United Rentals 300

The United Rentals 300 at Daytona International Speedway featured some big wrecks and a dominating performance by the RCR team with Austin Hill doing a masterful job of blocking during the last restart to win the season opening race for his fifteenth career win. Justin Allgaier would finish second and Ryan Seig third. Jordan Anderson and Sammy Smith would round out the top five. 

Richard Childress Racing teammates made up the front row with Austin Hill on the pole and last year’s champion, Jesse Love, beside him. When the green flag flew, Patrick Emerling checked up and Mason Maggio hit him in the rear, knocking Maggio out of the race. Others involved in the incident included Anthony Alfredo, Luke Fenhaus, Natalie Decker, Patrick Emerling, Brennan Poole, Lavar Scott, Josh Williams and Jeremy Clements. William Sawalich led early as him, and Hill swapped the lead back and forth until the outside line prevailed and Hill pulled away followed closely by Love. Coming to the green flag, with Hill firmly in control of the stage, Sam Mayer got into the rear of Sammy Smith, who was running in third place, sending them both spinning. Gio Ruggero and Nick Sanchez were also involved in the incident along with Shelton Creed. Hill won the stage with Love finishing second.

Stage two started the same way as stage one with Hill and Love up front. The difference this time, Love was able to get out front and stayed there until Hill took the lead on lap 46. The stage ran caution free with several drivers coming and going, but in the end, Hill was able to hold off all challengers win sweep both stages. Carson Kvapil finished second with his teammate Justin Allgaier third. 

The final stage started with Hill in the lead again, but this time Sawalich was in second place. Hill led all the laps until 40 laps to go when he along with several others made their green flag pit stops. Sam Mayer assumed the lead for five laps before he made his stop. Anderson assumed the lead for five laps before he pitted, giving the lead to Carson Hocevar. The fourth cation flag flew when many of the top cars were involved in an accident. Ryan Seig and Jeb Burton got together, sending Seig spinning and causing several other drivers to sustain damage, including Mayer, Natalie Decker, Brandon Jones, Taylor Gray and Jeremy Clements. Justin Allgaier was also involved but only sustained minor damage and the red flag came out while they cleaned the track. When they got the race restarted, Love was in the lead with Smith in the inside lane. Smith was able to jump into the lead for a couple of laps until the outside lane came in and Love retook the lead. With 21 laps remaining, the next caution flag came out when Sawalich spun in front of Corey Day. Both Jeb and Harrison Burton along with Taylor Gray were involved in the incident and several others who sustained minor damage. With 13 laps to go, it was a familiar look as both RCR cars were out front, this time Love led the field. Soon after the green flag fell, Jeb Burton blew a tire, sending debris on the track and bringing out another caution. The green flag dropped again with eight laps to go and Hill was able to get in front of the field. Hocevar and Rajah Caruth brought out the next caution flag with five laps to go, setting up the restart with two laps left. Hill once again chose the inside lane and took the lead. From there, Hill was able to hold on for the win.