NASCAR suspends driver for Indianapolis Motor Speedway crash

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — NASCAR has suspended Xfinity Series driver Austin Hill for one race following his actions during Saturday’s Pennzoil 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

As a result, the Richard Childress Racing driver will miss this weekend’s race at Iowa Speedway.

Hill hit Aric Almirola’s right rear late in the race on Saturday, which turned Almirola into the wall entering turn four.

Almirola’s race ended as a result of the crash.

“It was definitely intentional,” Almirola said following the incident on The CW’s broadcast of the race. “He blocked me three times. I finally got him loose in (turn) three. He had damage on the nose, so he was really slow in the corners, and so it was time to go.”

Almirola added that it was one of the biggest hits of his career.

Hill was held for five laps in the pits due to “rough driving” following the incident.

Richard Childress Racing posted the following on social media Tuesday following the announcement of Hill’s suspension:

“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.”

The post went on to say that Austin Dillon will race Hill’s No. 21 car at Iowa Speedway this weekend.

According to an article on NASCAR’s website regarding the suspension, “Hill’s absence from a regular-season race will require a waiver so that he may retain his eligibility for the Xfinity Series Playoffs. Under a rule established before the 2025 season, he will forfeit his total of 21 playoff points and be ineligible to collect more before the postseason begins.”

Connor Zilisch ended up winning this past Saturday’s race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Iowa Speedway will take place Saturday at 4:30 p.m. EDT. You can watch the race live on WISH-TV.

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