NASCAR has suspended Austin Hill, driver for Richard Childress Racing, from the upcoming NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Iowa Speedway as a result of his intentional wreck of Joe Gibbs Racing’s Aric Almirola during the Pennzoil 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26. This suspension was announced in NASCAR’s penalty report released on July 29 and is a behavioral penalty related to the late-race incident.
Details of the Crash Between Hill and Almirola
In the closing laps of the Indianapolis race, Hill was competing in a tight battle for a top-five position when he lost control coming out of turn 3. After recovering, Hill deliberately steered left, causing his car’s right rear to make contact with Almirola’s No. 19 Toyota, which then crashed violently into the non-safer barrier part of turn 4. This maneuver sparked a significant crash that drew warning and penalty from NASCAR officials.
Impact of Suspension on Austin Hill’s Season and Team Response
Austin Hill, who has won three races this season and currently ranks fifth in the Xfinity Series championship standings, will lose all playoff points earned this season due to the suspension, following NASCAR’s new rules for 2025. Richard Childress Racing has decided not to appeal the penalty, choosing instead to focus on maintaining their championship pursuit with Hill for the rest of the season.
To fill Hill’s spot at the Iowa race, Richard Childress Racing will field Austin Dillon, a regular driver in the NASCAR Cup Series. Dillon will make his second Xfinity Series start for RCR this year, having previously competed in the series at Charlotte Motor Speedway driving the No. 3 car.
“Richard Childress Racing will not appeal the penalty NASCAR issued to the No. 21 team following the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. We remain focused on winning a championship with Austin Hill in 2025. Austin Dillon will race the No. 21 Chevrolet at…” —RCR (@RCRracing)
Other Penalties Issued Following the Indianapolis Weekend
In addition to Hill’s suspension, Legacy Motor Club received penalties related to a loose wheel that prematurely ended Erik Jones’ race at the Brickyard 400. Specifically, crew members Kellen Mills and John Rosselli have been suspended for the next two events on the NASCAR schedule due to this safety violation.
Context and Implications Moving Forward
The suspension of Austin Hill highlights NASCAR’s strict enforcement of conduct rules to maintain safety and fair competition. With Hill sidelined, the insertion of Austin Dillon into the No. 21 Chevrolet lineup will offer RCR a tested and experienced replacement, but also introduces uncertainty into the team’s strategy at Iowa Speedway. The penalties affecting Legacy Motor Club reflect NASCAR’s broader commitment to addressing safety lapses swiftly across teams. How these rulings will affect the playoff dynamics remains to be seen as the season progresses.