Austin Hill didn't hold back after NASCAR parked him for five laps during Saturday's Xfinity Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Richard Childress Racing driver unloaded on team radio after a controversial crash with Aric Almirola that ended both drivers' chances of a top 10.
Hill and Almirola were fighting for fourth with under 15 laps to go when contact
between the two sent both cars into the wall. Almirola nudged Hill into Turn 3, sending the No. 21 Chevrolet sideways.
Hill recovered but quickly turned left and caught the right-rear of Almirola's No. 19 Toyota and sent it into the wall. Almirola got out under his own power but called it one of the biggest hits he's ever taken.
NASCAR deemed Hill's move excessive and held him on pit road for five laps, effectively ending his day. Hill finished 34th, one lap ahead of Almirola who didn't finish.
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Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Austin Hill was livid on the radio « they can go f*** themselves. 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 #19 [Almirola] ». The 30-year-old said the contact was unintentional and blamed it on trying to get his car back under control. NASCAR didn't buy it.
Almirola disagreed: "It was definitely intentional. He blocked me three times… I got him loose into Turn 3… he just turned left and hooked me… Honestly, one of the biggest hits in my NASCAR career, very reminiscent of when I broke my back."
Fans and insiders have been loud in the aftermath, with many saying the five-lap penalty was too light. Social media pointed to Hill's visible steering input before the hook as evidence of intent. NASCAR's initial in-race penalty may not be the end of it, additional penalties could be handed down when the weekly penalty report is released midweek.
Austin Hill is a playoff contender in the Xfinity Series but a suspension could put his postseason eligibility in jeopardy if NASCAR doesn't grant a waiver. The series is back in action next Saturday at Iowa Speedway.
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