The NASCAR Xfinity field wasn’t able to race to the checkered flag at Talladega on April 26th, 2025. The field was frozen before the last lap was complete thanks to a wreck and a late race yellow flag, leaving three drivers parked on the front stretch while they awaited news from timing and scoring. After some deliberation, Austin Hill, driver of the No. 21 NASCAR Chevy, was recognized as the driver in front when it mattered most.
Jeb Burton’s No. 27 NASCAR Chevy was right alongside Hill’s race car when the final caution waved, as was the No. 2 Chevy of Jesse Love. Love was part of the reason that a caution flew on the last lap – he got into the back of the No. 88 Chevy driven by Connor Zilisch, sending Zilisch sideways before he contact the wall, junking his race car.
Hill, Love, and Burton all waited while officials reviewed the running order at the time the caution flag was shown. Hill’s race car was ever so slightly in front. He was awarded the trophy, adding another superspeedway win to his repertoire, making him the winningest driver in the series when it comes to drafting tracks.
“Man, we really had to work for that one,” said Austin Hill. “It just seemed like our car was really good. Everyone at RCR and RCR engines are bad to the bone, like always. We had to work. I thought the 2 [Love] was really good and when we got the push from the 2 going into [turn] one, he got inside of me and I thought that was a bad mistake and I should have covered it. So I thought we were done. But I just locked in and kept pushing the heck out of the 2 car.”
He added, “I knew it was either me or the 27 [Burton]. Man, to win them – any way you win them is always great – and finally to conquer Talladega, that’s something I’ve really wanted to do for a long time.”
Burton argued that he should have won, saying, “I felt like we did everything we could today, so just frustrated. Every angle I see, we won the race.”
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