Austin of the Hill on Night 3

By Rodney Meyering on February 16, 2015

Night 3 - 2015World Series of Asphalt - New Smyrna Speedway (photo Rodney Meyering)

Getting it started: Night 3 – 2015 World Series of Asphalt – New Smyrna Speedway AUSTIN HILL on the pole (photo Rodney Meyering)

New Smyrna Beach, Fla. — The headline event at New Smyrna Speedway on night three of this year’s World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing was NASCAR’s K and N East Series opener. The full bodied stock cars would compete for 150 laps around this historic half mile racetrack.

Georgia native Austin Hill set fast time, started on the pole, led all 151 laps and ended the night in victory lane, continuing with his success from last season, which saw 2 victories. Hill started the night alongside Kaz Grala and saw challenges from Grala, Scott Heckert, Dalton Sargeant and more before the race is over.

Kaz Grala (3) on the inside of Kyle Benjamin. Benjamin finished 5th and Grala 18th. (photo Rodney Meyering / RSEN)

A crowd that packed the grandstands saw Hill take the early lead as Kaz Grala maintains second as Heckert, Gaulding and William Bryon battle it out for third through fifth. The field settles into single file formation and we do not see our first caution till lap 75 when Jared Irvan, son of NASCAR great “Swervin” Ernie Irvan, loses it in the middle of turns 1 and 2. He gets a tow to the pits, done for the night.

On the restart, Hill selects the outside line and clears the field heading into the first turn. Grala bounces off a couple of cars and spins into the grass in turn 1. Hill gets another good restart, it’s still Heckert, Byron, Sargeant, Gaulding challenging. 50 laps to go and it looks like Hill has his competition covered tonight. Lap 110 sees another caution and on the restart its all Hill, Sargeant is all over Heckert and takes second. He begins to run Hill down. The rear of the field is getting excited for the final ¼ of the race and we see multiple cautions for contact and spins. Ronnie Bassett is penalized one lap for aggressive driving, causing JJ Haley to spin.

Ronnie Bassett (04) alongside Nick Drake (photo Rodney Meyering / RSEN)

Surviving multiple, restarts and pressure from Sargeant, Hill finally sees the checkered flag after the race runs 1 extra lap, going green, white, checker at the end. Hill had the best car and did not make a mistake all night. Dalton Sargeant’s trip to New Smyrna last month paid off (even though the win was DQ’s in January) he finishes a strong second.