CHARLOTTE, N.C. – July 29, 2025 — NASCAR officials announced on Tuesday that Austin Hill, driver of the No. 21 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, will serve a one-race suspension in the Xfinity Series following a retaliatory wreck during last Saturday’s event at Indianapolis Motor Speedway .
🏁 Incident Overview
With just nine laps to go in the Pennzoil 250, Aric Almirola’s Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota nudged Hill’s car in Turn 3 while they were battling for fourth. Hill regained control, but then appeared to hook Almirola’s right rear, sending him nose-first into the outer wall in Turn 4. Almirola described the impact as “one of the hardest hits” of his career and “definitely intentional.” Hill was penalized five laps during the race for reckless driving and finished 34th; Almirola ended up 35th .
After the penalty, Hill delivered expletive-filled remarks over the radio and was adamant the contact was unintentional—a stance NASCAR did not accept .
🛑 Suspension & Playoff Ramifications
Hill’s suspension means he will miss the Xfinity race at Iowa Speedway this weekend (August 2), and will be replaced by Cup Series driver Austin Dillon at the wheel of the No. 21 car .
Under NASCAR’s new waiver policy introduced in 2025, missing a race due to suspension results in the forfeiture of all playoff points—Hill had previously accrued 21 points, the third-highest in the series behind Connor Zilisch (29) and Justin Allgaier (22) . Without those points—and prohibited from earning more unless a waiver is granted—Hill would re-enter the playoffs with just the base 2,000 points, putting him at a steep disadvantage .
Richard Childress Racing confirmed they will not appeal NASCAR’s decision, stating they remain focused on a championship with Hill in 2025 and will rely on Dillon to keep the No. 21 car competitive in his absence .
🔄 The Fallout
Hill currently sits seventh in the Xfinity standings, with three race wins on the year. The suspension and loss of bonus points threaten his playoff spot—only the top 12 advance. His path forward hinges on whether NASCAR grants the team a playoff waiver .
The incident reflects NASCAR’s increasingly strict enforcement of its Member Code of Conduct regarding on-track retaliation, particularly at high-speed tracks. Earlier in the season, a similar retaliatory crash involving Austin Cindric resulted in substantial penalties—though not a suspension—for the driver and his team .
🧭 What’s Next
Iowa Speedway (August 2): Hill will be absent; Austin Dillon takes over the No. 21 Xfinity ride. Playoff Eligibility: Hill must apply for a waiver to remain eligible. If granted, he restarts the postseason with zero bonus points. Championship Outlook: Without points cushion, Hill’s margin for error in the first playoff round becomes razor-thin.
NASCAR’s decision sends a clear message: intentional wrecks won’t be tolerated—regardless of the drivers involved or stages of the race.
