NASCAR reveals final decision on Austin Hill playoff eligibility after suspension

NASCAR has made a final decision on the playoff eligibility of Austin Hill. Hill missed last week’s race at Iowa as a result of a suspension.

But the governing body has granted Hill a waiver, allowing the No. 21 car for Richard Childress Racing to remain eligible for the playoffs. Typically players must race in all races to be eligible for the playoffs, though there are some narrow exceptions.

Austin Hill missed last week’s race as a result of a suspension. He was suspended after he intentionally right-rear hooked Aric Almirola in retaliation with 10 laps remaining in the Xfinity race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

At the time, NASCAR issued him a five-lap penalty for wrecking Almirola. They later dropped the hammer with news of the suspension, which incurred a loss of all playoff points.

Hill had 21 playoff points prior to the suspension, third most among drivers. Though he now has a waiver for eligibility, he will not receive his playoff points back.

In addition, any playoff points that Austin Hill earns through the regular-season finale on Sept. 6 will be forfeited. He cannot gain any playoff points ahead of the postseason.

NASCAR insider reacts to Austin Hill suspension

Austin Hill and his 2025 Xfinity Series championship hopes took a big hit with the suspension. Per NASCAR’s updated guidelines for playoff waivers, missing a race due to a suspension results in a loss of all playoff bonus points. 

Hill will vacate his 21 playoff points up to this point — third most among drivers — and any he earns throughout the remainder of the regular season will not carry along with him to the postseason. It’s a big penalty, though a “justified” one, Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic said in a Dirty Mo Media video.

“It’s gonna be tough for Austin Hill in the playoffs, a championship favorite. He’s got three wins this year [and] he’s currently ranked fifth in points,” Bianchi said. “Now, he’ll get a waiver to make the playoffs and that’s fine, but his road to the Championship 4 is much harder now than it would have been before Saturday’s incident.

“… This was a justified penalty. NASCAR got this one right. The caveat, of course, is the playoff points. NASCAR added that rule this year, and so that’s really going to hit Austin Hill in the playoffs. You work all year during the regular season to get to bonus points that help you through each round. As we’ve seen many times, those can be the big difference between advancing and being eliminated. Austin Hill is not going to have those to fall back on. This has championship implications but again, when you look at what happened, this was a deserved penalty for Austin Hill.”

On3’s Nick Geddes also contributed to this report.