NASCAR suspend star driver to put playoff dreams in doubt

NASCAR have officially suspended Xfinity Series star Austin Hill for next weekend's race at Iowa.

Hill was given a five lap penalty by officials on Saturday at Indianapolis for 'rough driving' after he wrecked out Aric Almirola, in what was claimed by some to be retaliation for a nudge from Almirola.

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Austin Dillon will drive the No. 21 car for Richard Childress Racing this weekend in his stead, with the team confirming that they will not be appealing the decision.

The suspension puts Hill's playoff participation in doubt, as rules dictate he will need a waiver for having missed a regular season race. Even if he is granted that waiver, a rule change brought in before this season means that he will lose his 21 playoff points and be unable to amass any more before the postseason.

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RCR will not appeal Hill suspension

A simple statement from the team read: "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. We remain focused on winning a championship with Austin Hill in 2025. Austin Dillon will race the No. 21 Chevrolet at Iowa Speedway."

Hill has yet to respond publicly to the suspension at time of writing, but is unlikely to be thrilled by the judgement. The five-lap drop given to him during the race appeared to upset him slightly at the time, as he alluded to on team radio.

"They can go f*** themselves," he said. "F*** NASCAR. That is f****** bulls*** … I’m f****** sideways, I go to correct it back to the left. It’s locked to the left and I run into the No. 19."

Almirola, for his part, was scathing in his criticism of Hill after the wreck, saying: "Oh, it was definitely intentional. He blocked me three times. I finally got him loose in three. He had damage on the nose, so he was really slow in the corners. It was time to go; we were coming to nine laps to go, and the leaders were starting to put a gap on us.

"It was time to go. I got him loose, and he just turned left and hooked me in the right rear. Honestly, one of the biggest hits in my entire NASCAR career, very reminiscent of the hit I took when I broke my back."

He added: "He stood up in front of a meeting in Martinsville and said that he was going to be a role model for all the young kids to look up to, and racing etiquette. I think that’s kinda laughable after that one."

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