Corey LaJoie, Mamba Smith debate Austin Hill incident at Watkins Glen: 'Use your head'

Back from his suspension and Austin Hill is the story once again this week. Corey LaJoie and Mamba Smith are debating the incident. Hill got into Michael McDowell and sent the NASCAR Cup driver into the wall. Then the pileup of all pileups happened with 16 cars involved.

Austin Hill was suspended for a week after NASCAR felt he intentionally right-rear hooked Aric Almirola. Hill had to sit out of Iowa. This week, he hooks another driver, but in his defense, it was not nearly as intentional. At least, it appeared to be more of a racing incident.

Mamba Smith and Corey LaJoie are going over the Hill and McDowell incident online. The two NASCAR broadcasters feel differently about this wreck.

“I don’t think Austin Hill did that on purpose…” Smith wrote. “Buuuuut he’s putting officials in a really tough spot.”

“It doesn’t matter if it was on purpose or not,” LaJoie responded about Austin Hill. “He couldn’t have been in a worse position to force any leverage there. You can use your head and lift.”

It doesn’t matter if it was on purpose or not. He couldn’t have been in a worse position to force any leverage there. You can use your head and lift.

— Corey LaJoie (@CoreyLaJoie) August 9, 2025

Austin Hill has earned his fair share of criticism. It isn’t just the Aric Almirola incident in his past. But fresh from that incident, the fact he couldn’t let up on the aggression for even one race is a major red flag. Drivers have to know when to reel it in, and someone at Hill’s age should know how to do that at this point in their career.

Austin Hill causes Big One at Watkins Glen

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.

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.