Austin Hill suspended one race for Indy crash

Field Level Media|published: 07/30/2025, 11:37am EDT

Jul 12, 2025; Sonoma, California, USA; NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Austin Hill (21) waves after being introduced to fans before the start of the NASCAR Xfinity Series Race at Sonoma Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images

NASCAR issued a one-race suspension to Xfinity Series driver Austin Hill for his role in a crash in Indianapolis last weekend.

Hill, the driver of the Richard Childress Racing No. 21 Chevrolet, will be replaced by Austin Dillon behind the wheel at Saturday's race at Iowa Speedway.

The crash in question occurred in lap 91 of last Saturday's 100-circuit Pennzoil 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. After tangling with Aric Almirola's No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota in Turn 3, Hill bumped Almirola's right-rear fender and sent him into the Turn 4 retaining wall.

Almirola was knocked out of the race, finishing 35th in the 38-car field. Race officials kept Hill in the pits for five laps for rough driving but he was able to continue with a damaged car and finished 34th.

NASCAR officials announced the suspension on Tuesday.

Hill, 31, was the Xfinity Series' Rookie of the Year in 2022 and regular-season champion in 2023. He has 13 career wins in NASCAR's No. 2 series, including three this season at Atlanta, Martinsville and Talladega.

Hill's absence from this Saturday's race means he will need a waiver to maintain his eligibility for the Xfinity Series playoffs.

--Field Level Media