Austin Hill Questions RCR Teammate's Kansas Move After Early Exit
Richard Childress Racing drivers, Austin Hill and Jesse Love, were involved in a significant on-track incident during the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Kansas. So much so that it left a bad taste in Hill's mouth as he did not expect his teammate to ruin his day, that too very early in the race.
"Just unfortunate, especially when you have a run-in with your teammate," Hill said after the race, questioning the Love's unexpected move. "Out of everybody on the race track, I would expect a little more room out of the two-car than the rest of the field. But, oh well, we’ll go to Talladega, we’ll work as teammates, go try to win that one, and go from there. It’s all good.”
Hill was racing side-by-side with Love’s No. 2 RCR Chevrolet through Turns 3 and 4 while fighting for sixth early in the race. But things quickly escalated.
Love stayed in the middle lane while Hill ran high and did not leave much space on the corner exit. Running that close affected Hill’s car, causing his No. 21 to slide.
Initially, Hill’s spin after colliding with Love looked like it might not cause much trouble. But as his No. 21 car slid down toward the apron, it was hit hard on the side by William Sawalich’s No. 18 Toyota. It severely damaged the left side of Hill's car, ending his race.
Hill, who started the race from 15th place, had to go home in 34th after the Stage 1 incident. Love, on the other hand, finished the race in fourth place. Taylor Gray of Joe Gibbs Racing won the race, as he denied Sheldon Creed another race win.
As Hill missed out on another top 10 finish, Jesse Love took responsibility for it.
Jesse Love Admits Fault on Austin Hill Incident
Following the race, Love admitted that his action put Hill in a tough spot, which ruined his race on Saturday, April 18.
“It’s my first time seeing it. I think, not that there was any contact, but I think that at the end of the day I put him in a really bad aero spot tonight,” Love told the CW broadcast crew after the race.
Love made it clear he believed he stayed within the bounds of fair racing during the incident. The battle was intense, but he didn’t drive into Hill or make a move that would clearly be considered over the limit.
Currently, Jesse Love is in third place in the Drivers' Standings with 371 points after 10 races. Austin Hill, on the other hand, is in eighth place with 296 points.
What do you think about the Austin Hill and Jesse Love clash on the track? Share your thoughts.
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