Bennett’s NASCAR Xfinity Driver To Make Championship 4 Appearance at Phoenix Raceway

Bennett's NASCAR Xfinity Driver To Make Championship 4 Appearance at Phoenix Raceway

McDonough, GEORGIA (November 8th, 2024) - Four wins led to a Championship 4 berth for Richard Childress Racing's No. 21 Bennett Transportation and Logistics Chevrolet driver, Austin Hill. Hill will make his first Championship 4 appearance at Phoenix Raceway on Saturday, November 9, alongside Crew Chief Andy Street. Street and Hill have vied for a chance to win it all since Hill's first full-time appearance with RCR in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2022.

"Throughout my career, I've always said that I just want a chance. I simply wanted a shot at the final four and to fight for a championship, and we now have that chance. My mindset is to put it all on the line… Everyone at Richard Childress Racing and ECR Engines deserves this opportunity."

Austin Hill, Bennett's NASCAR Xfinity Driver

While it hasn't been the smoothest season for Hill and the No. 21 team, this group is confident going into championship weekend. All the hard work these past three years have led up to this moment. In 2023, Hill won the regular season championship, but fell a few points below the cutoff line in the Round of 8 at Martinsville Speedway, knocking him out of the Championship 4.

"It goes to show how hard it is to make it to the final four and what a privilege it is. I can tell you all the scenarios of why we should have been in the Championship 4 the last two years, but this one all came together for us. I've definitely learned things from the last two years that I've applied to this season though"

Austin Hill, Bennett's NASCAR Xfinity Driver

While strategy plays a huge role in making it to the Phoenix finale, a little luck goes a long way, and so does a lot of skill.

"At the end of the day, you have to be perfect in the Playoffs. You can't afford to have bad days. And if you do have a bad day, you have to execute and win the race the next weekend."

Austin Hill, Bennett's NASCAR Xfinity Driver

Now, Hill heads to Phoenix thanks to his dominating win at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the second race of the Round of 8.

"A lot of emotions came flooding in after the win at Homestead-Miami Speedway. I know how much myself, the No. 21 team, Richard Childress Racing, ECR Engines - all the men and women of our organization - put into this. Our partners - Bennett Transportation & Logistics, Global Industrial, United Rentals - have all supported our program since we started together three years ago."

Austin Hill, Bennett's NASCAR Xfinity Driver

Hill led 82 of 200 laps at Homestead-Miami Speedway and crossed the finish line with tears in his eyes.

"I started this journey when I was six years old and I'm now 30. I've always dreamed of becoming a champion in one of NASCAR's top three series, and once I realized that I would have a shot at it for the first time in my career, all the emotions came to the surface as the laps were counting down before our win. I wasn't expecting it to happen, but during the white flag lap, I couldn't keep my emotions together and we hadn't even taken the checkered flag yet."

Austin Hill, Bennett's NASCAR Xfinity Driver

There's one more checkered flag that Hill looks to take and he is days away from making that opportunity happen thanks to the preparation he and the No. 21 team is taking.

"I've been prepping - watching film and in-car cameras from last year's championship race - since the Monday after winning at Homestead-Miami. Our No. 21 team is putting in the work both in the shop and in the simulator to be as prepared as possible. 100% of our efforts are focused on this weekend. When we strap in for 200 laps on Saturday, we will give it our best shot. If that ends up with us as the champion, great. If that ends up with us as fourth out of four, we are still going to hold our heads up high, because we know that we had a shot at it. We have a stout group to go up against, so we have to bring our A game."

Austin Hill, Bennett's NASCAR Xfinity Driver

Phoenix Raceway kicks off the championship weekend action beginning on Friday with NASCAR Xfinity Series practice at 5 p.m. ET on USA Network. Saturday's qualifying is set for 4 p.m. on USA Network, followed by the green flag which the field will take shortly after 7:30 p.m. ET on The CW Network.

Publication by Richard Childress Racing (RCR) Staff

Date: November 2024

Article: Hill To Make Championship 4 Appearance at Phoenix Raceway

For additional information, contact Bennett's Manager of Marketing and Communications, Kaitlen Jones, at [email protected].