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Austin Hill hooks Michael McDowell and causes vicious 16 car wreck, red flag at Watkins Glen

JHby: Jonathan Howard08/09/25Jondean25
Austin Hill Michael McDowell wreck Watkins Glen
Screenshot credit: CW Sports via X.com

Back from his suspension, Austin Hill is at the center of another controversial wreck. This one doesn’t appear intentional. There are moments at Watkins Glen where the high speeds and intense racing create chaos. This NASCAR Xfinity Series race just saw that happen.

Racing against Michael McDowell for P2, Austin Hill got to the inside of his left quarter panel. The two cars made contact, and McDowell was quickly slamming into the wall. Soon after, dirt was in the air, and multiple cars came piling into the area.

In total, 16 cars were involved in this wreck. We have a red flag. There were top-10 cars destroyed, and a couple of cars came slamming into the pile as spotters tried to get drivers stopped. One of the wildest wrecks you will see at The Glen.

This wreck changes so much in this race. When 16 cars wreck, it causes a significant change to the field and who these leaders might be racing against. Then you wonder if Austin Hill is going to remain as aggressive as we have seen him late in this race.

Hill pushed Connor Zilisch out of the way to take the lead. Zilisch was then able to get back to Hill and make a pass after another restart. Soon after, McDowell found himself in the wall.

This race is under a lengthy red flag. The barrier in that area of the track has to be repaired. Fluid was all over the track. Can we see a clean finish or will it be more twisted metal before the finish?

Austin Hill in hot water fresh off NASCAR suspension

For Austin Hill, his return to the Xfinity Series was fine as far as his finish in the race went. He was P10. Could have been better. However, the same old Hill came out on the track today and it showed in two major incidents.

After Connor Zilisch and SVG got into each other and the Kiwi was wrecked out of the race, Hill had a great position near the front. He chose to line up behind Zilisch and used that to move the 88 car out of his way in Turn 1. Zilisch fell back to P5.

Later, Hill was racing Michael McDowell for P2. He forced a move on the inside of McDowell’s car and hooked his left side. McDowell slammed the wall hard, and it caused a major wreck with 16 cars involved.

So, it appears that Austin Hill has done more to make others even more upset with him than to improve anything. Coming out of his suspension, has Hill learned anything?