A household name in the NASCAR world, Austin Hill has been a champion driver in the Xfinity Series. Most recently, the 30-year-old delivered a statement victory in Atlanta, notching his third consecutive win at the track. He led 143 of the 146 laps, leaving the competition in the dust.
But Hill’s most significant achievement on the night came when he surpassed Dale Earnhardt Jr. for the record of most laps led on superspeedways in Xfinity history. Even Earnhardt took notice of the feat and delivered a surprising take on the Richard Childress Racing driver’s craft.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Claims Austin Hill Is Not an Easy Driver To Overtake
Speaking on the “Dale Jr. Download” podcast, Earnhardt acknowledged Hill’s abilities on a draft-heavy track. While it took the legendary driver “30-something” races to lead 691 laps, Hill has now led 734 laps in “20-something” races. The same prowess has made Hill nearly invincible at tracks such as Daytona, Atlanta, and Talladega.
Moreover, it has also helped Earnhardt realize how hard it is to pass Hill once the latter takes the lead, “If you push that 21 (Hill) into the lead, you’re signing up to be second.” He added, “My gut would tell me not to push the 21 into the lead because he’s hard to pass once he gets it.”
Per Earnhardt, Hill has the instincts of a winner. He has the right mentality, which helps him with his racing style. Additionally, Hill doesn’t think much and makes things complex; all he does is put his foot on the gas and just do what needs doing.
However, the 30-year-old’s wins aren’t just a feat of speed. It is also about dominance while drafting, which Earnhardt feels is unmatched. “He’s very smart, controls the lanes, has enough race cars that not many people get runs on him,” added the JR Motorsports co-owner.
With five career Xfinity Series wins in Atlanta, Hill is now tied with Kevin Harvick for the most wins at the track. Furthermore, eight career superspeedway wins help the RCR driver share the record with Dale Jr. and Tony Stewart. And with the Talladega race lined up in October, Hill would be hoping to be in sole possession of the record.
