Austin Hill delivered a succinct message over the radio as he crossed the finish line to win at Talladega Superspeedway on Saturday evening. It was not a message for his supporters.
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"Take that, haters!" the driver of the No. 21 Chevrolet yelled after swerving his way across the finish line and holding off Carson Kvapil for the win.
Once Hill completed his celebratory burnout, he climbed from the No. 21 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet and held his hand to the side of his helmet, as if he listened to the crowd. He then beckoned to them while standing on his windshield, egging them on.
.@_AustinHill wins in overtime and goes 2-for-2 this season at @TALLADEGA! pic.twitter.com/yJtYlo5jI3
— The CW Sports (@TheCW_Sports) October 18, 2025
This message seems to reflect the season Hill has experienced. He's heard the criticism lobbed in his direction after he wrecked Aric Almirola at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He's aware of the response after NASCAR suspended him for this incident.
Even after an engine issue, as well as the loss of his playoff points led to Hill's elimination from the playoffs, he remained focused on one goal. He wanted the attention on him and his team.
MORE: Austin Hill wins, full results
"They would have to talk about you if you win the race," Hill said after the elimination race at the Charlotte Roval on Oct. 4. "We'll just have to make them talk about us in a different way, not going for a championship, but just going for the win."
Hill certainly achieved this on Saturday at Talladega Superspeedway. He led a race-high 48 laps and swept the stage wins. This marked the second time this season he's won at the Alabama track and the 10th time he's won on a drafting track in the Xfinity Series.
More important to Hill is the fact that he kept the No. 21 team's season alive. He may have failed to advance in the driver's championship, but the Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet remained in the playoffs. His win put the vehicle in the owner's Championship 4 alongside the No. 19 Toyota of Joe Gibbs Racing.
Now, Hill has the chance to go out and win a title at Phoenix Raceway.
"With everything that's went on and getting knocked out of the playoffs, I knew I was still in the owner's championship," Hill told CW Sports in victory lane.
"That's one thing I want to do for that man right there, Richard Childress, is get him an owner's championship. If I can't get the driver's, we at least have to get the owner's."
