{"id":59323,"date":"2026-06-20T22:15:13","date_gmt":"2026-06-21T03:15:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=59323"},"modified":"2026-06-21T18:21:44","modified_gmt":"2026-06-21T23:21:44","slug":"austin-hill-captures-emotional-win-at-naval-base-coronado-rcrs-first-since-kyle-busch-passing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/20\/austin-hill-captures-emotional-win-at-naval-base-coronado-rcrs-first-since-kyle-busch-passing\/","title":{"rendered":"Austin Hill captures emotional win at Naval Base Coronado \u2013 RCR\u2019s first since Kyle Busch passing"},"content":{"rendered":"
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SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 20: Austin Hill, driver of the #21 1-800-PACK-RAT Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series United Rentals Driven to Serve 250 at Naval Base Coronado on June 20, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

By Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service<\/em><\/p>\n

SAN DIEGO \u2013 Austin Hill\u2019s thrilling last lap pass earned the veteran his first career road course NASCAR O\u2019Reilly Auto Parts Series victory Saturday on a dramatic and ultimately emotional afternoon for his Richard Childress Racing team \u2013 capping a long and competitive day of racing in the inaugural United Rentals Driven to Serve 250 at Naval Base Coronado.<\/p>\n

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SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 20: Austin Hill, driver of the #21 1-800-PACK-RAT Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series United Rentals Driven to Serve 250 at Naval Base Coronado on June 20, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

It marked the first win for the legendary RCR team since unexpectedly losing its NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Busch four weeks ago after the two-time series champion passed away unexpectedly due to complications from pneumonia. The emotion in Victory Lane Saturday was palpable \u2013 the celebration both a nod to Hill\u2019s achievement and an ode to Busch and what he meant to the team and to the sport.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s extremely special, just to finally check that box of getting that road course win, we\u2019ve been so close so many times,\u201d said Hill, whose No. 21 RCR Chevrolet had to be towed to Victory Lane after the rear wheels of the car were flattened after he performed a long burnout around Busch\u2019s No. 8 logo painted on the track.<\/p>\n

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SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 20: Austin Hill, driver of the #21 1-800-PACK-RAT Chevrolet, wears a “8” hat, a tribute to the late Kyle Busch in victory lane after winning the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series United Rentals Driven to Serve 250 at Naval Base Coronado on June 20, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Hill, who now also drives the car Busch once drove in the NASCAR Cup Series, claimed Saturday\u2019s win may have included a little divine intervention from his former teammate.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not gonna lie, I started talking to this guy a little bit down the straightaways,\u2019\u2019 Hill said pointing to his hat, which carries the number eight Busch carried for the team. \u201cI was like \u2018Man, Kyle, if you\u2019re here, give me something, let me find another gear.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd for whatever reason, the car started coming to life and the two leaders got together and when there was blood in the water behind the 54 [runner-up Taylor Gray] I knew it was going to be tough to get around him, that it was going to be a battle. And when I got clear of him, I was very surprised to see how much of a gap I got on him.<\/p>\n

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SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 20: Austin Hill, driver of the #21 1-800-PACK-RAT Chevrolet, crew and family celebrate in victory lane after winning the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series United Rentals Driven to Serve 250 at Naval Base Coronado on June 20, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t thank these guys enough, everyone on this 21-team, at RCR. We\u2019ve been through a lot these last several weeks. … Man, this is awesome, so cool.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

His Hall of Famer owner Childress was openly emotional as he greeted Hill in Victory Lane.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s great to win here and we all have Kyle in our hearts,\u2019\u2019 said Childress, his voice cracking in the poignant scene.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou may not show it on the outside, but you do here,\u2019\u2019 he said, pointing to his heart.<\/p>\n

Hill consistently showed Saturday he had a strong car \u2013 winning the opening stage — throughout an eventful day that included two red flags totaling more than an hour of race stoppage; an enthusiastic fan who jumped a fence and greeted driver Sheldon Creed during that red flag break, and lots of daring passes on the 3.4-mile 16-turn circuit around the famous Naval Base.<\/p>\n

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SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 20: Austin Hill, driver of the #21 1-800-PACK-RAT Chevrolet, drives during the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series United Rentals Driven to Serve 250 at Naval Base Coronado on June 20, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by James Gilbert\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

With five laps remaining in the 60-lap event, JR Motorsports\u2019 Carson Kvapil led Gray and looked to claim his first career win and extend an already record 11-race road course winning streak for the JRM team. However, with three laps to go, Gray pulled his No. 54 Toyota alongside Kvapil\u2019s No. 1 Chevy and the contact bounced Kvapil\u2019s car off a tire barrier and out of the lead.<\/p>\n

