Austin Hill scores fourth season-opening win in last five O’Reilly seasons at Daytona: Austin Hill continued his mastery of NASCAR’s big tracks dominating Saturday’s United Rentals 300 at Daytona International Speedway – the Georgia native’s fourth win in this NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season-opener here in the last five years.(Read more)(2-14-2026)

For the fourth time in five years, #21-Austin Hill won the season-opening United Rentals 300 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Daytona International Speedway. It’s his 15th career victory, with 11 of those coming at superspeedways. Hill led a race-high 78 laps and banked 75 points, one shy of a perfect race.
#7-Allgaier finished runner-up, his eighth top-10 finish in the last Daytona races. #39-Ryan Sieg rebounded from being a lap down for the majority of the race to finish third. #32-Jordan Anderson tied the best finish of his career in fourth, as #8-Sammy Smith completed the top five.
#02-Ryan Ellis earned his best career finish in sixth, with #1-Carson Kvapil, #31-Blaine Perkins, #2-Jesse Love and #88-Rajah Caruth rounding out the top 10.
There were 15 lead changes among eight drivers and seven cautions for 36 yellow flag laps.
The average speed of the race was: 116.618 mph.
See race details at: Race Results, Driver Points Standings, Owner Points Standings, Cumulative Report, Penalty Report.

Daytona Paint Schemes

Race Fast Facts – Daytona International Speedway:
Austin Hill won the United Rentals 300, his 15th victory in 147 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races.
This is his first victory and first top-10 finish in 2026.
This is his fourth victory and fourth top-10 finish in ten races at Daytona International Speedway.
Justin Allgaier (second) posted his 16th top-10 finish in 31 races at Daytona International Speedway. It is his first top-10 finish in 2026.
Ryan Sieg (third) posted his 10th top-10 finish in 25 races at Daytona International Speedway.
Lavar Scott (16th) was the highest finishing rookie.
Austin Hill leads the point standings by 25 points over Justin Allgaier.
Rajah Caruth has won the Xfinity Fastest Lap at Daytona.

O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Chase Standings after Daytona (Race 1 of 33):
1)#21-Austin Hill 75, +50
2)#7-Justin Allgaier 50, +25
3)#1-Carson Kvapil 47, +22
4)#2-Jesse Love 37, +12
5)#8-Sammy Smith 36, +11
6)#31-Blaine Perkins 36, +11
7)#39-Ryan Sieg 34, +9
8)#88-Rajah Caruth 34, +9
9)#32-Jordan Anderson 33, +8
10)#02-Ryan Ellis 31, +6
11)#99-Parker Retzlaff 28, +3
12)#96-Anthony Alfredo 26, +1
Currently below cutline
13)#44-Brennan Poole 25, -1
14)#28-Kyle Sieg 22, -4
15)#18-William Sawalich 22, -4
16)#45-Lavar Scott 21, -5
See the Driver Points Standings and Owner Points Standings.

