Written by Sean McKean
Despite the best attempts from Cole Custer to usurp him, nothing stopped Austin Hill from taking his fourth victory of the season. It was Hill’s first win at Homestead-Miami.
As it unfolded
With JGR locking out the top three, Chandler Smith led from pole and led the opening laps uncontested. But, as the long run progressed, Cole Custer’s car came alive, taking the lead on Lap 32.
With five laps remaining in the first stage, Sammy Smith came to the pits with a flat right-front tyre. At the same time, Aric Almirola and Austin Hill caught up to Custer and started engaging in a battle for the lead.
In the end, Hill won the first stage followed by Almirola and Sheldon Creed.
Stage 1 Results:
No. 21 - Austin Hill [Playoffs]
No. 20 - Aric Almirola
No. 18 - Sheldon Creed
No. 7 - Justin Allgaier [Playoffs]
No. 00 - Cole Custer [Playoffs]
No. 1 - Sam Mayer [Playoffs]
No. 16 - AJ Allmendinger [Playoffs]
No. 98 - Riley Herbst
No. 81 - Chandler Smith [Playoffs]
No. 28 - Ryan Sieg
Austin Hill led the way on Lap 53 again and also led uncontested.
Another tyre failure occurred to a top-ten runner. This time, on Lap 68, Riley Herbst came into the pits with yet another right-front flat. He continued but fell one lap down.
The first retirement of the day happened with six laps to go in stage two. The issues befell Leland Honeyman, who suffered an engine failure following contact with the wall.
Then, with four laps remaining, the first caution came out. This one was for Nick Leitz, who went for a spin off Turn 2. He continued undamaged.
However, this ended the second stage. Hill again crossed the line first ahead of AJ Allmendinger and Cole Custer.
Stage 2 Results:
No. 21 - Austin Hill [Playoffs]
No. 16 - AJ Allmendinger [Playoffs]
No. 00 - Cole Custer [Playoffs]
No. 28 - Ryan Sieg
No. 20 - Aric Almirola
No. 18 - Sheldon Creed
No. 7 - Justin Allgaier [Playoffs]
No. 81 - Chandler Smith [Playoffs]
No. 2 - Jesse Love [Playoffs]
No. 19 - William Sawalich
On the Lap 98 restart, Custer initially managed to snatch the lead from Hill. But, eleven laps later, Hill took it back and started pulling away.
The second caution for cause came out on Lap 122. Going into Turn 1, Josh Williams suffered a flat tyre, sending him into the path of Ryan Truex – who went for a spin. Both cars continued with damage.
In pit stops, Hill retained his lead. His teammate, Jesse Love, also jumped up to second.
Hill again took the lead on the Lap 128 restart, but Cole Custer’s short-run speed showed – taking the lead for himself.
Debutant William Sawalich was the next to suffer a flat tyre on Lap 145 after he tapped the wall in Turn 4. He fell one lap down in his subsequent pit stop.
Green flag pit stops began on Lap 158. Chandler Smith suffered a slow pit stop because of a faulty jack. Once all cycled out, Custer retained the lead.
But, as the laps wound down, Austin Hill began to close the gap to the defending champion ahead. This amounted to Hill taking the lead with only 12 laps remaining.
Hill led the remaining laps to win his way into the Championship 4. Custer finished a distant three seconds back followed by Aric Almirola.
Provisional Results:
No. 21 - Austin Hill (Richard Childress Racing) [Playoffs]
No. 00 - Cole Custer (Stewart-Haas Racing) [Playoffs]
No. 20 - Aric Almirola (Joe Gibbs Racing)
No. 2 - Jesse Love (Richard Childress Racing) [Playoffs]
No. 18 - Sheldon Creed (Joe Gibbs Racing)
No. 98 - Riley Herbst (Stewart-Haas Racing)
No. 28 - Ryan Sieg (RSS Racing)
No. 7 - Justin Allgaier (JR Motorsports) [Playoffs]
No. 1 - Sam Mayer (JR Motorsports) [Playoffs]
No. 16 - AJ Allmendinger (Kaulig Racing) [Playoffs]
No. 48 - Parker Kligerman (Big Machine Racing Team)
No. 88 - Connor Zilisch (JR Motorsports)
No. 81 - Chandler Smith (Joe Gibbs Racing) [Playoffs]
No. 91 - Kyle Weatherman (DGM Racing)
No. 5 - Anthony Alfredo (Our Motorsports)
No. 51 - Jeremy Clements (Jeremy Clements Racing)
No. 97 - Shane van Gisbergen (Kaulig Racing) +1 lap
No. 44 - Brennan Poole (Alpha Prime Racing) +1 lap
No. 9 - Brandon Jones (JR Motorsports) +1 lap
No. 27 - Jeb Burton (Jordan Anderson Racing) +1 lap
No. 26 - Ryan Truex (Sam Hunt Racing) +1 lap
No. 8 - Sammy Smith (JR Motorsports) [Playoffs] +1 lap
No. 31 - Parker Retzlaff (Jordan Anderson Racing) +1 lap
No. 19 - William Sawalich (Joe Gibbs Racing) +1 lap
No. 43 - Ryan Ellis (Alpha Prime Racing) +1 lap
No. 39 - Kyle Sieg (RSS Racing) +1 lap
No. 11 - Josh Williams (Kaulig Racing) +3 laps
No. 07 - Brad Perez (SS-Greenlight Racing) +3 laps
No. 14 - Austin Green (SS-Greenlight Racing) +3 laps
No. 42 - Leland Honeyman (Young’s Motorsports) +3 laps
No. 45 - Mason Maggio (Alpha Prime Racing) +3 laps
No. 15 - Dylan Lupton (AM Racing) +4 laps
No. 74 - Dawson Cram (Mike Harmon Racing) +4 laps
No. 29 - Blaine Perkins (RSS Racing) +5 laps
No. 35 - Armani Williams (Joey Gase Motorsports) +7 laps
No. 53 - Thomas Annunziata (Joey Gase Motorsports) +10 laps
No. 92 - Nick Leitz (DGM Racing) [DNF]
No. 38 - Matt DiBenedetto (RSS Racing) [DNF]
After that Homestead race, the playoff grid approaching the Round of 8 finale is as follows:
Provisional Playoff Grid:
No. 16 - AJ Allmendinger: WIN
No. 21 - Austin Hill: WIN
No. 7 - Justin Allgaier: +35
No. 00 - Cole Custer: +28
Playoff Cut Line
No. 81 - Chandler Smith: -28
No. 2 - Jesse Love: -35
No. 1 - Sam Mayer: -47
No. 8 - Sammy Smith: -95
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