Two laps later Hill was able to get around Gray as they took the white flag signaling the last lap of the race. The 32-year-old Georgia-native went on to win by a convincing 1.127-second over Gray, who led the most laps (16) on the day and won Stage 2.<\/p>\n

Gray blamed \u201cwheel hop\u201d for his contact with Kvapil.<\/p>\n

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SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 20: A general view of racing during the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series United Rentals Driven to Serve 250 at Naval Base Coronado on June 20, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by David Jensen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cPretty disappointed in myself, really proud of everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota Racing. \u2026 Obviously would love to be in victory lane right now, that\u2019s where my guys deserve to be,\u2019\u2019 Gray said.<\/p>\n

\u201cGot really bad wheel hop, that\u2019s what it boils down to,\u2019\u2019 he added. \u201cHe raced me tight like he should and I wheel-hopped underneath him.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

Kvapil and Gray spoke briefly after the race.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s really hard to make peace with that, obviously I feel like that robbed me and everyone at this Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet,\u2019\u2019 Kvapil said. \u201cThey brought us a really fast car and gave us position to win a race and obviously we didn\u2019t. That one really hurts.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

Haas Factory Team’s Creed finished third, followed by Kvapil and JR Motorsports\u2019 Sammy Smith \u2013 who turned in an impressive rally forward after an eventful, full-contact day of his own.<\/p>\n

Hill\u2019s RCR teammate Jesse Love also rallied on the day, finishing sixth after starting from the last row of the 37-car field. Viking Motorsports\u2019 Parker Retzlaff, who led five laps, finished seventh with Austin Green, Harrison Burton and Corey Day rounded out the top-10.<\/p>\n

Two red flag periods \u2013 combining for more than an hour in time \u2013 slowed the action. The first coming out on the second lap and the later one coming out to properly repair the wall and fencing following a 23-car incident that eliminated many of the day\u2019s strong cars.<\/p>\n

While racing up front Haas Factory Team\u2019s Sam Mayer nicked the inside wall at Turn 1 and careened hard into the other wall collecting Anthony Alfredo\u2019s No. 96 Chevrolet and starting a chain reaction among the mid-pack behind. The impact was enough to bring out a 43-minute red flag.<\/p>\n

\u201cFirst of all I just want to say sorry to everyone in the field,\u2019\u2019 Mayer said, noting that he planned to stop by every single team affected and apologize to them. \u201cI\u2019m looking at the people involved in the crash and it\u2019s literally everyone. Just sorry to everyone who has to put work in now because of my mistake. Just brutal. Definitely hate it for everyone.<\/p>\n

\u201cI mean what am I doing? I\u2019ve got to be better. I\u2019ve got to be a lot better. I\u2019m going to learn from this and I\u2019m going to better. Gotta stay locked in no matter what happens to you. Just keep moving forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

Almost immediately after the race start, there was an hour-long delay to repair a sewer vent cover in Turn 5 that came off in traffic and impaled into Day\u2019s No. 17 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. The caution laps included a nearly 19-minute red flag period and once the cars rolled off again \u2013 NASCAR allowed Day to get the four laps back he lost while his crew repaired his Chevy.  He restarted last and then got a speeding penalty during a subsequent stop for service on Lap 13.<\/p>\n

The series championship leader, JR Motorsports\u2019 Justin Allgaier had an eventful day, and retired 17 laps early after being collected in multiple incidents on the day. Despite the DNF, the series\u2019 best five-race winner continues to hold an amazing 224-point advantage over reigning series champion Love atop the championship standings.<\/p>\n

And a historical note, Jeremy Clements, 41, finished 15th in his 548th series start driving his family-owned No. 51 Jeremy Clements Racing Chevrolet. It gives him the most starts for a driver in series history, eclipsing the previous record set by Kenny Wallace.<\/p>\n

The NASCAR O\u2019Reilly Auto Parts Series returns to action in next Saturday\u2019s Pit Boss\/FoodMaxx 250 at the renowned Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway a couple hours North on the California coast. Connor Zilisch is the defending race winner.<\/p>\n

Interview: Austin Hill (No. 21 RCR Chevrolet), United Rentals Driven to Serve 250 race winner –<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

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NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Race – United Rentals Driven to Serve 250<\/b><\/p>\n

