A lot of people snickered this offseason when Hattori Racing Enterprises announced that they would be replacing 2018 NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series Champion Brett Moffitt with Austin Hill — who had one career Truck Series top-five finish.
Not many are laughing any more after Friday night’s World of Westgate 200 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Hill ran solidly all night long, but when the chips were on the table late in the race, he ratcheted up his performance. Hill would chase down, pass and pull away from the Ross Chastain — who had the dominant truck on the night — to win for the third time in 2019.
Chastain held on to finish second. Pole sitter Christian Eckes came home third, Sheldon Creed finished fourth and Todd Gilliland was in fifth when the checkered flag waved.
Brennan Poole came home a solid sixth.
Moffitt, who came into the race on a two-race winning streak with his GMS Racing team, started dead-last after changing a tire on his truck after qualifying. He would rebound to finish seventh.
Ben Rhodes, Harrison Burton and Dylan Lupton rounded out the top-10 finishers on the night.
This race was a Playoff Elimination Race, and the Truck Series championship field goes from eight drivers down to six.
The six drivers who will continue to battle for a championship are: Brett Moffitt, Austin Hill, Ross Chastain, Stewart Friesen, Matt Crafton and Tyler Ankrum.
Johnny Sauter and Grant Enfinger were eliminated after suffering engine failures in the race.
Post-Race Stat Pack:
