Austin Hill, driver of the Richard Childress Racing No. 21 Chevrolet, has been suspended for one race following a collision at Indianapolis last weekend, leading Austin Dillon to step in for this Saturday’s Iowa Speedway event. The decision comes after Hill’s role in the late-race crash, and
“Austin Hill suspended for Indy crash”
was cited as the key factor in the suspension imposed by NASCAR officials.
NASCAR Hands Down Penalty After Indianapolis Incident
During the Pennzoil 250 Xfinity Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Hill became involved in a crash on lap 91 of the 100-lap contest. The incident began when Hill’s car made contact with Aric Almirola’s Joe Gibbs Racing No. 19 Toyota, resulting in Almirola being sent into the retaining wall between Turns 3 and 4. This effectively ended Almirola’s day on the track, finishing 35th out of the 38 starters.
Race officials penalized Hill at the time, requiring him to remain in the pits for five laps due to rough driving. Though Hill returned to the track with a damaged vehicle, he only managed a 34th-place finish. The consequences of the on-track altercation prompted NASCAR to review the incident and announce the suspension on Tuesday.
Austin Dillon Tapped as Replacement for Iowa
With Hill obliged to sit out the next race, Richard Childress Racing will field veteran driver Austin Dillon at the Iowa Speedway event. Dillon, who has significant experience in NASCAR’s top tiers, will temporarily take over the No. 21 Chevrolet for the upcoming race, filling the gap left by Hill’s enforced absence.
Impact on Hill’s Season and Playoff Hopes
Austin Hill, recognized as the Xfinity Series Rookie of the Year in 2022 and the regular-season champion last year, has amassed 13 career victories in the Xfinity Series, including three wins in 2024 at Atlanta, Martinsville, and Talladega. Sitting out this race jeopardizes Hill’s momentum and could affect his eligibility for the season’s playoffs, as drivers typically require a waiver to remain in contention if they miss a race for disciplinary reasons.
The short-term lineup change and suspension cast fresh uncertainty on the playoff grid, with fans and the NASCAR community now awaiting an update on whether Hill will receive the necessary waiver to compete for the championship after this incident. As the series moves on to Iowa Speedway, the racing world continues to monitor the aftermath of the controversial crash and its consequences for both Hill’s season and the overall championship stakes.