Race Updates:
Lap 120: #21-Hill hangs on to the victory, his fourth season opening win in the last five seasons. #7-Allgaier, #39-Sieg, #32-Anderson, #8-Smith, #02-Ellis, #1-Kvapil, #31-Perkins, #2-Love and #88-Caruth complete the top 10.
Lap 119: #44-Poole gets moved out of line, allowing #7-Allgaier and #32-Anderson to move up the order and have a shot at #21-Hill while Hill drives away.
Lap 118: #21-Hill, #44-Poole, #7-Allgaier and #32-Anderson clear the pack coming to the white flag.
Lap 117: #21-Hill hill picks the bottom line for the restart, with #8-Smith choosing the top lane. #44-Poole will restart on the inside of the second row with #7-Allgaier the third car on the bottom. #2-Love and #31-Perkins are the second and third cars on the top.
Lap 115: #21-Hill is credited as the race leader with #8-Smith, #44-Poole, #2-Love and #31-Perkins rounding out the top five.
Lap 114: #2-Love darts to the inside line to pass #21-Hill at the line. #31-Perkins and #8-Smith lead the second lanes. #88-Caruth and #42-Hocevar wreck deeper in the field.
Lap 113: #1-Kvapil gets cycles back in the middle of the field. #21-Hill clears the field for the lead with #31-Perkins and #2-Love battling for second.
Lap 112: #21-Hill chooses the bottom lane for the restart with #31-Perkins and #99-Retzlaff behind. #2-Love takes the top line with #8-Smith and #1-Kvapil as his help. #02-Ellis, #32-Anderson, #4-Alfredo and #44-Poole are in the top 10.
Lap 108: Caution is out for debris from #27-Burton cutting down a right-front tire. #21-Hill is the race leader, ahead of #2-Love, #31-Perkins, #8-Smith and #1-Kvapil.
Lap 107: #2-Love and #21-Hill remain side-by-side for the lead, side drafting one another.
Lap 100: Another big wreck was triggered through Turn 3 when #17-Day got into the rear of #18-Sawalich. #54-Gray, #42-Jocevar, #52-Dye, #24-Burton, #27-Burton and #28-Sieg were all collected.
Lap 99: #2-Love is pushed back to the lead off the front bumper of #21-Hill. #31-Perkins and #99-Retzlaff, both RCR affiliates are running behind Love and Hill.
Lap 97: #21-Hill dips to the bottom lane, gaining seven spots in one lap and has cracked the top five. #8-Smith has scooted to the lead.
Lap 96: The restart is coming with 24 laps remaining. #2-Love and #8-Smith are the front row. #31-Perkins and #1-Kvapil complete the second row. #21-Hill will restart 12th.
Lap 93: Some cars pit for fresh tires, including #21-Hill, #17-Day, #32-Anderson, #4-Alfredo, #52-Dye, #30-Ware and #07-Bilicki.
Lap 91: The final handful of cars pit, led by #32-Anderson. #2-Love takes the lead. #27-Burton Got into the rear of #39-Sieg to trigger the big wreck. #20-Jones and #54-Gray got clipped, with #41-Mayer, #51-Clements and #7-Allgaier piling in. Mayer went up the track and collided with #35-Decker. The red flag has been displayed.
Lap 87: #2-Love leads the group of cars that pit at Lap 81 to rockets by the field that pitted at Lap 86. #32-Anderson, #42-Hocevar, #44-Poole, #07-Bilicki, #02-Ellis and #35-Decker have yet to hit pit road.
Lap 86: The majority of the lead-lap cars pit: #41-Mayer, #17-Day, #7-Allgaier, #1-Kvapil, #39-Sieg, #28-Sieg, #20-Jones, #8-Smith, #88-Caruth, #45-Scott, #38-Emerling, #24-Burton and #51-Clements.
Lap 83: #18-Sawalich pits by himself.
Lap 82: #52-Dye and #54-Gray pit during the cycle of green-flag stops.
Lap 81: The first group of cars make their final scheduled stops: #21-Hill, #2-Love, #99-Retzlaff, #31-Perkins, #27-Burton and #4-Alfredo.
Lap 76: The top five cars have singled out on the bottom lane: #21-Hill, #2-Love, #41-Mayer, #7-Allgaier and #7-Day. #24-Burton and #99-Retzlaff are battling for sixth position.
Lap 73: The RCR cars have reconnected at the front of the field on the bottom lane. #87-Green spins to the inside line after contact with #48-Staropoli down the frontstretch but the caution doesn’t fly.
Lap 70: #88-Caruth gets loose in the middle of Turns 3 and 4 running in the middle lane and made slight contact with #54-Gray.
