speed of Race Winner:  54.615 mph.<\/p>\n

Time of Race:  2 Hrs, 27 Mins, 56 Secs. Margin of Victory:  0.190 Seconds.<\/p>\n

Caution Flags:  14 for 104 laps.<\/p>\n

Lead Changes:  14 among 10 drivers.<\/p>\n

Lap Leaders:   C. Zilisch # 1-61;B. Jones 62-83;C. Zilisch # 84-88;J. Allgaier 89-93;C. Zilisch # 94-127;A. Almirola 128-134;T. Gray # 135-148;S. Creed 149-150;T. Gray # 151-156;C. Eckes # 157-178;W. Sawalich # 179-182;T. Gray # 183-248;S. Smith 249-254;T. Gray # 255;A. Hill 256.<\/p>\n

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  Connor Zilisch # 3 times for 100 laps; Taylor Gray # 4 times for 87 laps; Brandon Jones 1 time for 22 laps; Christian Eckes # 1 time for 22 laps; Aric Almirola 1 time for 7 laps; Sammy Smith 1 time for 6 laps; Justin Allgaier 1 time for 5 laps; William Sawalich # 1 time for 4 laps; Sheldon Creed 1 time for 2 laps; Austin Hill 1 time for 1 lap.<\/p>\n

Stage #1 Top Ten: 88,1,20,7,19,54,21,8,16,26<\/p>\n

Stage #2 Top Ten: 88,1,18,10,48,19,11,7,54,31<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service  MARTINSVILLE, Va.\u2014The speedway that robbed Austin Hill of a spot in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship 4 two years ago gave him a gift on Saturday. Diving underneath a trio of wrecking cars in the final corner of overtime at Martinsville Speedway, Hill beat perennial bridesmaid Sheldon Creed […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":676,"featured_media":50664,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[11],"tags":[679,407,16,181],"class_list":["post-50683","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nascar","tag-austin-hill","tag-martinsville-speedway","tag-nascar","tag-nascar-xfinity-series"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/GettyImages-2207554541-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-dbt","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50683","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/676"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=50683"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50683\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":50686,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50683\/revisions\/50686"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/50664"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=50683"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=50683"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=50683"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}