Austin Hill will officially be elevated to full-time NASCAR Cup Series competition in 2027, as Richard Childress Racing announced on Monday that the driver will reprise his role as the driver of the No. 33 Chevrolet for the duration of next season.
Hill has served as the driver of the No. 33 Chevrolet since the death of the legendary Kyle Busch in May. Hill has helped bring stability to the RCR Cup program in the months since the tragic passing of the two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion.
In a press release, Hill expressed gratitude for the opportunity in front of him in 2027.
“I’m extremely thankful to Richard and everyone at RCR for believing in me and giving me this opportunity,” said Hill. “Every race car driver dreams of competing full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, and to have that opportunity with RCR is something I don’t take for granted. I’ve learned so much this year about what it takes to compete at this level, and I’m excited to take everything I’ve learned during my time at RCR and apply it to this next chapter. I want to do everything I can to help this organization continue moving forward. I’m excited for what’s ahead and ready to get to work.”
Richard Childress Racing feels that Hill, who is one of the most aggressive drivers in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, is the guy to help grow the organization back into being a contender in NASCAR’s top division.
“Austin Hill is a talented race car driver, and his continued growth, work ethic, and success across multiple levels of NASCAR competition have positioned him for his next step with RCR,” said Richard Childress, Chairman and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. “He’s put a tremendous amount of effort into his career, especially this year with everything he’s taken on. We’ve watched Austin grow as a driver and as a person, and we’re proud to have him continue that growth with RCR in the NASCAR Cup Series.”
You can’t argue that Hill has been extremely effective on the rungs of the ladder to the NASCAR Cup Series.
Hill amassed eight wins over three full-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series campaigns with Hattori Racing Enterprises between 2019 and 2021, which led to a move to the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series program in 2022.
Since moving to the O’Reilly Series full-time in 2022, Hill has piled on 16 more wins and has been a consistent threat near the top of the championship standings each and every season.
Hopefully, for RCR and Hill, the driver can take that next step in the Cup Series next season.