Lap 69: #18-Sawalich shoots to the inside line but couldn’t get his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate #20-Jones to go with him. The JGR cars now control the second row.
Lap 67: #21-Hill gets pushed to the lead on the restart by #7-Allgaier. #18-Sawalich leads the outside lane.
Lap 60: #21-Hill wins Stage 2, sweeping the stages. #1-Kvapil, #7-Allgaier, #18-Sawalich, #88-Caruth, #99-Retzlaff, #8-Smith, #51-Clements, #27-Burton and #31-Perkins earn stage points.
Lap 57: #8-Smith drops to the inside line with help from #17-Day. #88-Caruth goes to block and gets to the inside of #21-Hill for the race lead.
Lap 56: #20-Jones now leads the inside line with #2-Love behind. #21-Hill, #88-Caruth and #1-Kvapil have cleared the inside lane.
Lap 54: The field has split up the two RCR cars, with #88-Caruth running second behind #21-Hill. #2-Love leads the inside line towards the back half of the top five.
Lap 52: #41-Mayer has cracked the top 10 after getting involved in the last-lap wreck in Stage 1.
Lap 48: #8-Smith is driving back towards the front, cracking the top 10 after spinning on the final lap of the opening stage.
Lap 46: The Richard Childress Racing cars of #21-Hill and #2-Love have gained control of the race back. #7-Allgaier is in command of the inside line.
Lap 44: After being shuffled to fifth, #21-Hill gets a boost and takes the lead back from #18-Sawalich.
Lap 41: #2-Love continues to lead with #18-Sawalich and #21-Hill leading the lines behind him. #7-Allgaier is inching forward, with #54-Gray, #27-Burton and #87-Green riding around the inside lane.
Lap 38: #2-Love gets pushed to the lead on the restart with #88-Caruth jumping to lead the outside lane.
Lap 36: The hood of #5-Fenhaus flew off during the stage break and is laying on the track.
Lap 34: #1-Kvapil wins the race off pit road with two-right side tires. #21-Hill dropped two positions to third.
Lap 30: #21-Hill wins the opening stage of the 2026 season. #2-Love, #1-Kvapil, #7-Allgaier, #31-Perkins, #18-Sawalich, #51-Clements, #20-Jones, #88-Caruth and #54-Gray earn stage points.
Lap 29: #8-Smith spins off Turn 4, clipping #41-Mater and #00-Creed. #19-Ruggiero piles in with the heaviest damage. #25-Sanchez was squeezed into the wall.
Lap 27: #41-Mayer dips to the inside of #8-Smith for second position. #00-Creed and #2-Love are battling for the top five. #17-Day gets sideways and clips the inside wall off Turn 4, breaking up the field.
Lap 25: #8-Smith has powered forward to battle for second with #2-Love. #21-Hill continues to lead and is managing the draft, blocking both lines.
Lap 23: The top 11 cars are single file with #8-Smith side-by-side with #26-Thompson for 12th.
Lap 19: #41-Mayer was shuffled out of line and is the only car on the inside line. #8-Smith leads the middle with with help from #26-Thompson and #24-Burton.
Lap 16: The bottom line is surging with other cars dropping down. #41-Mayer is racing for the runner-up spot. #42-Hocevar and #00-Creed have made a third line.
Lap 15: The only cars remaining on the inside line are #41-Mayer, running eighth, #18-Sawalich and #19-Ruggierio.
Lap 12: #39-Sieg pits with a flat right-side tire after contact with the wall. The bulk of the field has gotten single file, led by #21-Hill, #2-Love, #1-Kvapil, #25-Sanchez and #51-Clements.
Lap 10: The top lane has prevailed, with #21-Hill, #2-Love and #1-Kvapil leading the charge. #39-Sieg drops to the middle lane and is reporting a flat tire.
Lap 8: The majority of the lead draft is three-wide, with #21-Hill sneaking by for the lead. #17-Day leads the middle line, challenging for the lead.
Lap 6: #18-Sawalich takes the lead on the restart with a shove from #41-Mayer. #21-Hill is side-by-side for second position with #2-Love in tow.
Lap 1: Stackup on the restart resulting in a caution. #91-Maggio plowed into the rear of #38-Emerling. #44-Clements, #51-Clements both spin through the infield grass. #4-Alfredo, #24-Burton, #45-Scott and #92-Williams also received damage.

