NASCAR has suspended Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Hill for next weekend’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Iowa Speedway as a behavioral penalty for his intentional wreck of Joe Gibbs Racing’s Aric Almirola during Saturday’s (July 26) Pennzoil 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, NASCAR released Tuesday in its penalty report.
In the closing laps, Hill was holding off Almirola while battling within the top five and got loose out of turn 3. Hill saved the car but proceeded to turn left, right rear hooking the No. 19 Toyota into the non-safer barrier portion of turn 4.
Hill won three times during the 2025 Xfinity Series season and sits fifth in the championship, but this suspension will negate any playoff points earned and will earn during the regular season with the implementation of NASCAR’s new rules for 2025.
RCR will not appeal Hill’s penalty and will have NASCAR Cup Series regular Austin Dillon fill in the No. 21 Chevrolet at Iowa. Dillon will make his second start for RCR in the Xfinity Series this season, previously starting in the No. 3 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Legacy Motor Club was also given a penalty for the loose wheel that ended Erik Jones‘ Brickyard 400 early with crew members Kellen Mills and John Rosselli being suspended for the next two races on the schedule.
Wyatt Watson has followed motorsports closely since 2007. He joined Frontstretch as a journalist in February 2023 after serving in the United States Navy for five years as an Electronic Technician Navigation working on submarines. Wyatt is one of Frontstretch's primary IndyCar correspondents, providing exclusive video content on site. He hosts Frontstretch's Through the Gears podcast and occasionally The Pit Straight.You can find Wyatt's written work in columns such as Friday Faceoff and 2-Headed Monsteras well as exclusive IndyCar features. Wyatt also contributes to Frontstretch's social media team, posting unique and engaging content for Frontstretch.
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