HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) — Austin Hill grabbed the second spot next month in the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship finale, racing to his fourth victory of the season Saturday at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Hill drove the No. 21 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet past Cole Custer with 12 laps to go, and held on to join AJ Allmendinger in the four-driver championship field at Phoenix. Allmendinger punched his ticket last week in Las Vegas.
“I worked so hard at this,” said Hill, chasing his first season title, “a lot of people doubt me, but I wake up every day to prove everyone wrong. I deserve to be here. I deserve to race for a championship.”
Hill, who started the race fifth out of eight playoff drivers and below the cutline, swept the day and led for 79 laps. He beat Custer, who is still in title contention, by 3.045 seconds.
Hill became emotional before even crossing the finish line, saying “Aw, man. That’s awesome,” between tears.
“I can honestly say I’ve never cried coming to the finish line,” he said. “I couldn’t even get my emotions together going into Turn 1.”
Custer, in the No. 00 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford, moved to fourth in the standings.
Aric Almirola, who isn’t in the playoffs, finished third for Joe Gibbs Racing. Jesse Love of Richard Childress Racing, who remained sixth in the standings, was next.
The remaining playoff drivers were Justin Allgaier (eighth), Chandler Smith (13th), Sam Mayer (ninth) and Sammy Smith (22nd).
The last race before the championship is at Martinsville Speedway on Nov. 2.
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