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Talladega Today
By the People, for the People
Austin Hill's secret to Daytona dominance
The NASCAR driver shares his strategy for beating the competition at the superspeedway
Published on Feb. 15, 2026
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Austin Hill has become a dominant force in NASCAR's O'Reilly Series, winning 11 of the 15 races he's competed in at Daytona, Talladega, and Atlanta. Hill believes his success is partly due to the selfish nature of his rivals, who end up hurting each other's chances while trying to beat him. He says the entire field brings capable cars and drivers, but they struggle to execute a cohesive strategy against him.
Why it matters
Hill's ability to win at the superspeedways has made him a force to be reckoned with in the series. His success raises questions about whether his competitors need to rethink their approach if they want to dethrone the current champion.
The details
Hill says his rivals often get too focused on trying to be the one to beat him, rather than working together as a group. He cites examples where multiple cars from the same team failed to coordinate their efforts effectively against him. Hill admits his own team is also 'extremely selfish,' but he's been able to capitalize on the selfishness of others.
- On Saturday night, Hill won the NASCAR O'Reilly Series race at Daytona.
- This was Hill's 11th win at Daytona, Talladega, and Atlanta out of 15 total victories in the series.
The players
Austin Hill
A NASCAR driver who has become a dominant force in the O'Reilly Series, particularly at superspeedway races.
Jesse Love
Hill's teammate at Richard Childress Racing.
Rajah Caruth
A driver for JR Motorsports who made a strong move on Hill during the race.
Carson Kvapil
Caruth's JR Motorsports teammate who failed to support Caruth's move on Hill.
What they’re saying
“I definitely think that a lot of people work against each other, and then they end up helping me, even though they're trying not to. I don't know if this will make sense but they screw each other over and end up helping me in the process.”
— Austin Hill, NASCAR Driver (yahoo.com)
“At one point there were three JR Motorsports cars lined up behind me, and they ended up not making anything happen. I was very surprised. There was a few times that – (Rajah Caruth) made a move on me one time. Made a great move. Got inside of me, and his teammate, (Carson Kvapil) didn't even go with him. I'm like, 'thanks for the help, much appreciated' and take advantage.”
— Austin Hill, NASCAR Driver (yahoo.com)
What’s next
Hill will look to continue his Daytona dominance when the NASCAR O'Reilly Series returns to the superspeedway later this season.
The takeaway
Austin Hill's ability to capitalize on the selfish nature of his rivals has made him a force to be reckoned with at the superspeedways. His competitors will need to find a way to work together more effectively if they want to dethrone the current champion.