San Diego Street Course<\/b><\/p>\n

San Diego, California<\/b><\/p>\n

Saturday, June 20, 2026<\/b><\/p>\n

                  1. (4)  Austin Hill, Chevrolet, 60.<\/p>\n

                  2. (11)  Taylor Gray, Toyota, 60.<\/p>\n

                  3. (7)  Sheldon Creed, Chevrolet, 60.<\/p>\n

                  4. (5)  Carson Kvapil, Chevrolet, 60.<\/p>\n

                  5. (10)  Sammy Smith, Chevrolet, 60.<\/p>\n

                  6. (37)  Jesse Love, Chevrolet, 60.<\/p>\n

                  7. (2)  Parker Retzlaff, Chevrolet, 60.<\/p>\n

                  8. (8)  Austin Green, Chevrolet, 60.<\/p>\n

                  9. (15)  Harrison Burton, Toyota, 60.<\/p>\n

                  10. (31)  Corey Day, Chevrolet, 60.<\/p>\n

                  11. (24)  Ryan Sieg, Chevrolet, 60.<\/p>\n

                  12. (33)  Brandon Jones, Toyota, 60.<\/p>\n

                  13. (20)  Blaine Perkins, Chevrolet, 60.<\/p>\n

                  14. (30)  Andrew Patterson, Chevrolet, 60.<\/p>\n

                  15. (27)  Jeremy Clements, Chevrolet, 60.<\/p>\n

                  16. (17)  Josh Bilicki, Chevrolet, 60.<\/p>\n

                  17. (22)  Jeb Burton, Chevrolet, 60.<\/p>\n

                  18. (13)  Preston Pardus, Chevrolet, 60.<\/p>\n

                  19. (26)  Brad Perez, Toyota, 60.<\/p>\n

                  20. (28)  Patrick Staropoli #, Chevrolet, 60.<\/p>\n

                  21. (34)  Dawson Cram, Chevrolet, 60.<\/p>\n

                  22. (21)  Rajah Caruth, Chevrolet, 60.<\/p>\n

                  23. (36)  Joey Gase, Chevrolet, 60.<\/p>\n

                  24. (18)  Brennan Poole, Chevrolet, 60.<\/p>\n

                  25. (35)  Jesse Iwuji, Chevrolet, 60.<\/p>\n

                  26. (25)  Leland Honeyman Jr(i), Chevrolet, 59.<\/p>\n

                  27. (12)  Alex Labbe, Chevrolet, Electrical, 52.<\/p>\n

                  28. (23)  Dean Thompson, Toyota, 52.<\/p>\n

                  29. (14)  Lavar Scott #, Chevrolet, 48.<\/p>\n

                  30. (19)  Ryan Ellis, Chevrolet, 47.<\/p>\n

                  31. (1)  Brent Crews #, Toyota, Engine, 44.<\/p>\n

                  32. (16)  Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet, Engine, 43.<\/p>\n

                  33. (32)  Baltazar Leguizamon, Chevrolet, Engine, 41.<\/p>\n

                  34. (6)  Sam Mayer, Chevrolet, Accident, 34.<\/p>\n

                  35. (3)  Anthony Alfredo, Chevrolet, Accident, 34.<\/p>\n

                  36. (9)  William Sawalich, Toyota, Accident, 34.<\/p>\n

                  37. (29)  Kyle Sieg, Chevrolet, Engine, 28.<\/p>\n

Average Speed of Race Winner:  58.313 mph.<\/p>\n

Time of Race:  3 Hrs, 29 Mins, 54 Secs. Margin of Victory:  1.127 Seconds.<\/p>\n

Caution Flags:  8 for 17 laps.<\/p>\n

Lead Changes:  10 among 5 drivers.<\/p>\n

Lap Leaders:   B. Crews # 1-11;A. Hill 12-23;T. Gray 24-31;P. Retzlaff 32-33;T. Gray 34-35;P. Retzlaff 36-38;C. Kvapil 39-42;T. Gray 43-46;C. Kvapil 47-57;T. Gray 58-59;A. Hill 60.<\/p>\n

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  Taylor Gray 4 times for 16 laps; Carson Kvapil 2 times for 15 laps; Austin Hill 2 times for 13 laps; Brent Crews # 1 time for 11 laps; Parker Retzlaff 2 times for 5 laps.<\/p>\n

Stage #1 Top Ten: 21,99,41,96,1,8,00,87,54,18<\/p>\n

Stage #2 Top Ten: 54,99,96,17,41,19,1,21,8,18<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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