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MADISON, ILLINOIS – AUGUST 20: Austin Hill, driver of the #16 AISIN Toyota, walks the grid prior to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Toyota 200 presented by CK Power at Gateway Motorsports Park on August 20, 2021 in Madison, Illinois. (Photo by Jeff Curry/Getty Images)
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MADISON, ILLINOIS – AUGUST 20: Austin Hill, driver of the #16 AISIN Toyota, walks the grid prior to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Toyota 200 presented by CK Power at Gateway Motorsports Park on August 20, 2021 in Madison, Illinois. (Photo by Jeff Curry/Getty Images)
At the Talladega Superspeedway, the inevitable ‘Big One’ took place. With 37 laps to go, the drivers were crossing the line to start the race, when another crash was triggered. Apparently, Austin Hill got punted from behind by Todd Gilliland and he slammed into poor old Zane Smith. Soon, more and more trucks got involved, and at least 19 were caught up in the wreck.
This incident was severe enough to bring out the red flag for a bit. In addition to that, it also had some consequences in the Playoff scene, as two Playoff drivers were among the victims. To be precise, Chandler Smith and Zane Smith saw their respective races end. Admittedly, it was just a mere taste of the chaos that unfolded at the Talladega Superspeedway.
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The Big One strikes with 37 laps to go in the @NASCAR_Trucks race at @TALLADEGA. Red flag 🚩 #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/CDpUVii20R
— Motorsport.com (@Motorsport) October 2, 2021
Who won the race after the Austin Hill crash?
In the end, a delighted Tate Fogleman seized his maiden Truck Series win. This win has come in his 46th race start, and the finish itself was a wild one. Apparently, he and Tyler Hill collided and slid across the finish line, and they both crashed into the inside wall. Obviously, this prompted an immediate visit to the medical centre, before he could visit Victory Lane.
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WATKINS GLEN, NY – AUGUST 07: Camping World Truck Series driver Austin Hill of the #16 Hattori Racing Enterprises Toyota Tundra prior to the start of the United Rentals 176 at the Glen NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on August 7, 2021, at Watkins Glen International in Watkins Glen, NY. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Lap 58 crash culprit Todd Gilliland finished third, ahead of championship leader John Hunter Nemechek. For the remaining Playoff drivers, it was a day to forget, as none of them were able to break into the Top 10.
The highest-placed Playoff finisher was Sheldon Creed in 12th place. He finished ahead of Ben Rhodes, Matt Crafton, and Chandler Smith in 13th, 14th, and 19th respectively. They were the only Playoff drivers in the Top 20, with Stewart Friesen in 22nd and Carson Hocevar in 25th. Finally, poor old Zane Smith could only muster 33rd.
Without a doubt, the Playoff pack would have been fuming at Austin Hill, who was classified in 32nd.
READ MORE: “It’s Going to be Tough” – Austin Hill on his Chances of Making the Truck Series Final 4
