Richard Childress Racing responds to NASCAR suspension of Austin Hill, names replacement driver

Richard Childress Racing (RCR) has responded to NASCAR suspending Austin Hill for his incident with Aric Almirola during the Xfinity Series race at Indianapolis this past weekend. RCR said it will not appeal the suspension and revealed who will replace Hill this weekend.

“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,” the team said. “We remain focused on winning a championship with Austin Hill in 2025. Austin Dillon will race the No. 21 Chevrolet at Iowa Speedway.”

Austin Hill, the driver for the No. 21 Chevrolet for RCR, will miss this weekend’s event at Iowa Speedway. He hit Aric Almirola during the 91st lap of the Pennzoil 250. After Almirola bumped Hill into a slide in Turn 3, Hill hit Almirola’s right-rear fender, turning the No. 19 Toyota into the Turn 4 retaining wall.

Austin Hill says his hit on Aric Almirola wasn’t intentional

After the race, Almirola reacted to being hit by Hill. “It was definitely intentional,” Almirola told The CW, per NASCAR.com. “He (Hill) blocked me three times. I finally got him loose in (Turn) 3. He had damage on the nose, so he was really slow in the corners. It was time to go. I mean, we’re coming to nine to go, and the leaders are starting to put a gap on us, so it’s time to go. I got him loose, and he just turned left and hooked me in the right rear.”

Hill wasn’t available for a comment after the race, but he told his team that the hit wasn’t intentional. “I couldn’t hang onto it. I did not try to right-rear him,” Hill told his team on the radio. “He had me out of control and I drove back to the left to keep it off the wall. I’m not sure what the hell he thought just running me over in 3 though!”