Hill gets his fill at Atlanta but no Love in overtime

HAMPTON, Ga. — Austin Hill stayed out in overtime and had enough fuel to fulfill his second trip to victory lane in the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series season.

Hill led just two laps – the final two – and became the first driver since Tony Stewart in 2008 to sweep the first two races of the Xfinity Series season.

Hill is also the first Xfinity Series regular to sweep the first two races since Chad Little in 1995.

The Richard Childress Racing driver made it on fuel while others who stayed out didn’t. Hill said he kept saving fuel even after his team told him he made it.

Then, on the final restart, he said he sloshed the tank around, got going and received a perfect push from Chandler Smith.

Hill and Smith topped Shane van Gisbergen, Sheldon Creed, Parker Retzlaff, Jeremy Clements, Anthony Alfredo, Jeffrey Earnhardt, Ryan Truex and Sammy Smith in 10th.

While Hill was happy about the win, he was gutted for his teammate, Jesse Love.

Love finished 12th and was one of the drivers who ran out of gas in overtime.

A heartbreaking loss, as Love led in overtime after leading six times for 157 of 169 laps before sputtering and eventually running out.

“I promise you Jesse Love is going to be a championship contender,” Hill said.

Parker Kligerman also ran out during overtime. He led one lap and was among the three other drivers besides Hill and Love who led laps Saturday.

A.J. Allmendinger led three times for eight laps, all between laps 84 and 93. He faded outside of the top-10 and finished there – 13th – overall.

Kyle Sieg led lap 43 and was the only other leader.

STAGE ONE

Jesse Love started the race as the only Xfinity Series driver to win the pole in each of his first two starts – winning it for his debut at Daytona and for Saturday at Atlanta.

Love led every lap of the stage and took home the playoff point and 10 bonus championship points.

TOP-10: Love, Riley Herbst, Sam Mayer, Ryan Truex, Parker Kligerman, A.J. Allmendinger, Justin Allgaier, Sheldon Creed, Ryan Sieg, Sammy Smith

Austin Hill placed 15th in the stage.

STAGE TWO

Love started the stage as the leader but Parker Kligerman challenged the throne for a lap. Then, Love conquered Kligerman – and the field – never relinquishing the lead again in the stage.

The stage did see the first caution for incident of the race. Kyle Weatherman bumped J.J. Yeley going into turn one. Yeley slid to the inside of the track, calling up a caution on lap 59.

The incident also drew an interesting exchange over Yeley’s radio.

STAGE TWO TOP-10: Love, Allgaier, Herbst, Truex, S. Smith, Chandler Smith, Cole Custer, Austin Hill, A.J. Allmendinger, Sheldon Creed

FINAL STAGE

A.J. Allmendinger restarted as the leader to start the stage. Then, on lap 90, Love battled back – trading the lead with Allmendinger three times before taking over.

Love had a firm grip on the field but he had to have a firmer grip on his fuel.

Eventually, Love’s team gave him the “all clear,” saying he was good to go on fuel with around 20 laps to go.

Some of the Ford teams were not. With four laps to go, Riley Herbst ran out of gas while running second behind Love. Then, Cole Custer ran out. Then Hailie Deegan. Then Ryan Sieg who stopped and drew a caution.

During the caution, Brandon Jones, Sammy Smith, Shane van Gisbergen, Allmendinger, Creed, Retzlaff, Chandler Smith, Jeremy Clements and Anthony Alfredo all pitted.

It didn’t matter for the overall result. Austin Hill saved enough gas to pull off another win at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

The NASCAR Xfinity Series head to Las Vegas Motor Speedway next Saturday, March 2.

Full results and points standings