Austin Hill to Make Cup Debut with RCR at Michigan

by
Peter Stratta
August 2, 2022

Photo Credit to Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images for NASCAR

Austin Hill to Run Michigan Cup Race in RCR No. 33 Chevrolet

WELCOME, N.C. – Announced today, Austin Hill will drive a third RCR car in this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series race. Hill, 28, from Winston, Georgia, has two Xfinity Series victories in his first season with Richard Childress Racing. Hill will run the FireKeepers Casino 400 from Michigan in the No. 33 Chevrolet Camaro, fielded by RCR and with sponsorship from Bennett Transportation & Logistics.

“As a kid growing up in this sport, getting the chance to run a NASCAR Cup Series car is the ultimate dream, especially with a team like Richard Childress Racing that has so much history and success,” said Hill, who currently competes full-time in the Xfinity Series for RCR in the No. 21 Chevrolet. “I’m so thankful that Richard Childress and everyone at RCR have so much faith in me. It will be a learning weekend, for sure, but I’ve had success at Michigan International Speedway in the past and can’t wait to take on the track’s wide, sweeping corners in a NASCAR Cup Series Chevrolet.”

Hill does have a past triumph at Michigan International Speedway, with a Truck Series win from 2019. That race was one of eight wins Hill had over three seasons in the Trucks. Not only will Hill run 400 miles on Sunday, his day job in Xfinity requires a double-duty weekend from Michigan. He will also drive the No. 21 on Saturday as well, in the New Holland 250.

So far in 2022, Hill has two wins: Daytona in February and Atlanta in July. This goes along with 13 top-10s, 223 laps led, and an average finish of 10.6. Through 20 races, Hill is currently sixth in Xfinity Series standings, in great position for a deep Playoff run in his rookie season.

“Austin Hill has shown talent in every Series he’s raced in during his career, so I couldn’t be more excited to have him behind the wheel of a Cup Series car,” said Richard Childress, RCR Chairman and CEO. “He’s having a strong season in the Xfinity Series, and I know he will be just as competitive and eager to learn behind the wheel of a Cup Series car.”

Catch Austin Hill in both NASCAR races this weekend from Michigan International Speedway. The New Holland 250 will go green Saturday at 3:30 p.m. on USA Network, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. The Cup race will be Sunday at 3:00 on the same networks. With the recent announcement of Tyler Reddick vacating RCR, could this be the start of Hill being groomed to take over the 8?