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13h ago

NASCAR Holds Off on New Penalty for Hill After Watkins Glen Pileup

No further NASCAR discipline underscores concerns over competitive fairness with rising financial strain from wrecked equipment.

Michael McDowell, driver of the #11 Different Night Same Rodeo Chevrolet, (L) and Austin Hill, driver of the #21 Bennett Transportation Chevrolet, talk backstage during pre-race ceremonies prior to the NASCAR Xfinity Series Mission 200 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 09, 2025 in Watkins Glen, New York.
Austin Hill at Texas
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Overview

  • During the Xfinity race at Watkins Glen, Hill’s contact with Michael McDowell exiting the carousel triggered a 16-car pileup and a 45-minute red flag to repair barriers.
  • NASCAR has made no new penalty announcement for that incident, leaving Hill’s only sanction this season as his earlier one-race suspension and 21 forfeited playoff points.
  • Drivers Denny Hamlin and Dale Earnhardt Jr. characterized the Glen crash as a hard-racing error rather than deliberate wrecking, emphasizing spotter blind zones and split-second decisions.
  • Online communities and fans have cited past NASCAR suspensions as precedent and are calling for more consistent enforcement of on-track conduct.
  • The wreck inflicted substantial equipment losses on smaller teams such as DGM Racing and RSS Racing, intensifying concerns about the sport’s financial and safety implications and straining relations between RCR and NASCAR.