Austin Hill will remain with Richard Childress Racing, piloting the No. 21 Chevrolet alongside longtime sponsor Bennett Transportation for the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season. The announcement cements Hill’s ongoing partnership with RCR, ensuring his presence in the Austin Hill NASCAR 2026 campaign after a dramatic and eventful 2025 season.
Hill’s Consistent Performance and 2025 Campaign Highlights
Hill has demonstrated remarkable consistency since joining the team, tallying 14 wins, 51 top-five finishes, and 83 top-10s in 131 NOAPS starts across four seasons. As he heads into his fifth year with Richard Childress Racing, Hill is determined to contend for a championship berth again, aiming to improve on a 2025 season where he showed promise despite setbacks.
For much of 2025, Hill emerged as one of the top drivers in the series, closely following the strong JR Motorsports duo of Connor Zilisch and Justin Allgaier. He was regarded as having a solid shot to join both in the Championship 4, reflecting his position among the best competitors of the season.
Indianapolis Incident and Its Playoff Repercussions
A pivotal moment in Hill’s season came during the Indianapolis race, where a collision with Aric Almirola had far-reaching consequences. After making contact with Almirola in turn three—leading to a right-rear hook into the wall—NASCAR deemed Hill’s action intentional. This resulted in a one-race suspension and the removal of all 21 of his playoff points.
The penalty proved decisive. Although Hill managed to secure a playoff spot, he ultimately missed advancing by exactly 21 points, the same amount deducted after the Indianapolis incident. His resilience was evident in his strong season finish—posting four consecutive results of 12th or better, which included his fourth triumph of the year at Talladega in October.
2025 Season Results and Team Dynamics
Hill ended 2025 with four wins, 13 top-fives, and 18 top-10 finishes, averaging 12.6 in race results, and concluding the year sixth in points. Meanwhile, his teammate Jesse Love secured the series championship. As Hill and Love move into their third year together at RCR, their competition has remained close; across 65 head-to-head races, Hill edged out Love in 36.
A review of their comparative stats over that timeframe underscores the intensity of their rivalry: Hill leads Love in race wins (8 to 3) and top-fives (24 to 15), while Love holds a slight edge in overall top-10s (39 to 38) and boasts a marginally better average finish (11.7 to Hill’s 12.1).
Looking Ahead to the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series
The elusive championship continues to drive Hill, who made the Championship 4 in 2024 and finished fourth in the standings. As NOAPS returns on February 14 at Daytona International Speedway—airing on The CW, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90, and the Motor Racing Network—Hill will look to build on RCR’s streak, as the team has won each of the last four openers at Daytona. Love took the win last year, with Hill having captured victory the prior three years.
With the new season on the horizon, Hill’s return to the No. 21 Chevrolet renews his pursuit of the championship and continues a dynamic rivalry with Jesse Love. The stage is set for another high-energy year, as both drivers aim to keep Richard Childress Racing at the forefront of the series.
