HAMPTON, GA - FEBRUARY 20: Austin Hill 21 Richard Childress Racing Bennett Transportation Chevrolet during qualifying for the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA OÕReilly Auto Parts Series Bennett Transportation & Logistics 250 race on February 20, 2026 at EchoPark Speedway in Hampton, GA. Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire AUTO: FEB 20 NASCAR OÕReilly Auto Parts Series Bennett Transportation & Logistics 250 EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon953260220023

Jul 6, 2026, 4:39 AM CUT

Austin Hill lets out his frustration after rival driver's seeming 'payback' at Chicagoland

Tempers flared during the NASCAR Cup race at Chicagoland as Austin Hill found himself in the midst of another on-track incident. The Richard Childress Racing driver’s race came to an end on lap 47 of 267 after contact with Shane van Gisbergen.

Hill, who was running in 28th place at the time, was trying to defend from Gisbergen behind him. However, SVG hit the left rear of Hill’s car coming out of Turn 3, sending him spinning into the outside wall.

While talking to the media after being released from the medical center, the No. 33 Chevrolet driver was questioned about what went wrong. He bluntly replied (in a video shared by reporter Peter Stratta on X):

"I'm sure you all have seen the replay. If I need to explain it, people probably need to get glasses."

Hill was further questioned about whether this was "payback" for causing a wreck in San Diego earlier this month, which ended SVG's race early.

"I have no idea," he replied.

During the race restart on lap 32 at San Diego, Hill missed the apex and hit Connor Zilisch, who was beside him on the front row. Gisbergen, who was behind the two, was also caught up in the crash.

While Hill refrained from commenting about the crash further, his boss did not hold back.

Richard Childress accuses SVG of wrecking Austin Hill "on purpose"

Richard Childress did not shy away from expressing his frustration after the crash between SVG and Austin Hill. He explicitly referred to the San Diego incident and said that it was indeed a payback from the Trackhouse star.

The team owner took to the radio to communicate with his team, and he said,

"That was on purpose from California" (via Jeff Gluck on X)

He felt that the contact warranted further review of the incident from NASCAR, as he voiced his opinion about the same on the radio.

"Somebody talk to NASCAR about that. That was blatant."

While his team boss believed that the move was "blatant", Austin Hill was questioned by the media if Shane van Gisbergen should be penalized for the same; he replied,

"Possibly. If there's definitive evidence. I'll leave it in NASCAR's hands."

Post-race, SVG apologized to Hill and RCR. However, it remains to be seen if NASCAR will take any further action for the incident.

Written by

Chionia Libania Colaco

Edited by

Yash Kotak