“Gotta get some race cars. We are in trouble. Period.” Richard Childress’ blunt words at Dover Motor Speedway summed up the state of RCR’s Cup Series program. Despite offseason hires and a renewed push for speed, Kyle Busch remains winless and frustrated, admitting the team has the work ethic but not the pace to contend. The lack of speed has left RCR scrambling to stay relevant as the playoff picture tightens. Meanwhile, their Xfinity Series drivers have shown great pace, but seemingly a lack of discipline.

What should’ve been a straightforward race became another black eye for an organization already under the microscope. And the dear NASCAR community wasn’t very kind this time.

“They can go f— themselves,” Austin Hill delivers explicit language towards NASCAR

Chaos unfolds at Indy per usual, and once again, Richard Childress Racing finds itself in the thick of it. A caution flew as Aric Almirola and Austin Hill tangled while battling for fourth between turns 3 and 4, turning what had been a fierce scrap into a devastating wreck. Almirola, driving the No. 19 for Joe Gibbs Racing, had started the Xfinity race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway from sixth on the grid, while Hill, driving Richard Childress Racing’s No. 21, rolled off from 13th.

As they battled through the mid-pack, Almirola and Hill were jockeying for position just behind the top three. On lap 91, while running side-by-side entering Turns 3-4, Almirola squeezed Hill up the track, which got the #21 loose, but Hill saved it, and then he did something unthinkable, which not only ruined Almirola’s race but Hill’s as well.

Austin Hill, right rear, hooked Aric Almirola and sent him careening headfirst into the inside wall as he went spinning around for the 6th caution of the evening. That abruptly interrupted what had been a strategic battle for a top-five positioning. An irate Almirola keys his radio moments after the wreck, fuming, “If NASCAR is setting a precedent, the 21 shouldn’t be racing next week!”

Meanwhile, Hill was quick to defend himself, admitting over the radio, “I couldn’t hang onto it. I was not trying to right rear him.” If that wasn’t enough, NASCAR announced they would hold Austin Hill for 5 laps for his reckless driving. And Hill’s response? “They can go f— themselves.” The wreck derailed both drivers’ afternoons and reignited debate over aggressive racing at Indy, with Richard Childress’s driver caught squarely in the storm.

The penalty dropped him to a 34th-place finish, the only car five laps down, while Aric Almirola finished 35th after slamming the wall. Hill was furious over team radio, unleashing a string of explicit words aimed at NASCAR and insisting he was “sideways” and accidentally hit the No. 19. But Almirola strongly disagreed, calling the crash “one of the biggest hits of my NASCAR career,” comparing it to the 2017 wreck that broke his back, and also said, “It was definitely intentional.”

Almirola didn’t stop there, as he proceeded to rip into Austin Hill post-race, “It’s just unfortunate that guys like that, especially that guy [Austin Hill]; he stood up in front of a meeting at Martinsville and said he was going to be a role model for all he young kids to look up to in racing etiquette. I think that’s kind of laughable after that one.” Here, Almirola is referring to the drivers’ meeting with NASCAR after the egregious events that took place on the last lap at Martinsville earlier this season.

At Martinsville, Sammy Smith wrecked race leader Taylor Gray on the last lap, and chaos ensued as half the field started driving into each other and wrecking on the frontstretch, leaving Austin Hill to sneak through and win the race. However, the backlash was immense, and according to Almirola, Austin Hill took a stand against it. Well, it all seems pretty ironic at the moment.

NASCAR has confirmed it will review the incident further, meaning the five-lap penalty may not be the final word. Possible next steps could include fines, points deductions, or even a suspension, an outcome that would cost playoff bonus points and possibly sideline Austin Hill for future races. Richard Childress, Hill’s team owner, has pushed back against the idea of a suspension, claiming NASCAR is inconsistent in its treatment of similar incidents, but the governing body isn’t ruling out tougher action when it issues its midweek penalty report.

It is no secret that Richard Childress Racing is in hot water; with the ongoing performances in the NASCAR Cup Series, Richard hasn’t held back on the issues the team has been facing, and even their star driver has admitted to it. Now, this proves to be a new headache for the team, and the NASCAR community isn’t holding back this time.

Fans push back on “dirty” Austin Hill

The aftermath of Austin Hills’ move sparked a tidal wave of outrage, with fans flooding social media to demand accountability. Many weren’t just frustrated; they were incensed. Comments flew; one viewer didn’t hold back in saying, “Austin Hill is one of the dirtiest drivers; he needs to be suspended!!” framing his actions as more than just a racing incident. What stood out wasn’t just the anger but the sheer disbelief that NASCAR would let something so blatant slide with only minimal consequence.

Some fans went further, directing their ire at Richard Childress himself, with one blatantly declaring, “That makes my day. Hope Richard fires him.” Others echoed that sentiment, calling for immediate and severe measures. “Park him and suspend him next week,” one fan demanded, while another didn’t mince words: “Tell him to get out of the car and he’s not welcome back until next year.” The calls for discipline painted a clear picture; many believed this wasn’t just one bad move, but a driver crossing a line that could tarnish his and his team’s image.

Adding fuel to the fire was the slow-motion replay of the incident, which became a social media smoking gun. Fans dissected every frame, pointing out the moment Hill’s hands appeared to twitch left. One fan raged on, “This race is an absolute f—— embarrassment to this great sport. YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE HIM MOVE HIS HANDS LEFT! THAT’S INTENTIONAL!” The capital letters were just for emphasis; they reflected the collective boiling point of a fanbase that felt cheated out of a fair race.

Even the penalty handed down wasn’t enough and was met with backlash, as one fan mentioned, “Five laps for reckless driving by Austin Hill isn’t enough. Clearly intentional.” For those watching it, it wasn’t merely a question of NASCAR discipline; it was about the integrity of the sport itself. And in their eyes, Austin Hill’s actions and the light slap on the wrist that followed left a stain that wouldn’t fade any time soon. Do you think Austin Hill should be parked next week for his actions? Let us know in the comments!