The NASCAR Xfinity Series’s season opener ended in chaos on Saturday after a last-lap crash in overtime led to a dramatic victory by Austin Hill at Daytona International Speedway.
A spin from JR Motorsports driver Brandon Jones with two laps to go sent the wild race into a two-lap overtime to determine the outcome. With JRM’s Justin Allgaier clinging to first place, teammate Sam Mayer attempted to move to the outside and surge ahead of Allgaier on the backstretch.
Allgaier swiftly blocked Mayer’s attempt, causing his No. 1 car to make contact with Hill’s trailing No. 21 Chevrolet, flip upside down and skid across the track with sparks flying in every direction. The devastating crash forced a caution flag as Allgaier (No. 7), Hill and John Hunter Nemechek (No. 20) emerged out of the fracas in a toe-to-toe battle to decide the winner.
