Austin Hill to make NASCAR Cup Series debut at Michigan
WELCOME, N.C. — Richard Childress Racing officially announced Austin Hill will make his NASCAR Cup Series debut in this Sunday’s Firekeepers Casino 400 at Michigan.
Austin Hill will drive a No. 33 Chevrolet, primarily sponsored by his NASCAR Xfinity Series backer Bennett Transportation & Logistics.
Hill, a NASCAR Xfinity Series rookie this year, has already won two races and sits sixth in points after 20 races. He has 13 top-10 finishes this season, including nine top-10 finishes in the last 10 races.
“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,” Hill said. “I’m so thankful that Richard Childress and everyone at RCR has 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’s debut will also be backed by RCR partners Alsco Uniforms, United Rentals, Global Industrial and Realtree.
“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 team owner Richard Childress. “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.”
In four full-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series seasons, Hill made three playoff appearances and earned eight wins, 27 top-5 finishes and 51 top-10 finishes in 91 starts dating back to 2018.
RCR fielded a No. 33 NASCAR Cup Series car full-time with Clint Bowyer from 2009-2011. From 2004-2008 and 2012-2015, RCR sporadically fielded the No. 33 for several drivers. Ty Dillon drove the No. 33 RCR entry in its most recent race – the 2015 Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami.
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Jonathan Fjeld View All
Jonathan Fjeld is the co-owner of the The Racing Experts, LLC. He has been with TRE since 2010.
A Twin Valley, MN, native, Fjeld became a motorsports fan at just three years old (first race was the 2002 Pennsylvania 500). He worked as a contributor and writer for TRE from 2010-18. Since then, he has stepped up and covered 24 NASCAR race weekends and taken on a larger role with TRE. He became the co-owner and managing editor in 2023 and has guided the site to massive growth in that time.
Fjeld has covered a wide array of stories and moments over the years, including Kevin Harvick's final Cup Series season, the first NASCAR national series disqualification in over 50 years, Shane van Gisbergen's stunning win in Chicago and the first Cup Series race at Road America in 66 years – as well as up-and-coming drivers' stories and stories from inside the sport, like the tech it takes for Hendrick Motorsports to remain a top-tier team.
Currently, he resides in Albuquerque, N.M., where he works for KOB 4, an NBC station. He works as a digital producer and does on-air reports. He loves spending time with friends and family, playing and listening to music, exploring new places, being outdoors, reading books and writing among other activities. You can email him at fjeldjonathan@gmail.com