Austin Hill has been suspended by NASCAR for one race after being found responsible for the Aric Almirola wreck incident during last weekend’s Xfinity Series event at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, putting Hill’s playoff future in serious question. The immediate penalty bars Hill from competing at Iowa Speedway, and it triggers critical consequences for his postseason campaign.
Suspension and Immediate Impact on Playoff Hopes
Following the wreck involving Aric Almirola, NASCAR determined that Austin Hill acted deliberately, resulting in a one–race suspension. This decision means Hill will not participate in this Saturday’s race at Iowa Speedway. Richard Childress Racing announced it would not contest NASCAR’s decision, instead appointing Austin Dillon to handle the No. 21 entry for the upcoming event in Hill’s absence.
Due to the suspension, Hill must request a playoff waiver from NASCAR to remain eligible for the Xfinity Series playoffs. Even if granted, he faces a steep disadvantage—he will enter the postseason with just 2,000 points, the lowest among playoff contenders, rather than carrying over the playoff points he earned earlier in the season. Furthermore, he forfeits all previously accumulated playoff points, as well as any potential points from the final five regular-season events.
Details of the Incident During the Xfinity Race
The controversy unfolded late in the Xfinity Series race when Hill and Almirola, both vying for the fourth position, made contact with 10 laps remaining. Almirola closed in on Hill, getting him loose as they fought for position. Hill managed to regain control briefly, only for his car to come into contact with the right rear of Almirola’s car. This sent Almirola careening into the SAFER barrier nose-first in a severe crash at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Almirola later described the impact and the moments leading up to the collision, expressing how intense and alarming the crash felt. Competition for playoff points and on-track positions appeared to escalate emotions and risks among drivers as the race neared its conclusion.
Fallout and Driver Reactions
The aftermath of the incident led to strong words and drastic actions from both drivers and NASCAR officials. Almirola did not hold back his criticism, offering a direct assessment of Hill’s actions:
“It’s just unfortunate. He obviously lost his mind right there. That was really bad judgment in my opinion.”
—Aric Almirola, NASCAR Driver
Hill responded over his team radio immediately after the crash, defending his intent and suggesting forces outside his control affected the collision:
“I couldn’t hang on to it. I was not trying to right rear him. He had me out of control. I was like jerk back to the left to keep it off the wall. I’m not sure what the hell he thought just running me over in (Turn) 3, though.”
—Austin Hill, NASCAR Driver
Once notified of his penalty—a five-lap hold for reckless driving—Hill expressed his anger towards NASCAR, but this did not deter officials from escalating the penalty to a suspension after further review.
Team and Official Responses Intensify Scrutiny
When asked whether Hill deserved a suspension, Richard Childress strongly disagreed, highlighting what he views as inconsistencies in how NASCAR disciplines drivers for on-track incidents. Childress referenced a prior occurrence involving Austin Cindric and Ty Dillon:
“Hell, no. They didn’t do a damn thing to the No. 2 car (Austin Cindric). He wrecked Ty (Dillon) and admitted to it, drove him in the right rear and wrecked him at COTA. It’s who you are. We’re a blue-collar team. They give us trouble all the time.”
—Richard Childress, Team Owner
While NASCAR did not penalize Cindric in real-time for that incident, officials later docked him 50 points and issued a significant fine, pointing to ongoing debates within the series about the consistency and transparency of disciplinary measures.
Road Ahead for Hill, Almirola, and the Xfinity Series Playoffs
Austin Hill’s suspension, prompted by the Aric Almirola wreck incident, not only sidelines him from Iowa Speedway, but also leaves his playoff hopes up in the air. Even if a waiver is granted, Hill’s lost playoff points set him at a substantial disadvantage entering the postseason. Almirola’s future racing plans and health are also in focus following what he described as one of the most violent crashes of his career, echoing the severity of a previous injury at Kansas Speedway.
As the Xfinity Series heads into the final stretch of the regular season, the incident at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and its fallout have escalated anxiety and scrutiny around driver decisions and official rulings. Fans, teams, and key figures like Dustin Long, Justin Allgaier, Connor Zilisch, and Austin Cindric will be watching how series officials address high-stakes conflicts and playoff eligibility moving forward. The discipline issued in the wake of the Aric Almirola wreck incident is certain to shape both the competitive and regulatory narrative as the championship approaches.
