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Van Gisbergen finishes on podium after dramatic finish in Atlanta

February 25, 2024
Shane van Gisbergen.

Shane van Gisbergen has finished on the podium for the first time since joining NASCAR full time, following a wild race in Atlanta.

The Kiwi driver started in 13th and was sitting outside the top 10 before benefiting from a caution three laps from the finish that led many of his rivals to run out of fuel when the race restarted in overtime.

Van Gisbergen soon found himself in fourth spot before slipping past Ryan Truex to secure a podium finish.

Austin Hill won his second consecutive Xfinity race surging to the lead on an overtime restart when teammate Jesse Love ran out of gas, for a dramatic ending on Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Love, 19, finished 12th after leading 157 laps.

“Jessie ran an awesome race,” Hill said of his Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet teammate. “To lead that many laps, he should be sitting here."

Clean racing kept cars on the track — and away from opportunities to pit for fuel. Before the late fuel drama, Love appeared to be in control.

“I was thinking if I can't win, let my teammate win,” Hill said.

With Love holding the lead, four Fords ran out of gas with four laps to go, including Riley Herbst, who was then in second. Cole Custer, Hailie Deegan and Ryan Sieg also ran out of gas, forcing a caution.

Love remained on the track during the caution, gambling he would have gas remaining for the overtime. Instead, his Chevrolet faltered during the restart.

“Obviously there was no way we were going to pit there,” Love said. “When we got up to third gear (in the restart) it died.”

Hill said Love burned more gas by leading most of the laps.

“He was trying to save as well, but you can’t save as much when you’re the leader,” Hill said.

Chandler Smith, from Talking Rock, Georgia, finished second in his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.

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