Race Info:
United Rentals 300
Broadcast: CW, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 120 laps / 300 miles
Stages: 30 / 60 / 120
Average time of race: 2:33:52
Pit road speed: 55 mph
Caution car speed: 70 mph
Fuel Window: 45 laps

Cars to the rear: #4-Anthony Alfredo (driver change); #24-Harrison Burton, #28-Kyle Sieg, #30-Carson Ware, #99-Parker Retzlaff (unapproved adjustments)

Pit-Stall Selections

Three-time United Rentals 300 winner #21-Austin Hill won the pole for the season-opening O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Daytona International Speedway (182.223 mph). It’s his third pole in 10 Daytona starts.
Richard Childress Racing swept the front row with reining series champion #2-Jesse Love turning in the second-quickest time (182.219 mph). #41-Sam Mayer will start third (182.190 mph), with #18-William Sawalich (182.079 mph) and #00-Sheldon Creed rounding out the top five (182.076 mph).
#17-Corey Day, #88-Rajah Caruth, #48-Patrick Staropoli, #54-Taylor Gray and #39-Ryan Sieg complete the top 10.
Did Not Qualify: #0-Garrett Smithley, #53-David Starr, #96-Anthony Alfredo, #55-Joey Gase.
Viking Motorsports has worked out a deal with Alpha Prime Racing for Alfredo to compete in the race in the No. 4 car, previously ran by Caesar Bacarella.
See the complete Daytona Starting Lineup and Qualifying Results.

Qualifying Fast Facts — Daytona International Speedway:
Austin Hill won the Pole Award for the United Rentals 300 with a lap of 49.39 seconds, 182.223 mph.
This is his sixth pole in 147 NASCAR Xfinity Series races.
This is his first pole and first top-10 start in 2026.
This is his third pole in ten races at Daytona International Speedway.
Jesse Love (second) posted his first top-10 start of 2026 and his fifth in five races at Daytona International Speedway.
Sam Mayer (third) posted his fourth top-10 start at Daytona International Speedway. It is his first in one race this season.
Patrick Staropoli (eighth) was the fastest qualifying rookie.

Qualifying Order

Practice for the United Rentals 300 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Daytona International Speedway is complete. The top five, slowest, news and notes:
#27-Jeb Burton 184.672 mph
#26-Dean Thompson 184.226 mph
#17-Corey Day 184.214 mph
#19-Gio Ruggiero 184.071 mph
#8-Sammy Smith 184.071 mph
Slowest: #45-Lavar Scott 177.848 mph
Most laps run: #91-Mason Maggio, 22
No drivers made a run of at least 10 consecutive laps.
Notes: There were no on-track issues in the session. #51-Jeremy Clements was pushed back to the garage before turning a lap.
See full Daytona Practice Results.

Crew Rosters

Goodyear Tire Notes: NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series teams will compete on familiar tire setups, with both series using the same left and right-side tires at Daytona for the fifth consecutive year. In both series, teams use inner liners on tracks 1-mile and longer.

There are 42 drivers/teams on the entry list for the United Rentals 300 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Daytona International Speedway. Four cars will miss the race.
Notables: #4-Caesar Bacarella, #5-Luke Fenhaus, #19-Gio Ruggiero, #30-Carson Ware, #32-Jordan Anderson, #35-Natalie Decker, #38-Patrick Emerling, #42-Carson Hocevar, #52-Daniel Dye, #53-David Starr, #55-Joey Gase, #91-Mason Maggio.
See the full Daytona Entry List.

Daytona At-Track Schedule

Race rules and information: (Will be updated for 2026 as needed).

• Inspection Penalty Protocol
• Pit Road Penalties
• Pit Road Speeds
• Points Explanation
• Qualifying Procedures