NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers Austin Hill and Aric Almirola were involved in a major crash during the Pennzoil 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The incident occurred with 10 laps to go in the race, as Almirola came up behind Hill and intentionally rammed him, sending him sliding up the track. Almirola attempted to overtake Hill, but Hill’s car lost control and spun into the wall. Hill was hit with a five-lap penalty for the controversial hit, which he denied was intentional. Almirola, however, argued that the contact was deliberate, claiming that Hill had been blocking him three times prior to the crash.
Almirola, who was released from the infield care center after the incident, told reporters that the crash felt very similar to a 2017 wreck in which he broke his back. He called the contact ‘violent’ and expressed interest in reviewing the black-box data from the crash. Hill, on the other hand, told his team over the radio that he couldn’t hold onto the car due to the contact, suggesting he was not in control of the situation. Team owner Richard Childress defended Hill, arguing that such tactics are common in competitive racing and that NASCAR should not penalize drivers for aggressive moves that are part of the sport.
Childress cited a previous incident involving Austin Cindric, who wrecked Ty Dillon and admitted to the contact, yet was not suspended by NASCAR. He emphasized that his team, which is known for its blue-collar approach, frequently faces challenges from other drivers. The incident raised questions about the rules and penalties in NASCAR, particularly regarding intentional contact and the enforcement of safety measures. The crash also highlighted the physical and emotional toll that such incidents can take on drivers, with Almirola expressing both frustration and concern over the violent nature of the crash. The race ultimately saw Connor Zilisch emerge as the winner, adding to the competitive tension during the event.