By: Zach Catanzareti, Staff Writer
Austin Hill’s first full-time Camping World Truck Series season hit an early pique with Young’s Motorsports Monday at Martinsville Speedway.
The 23-year-old, who returned to the track for the sixth time, scored a ninth-place finish in the Alpha Energy Solutions 250. The result was the best of his 32 starts in the series since his debut in 2014.
“Once you came to a track three or four times, you start to pick out a lot of characteristics,” Hill told Kickin’ The Tires of Martinsville. “You know right when you unload what you want it to do.”
With more experience and on-track time, the K&N Pro Series East winner has gained confidence with his growing level of knowledge in the series. Joining his reduced stress level, this has all made 2018 a premier time for his first full-season campaign.
“It takes a lot of weight off your shoulders,” he said of getting the full-time ride. “The last few years, we’ve done it through Austin Hill Racing, kind of running the company. My dad was helping fund it along with sponsor’s help. It was very stressful because you would come to the track as a driver and an owner. It’s a lot different this time around — I’m able to come to the track and have only one focus in mind.
“There’s nothing like running a full season. It will definitely help me as a driver.”
The two-truck team is off to a solid start in 2018, earning a top-10 finish in all four races this year. With Hill’s ninth place at Martinsville, the young driver has now earned multiple top 10s for the first time in one season.
“The last few years, we’ve run 10-12 Truck races and that’s it,” he said. “Doing this full season, you’ll see throughout the year Young’s Motorsports is going to get better as a whole.”
I feel we started the season great. Every race we’ve run so far, we’ve had some type of issue. If we can run one race without any issues on pit road, tires, any damage, I think you’ll really see what Young’s Motorsports can do. You could see us creep into the sixth- or seventh-place number.”
And Hill isn’t alone in this hunt for competition. Tyler Young is a crucial part of the family organization, not only as a driver — planning to run six to eight races in 2018, as Kickin’ The Tires reported — but as a driver coach, too. The Texan has many hands on the team and has enjoyed seeing the team’s growth thus far in 2018.
“Everyone has been working their guts out,” Young said. “[We] ran a limited schedule last year and now to run two full-time like we’re doing, it’s definitely put a lot on everyone.
“[Hill] is a good friend of mine, a great racecar driver. I was really happy to have him come over and take a chance on me. I will give him all I got.”
Hill has built a better understanding of the series having a veteran to feed off.
“Working with Tyler has been fun,” he said. “Even though I’m racing for him, we’re buddies and all that. He definitely has a lot of knowledge. He’ll do whatever he can to make it work.
The biggest negative Hill wants to turn to a positive moving forward? Qualifying.
“I’ve needed to do this for years,” he said. “It could be a little of the truck or all me, but we’re always in that 15th-20th range. If we can start consistently qualifying in that top 12, that last group, you’ll see the finishes come even better.”
(Below is a video capture of our conversation with Austin Hill)
