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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Austin Hill has been officially named the full-time driver of Richard Childress Racing’s (RCR) No. 33 NASCAR Cup Series entry for the upcoming season, a significant career advancement that comes with a complex emotional backdrop. While the opportunity represents a long-held ambition, its arrival is intrinsically linked to the tragic loss of Kyle Busch, a situation Hill has navigated with considerable contemplation and a deep sense of loyalty to his current team.
Hill, who has been a fixture with RCR since the 2022 season, has amassed an impressive record within the NASCAR Xfinity Series (formerly O’Reilly Series). His tenure began with a victory in his organizational debut at Daytona, followed by an additional 15 wins over the subsequent five years. At 32 years old, his progression to a regular Cup Series presence was not always a guaranteed trajectory, making this official announcement a pivotal moment.
The transition to the Cup Series has been further complicated by the circumstances surrounding Kyle Busch’s absence from the RCR stable. Hill acknowledged a degree of apprehension in stepping into a role that was previously occupied by a two-time Cup Series champion. "I would say I had been wanting to go to Cup for a little while now, but I wanted to make sure it was the right opportunity for me and not just jumping (in) any Cup car, and just to say I’m a cup driver, right," Hill stated during a press conference held at Daytona International Speedway on Friday. "And that was something that I have always thought of for a very long time. I didn’t just want to jump in any type of Cup car just to say I’m racing in Cup now."
His desire for a Cup Series seat was contingent on joining the correct organization and working alongside individuals he trusted. "I wanted to do it for the right organization, for the people that I wanted to be surrounded by. And I’ve always thought that since being at RCR for the last five years now, that that was the organization I wanted to be at," Hill elaborated.
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Prior to recent developments, RCR’s Cup Series lineup was projected to feature Austin Dillon and Kyle Busch for the foreseeable future. Team owner Richard Childress had indicated at Michigan International Speedway that an extension for Busch was planned for announcement around the time of his passing. This scenario would have likely seen Hill continue his successful run in the Xfinity Series, potentially sharing the No. 21 car with Carson Brown.
"You know, I was kind of just biding my time," Hill admitted, referring to his previous position. "At the time, I didn’t know for sure what Kyle was going to be doing going into ‘27. Obviously, there was a lot of speculation, rumors, all those things, and so I didn’t know what he was doing. Then with everything that’s transpired over the last several months, things quickly changed, and I had to kind of question myself on like, did I still want to do this? Do I still want to be in the Cup car, did I want to be taking the place of Kyle Busch? A lot of things were going through my head."
Hill’s reflection on his decision-making process highlighted his commitment to RCR and his understanding of the realities of professional racing. "And then I just kind of kept reminding myself that someone was going to be in the car. You know, they weren’t going to just retire that team. Someone was still going to run in that car, and so I just was like, ‘Well, I’ve been here for five years.’ You know, I feel like I’ve been extremely loyal to RCR. And roles reversed, kind of the same way."
He emphasized that even if the Cup Series opportunity with RCR had not materialized, he would have remained content in the Xfinity Series. "So I thought this was a great opportunity for me. If it wouldn’t have happened and they would have gone a different route, that would have been totally fine, too. I would have stayed in the O’Reilly Series and stayed in the 21 car for another year or two and just seen where that progressed and where that went. I haven’t been rushing it by any means on trying to get to the Cup level, but yeah here we are now. We’re going into the rest of the season trying to learn as much as I can, trying to balance both series and be ready and prepared as I can going into 2027."
In navigating this significant career shift, Hill sought counsel from veteran driver Kevin Harvick, who experienced a similar transition with RCR in 2001 following the tragic death of Dale Earnhardt Sr. Harvick’s advice centered on the importance of mental fortitude and emotional resilience. "The biggest takeaway that I got from Kevin was just to be mentally tough and not to show your emotion in front of everyone," Hill recounted. "If you’re going to have a breakdown moment or anything like that happen, do that behind closed doors. You need to be the tough guy when it comes to driving the race car and being in the shop and being prepared and showing those guys that you mean business… that you’re here for them and you’re here to be that shoulder to lean on."
Hill underscored the impact of Harvick’s guidance on his personal and professional development. "That’s kind of one of the biggest takeaways for me. I’ve had to get a lot more mentally sharp than what I feel like I was, and I think that’s helped me as a person as a character."
Looking ahead to the current race weekend, Hill views both his Xfinity Series and Cup Series engagements as opportunities for victory. RCR has a well-established reputation for strong superspeedway performance across both series. "Daytona’s been good to us, right," Hill remarked. "There’s been situations where we’ve won a race here and we didn’t think it was going to happen. The next thing you know, we just kind of find ourselves in the front at the very end, and the right runs happen or the right things happen. So yeah, I have a lot of confidence going into this weekend. I would love to check that box of getting a summer Daytona win. That’s something that’s kind of eluded me for a little while now."
He further elaborated on the distinct challenges of competing at Daytona in different points of the season. "I can’t tell you the rhyme or reason why because it’s still Daytona. The only thing that I’ll say is, I think when you start out in February, people might be a little more reserved. I don’t know the exact answer to that, but when it comes down to the last race before the Chase… They want to get that last win and get all the points they can, and the intensity level picks up."
Regarding the Cup Series race, Hill expressed optimism about RCR’s competitive prospects. "On the Saturday night Cup deal, I think we have as good a chance as anyone. RCR has been very well-known for being fast on these super speedways, whether it’s the O’Reilly Series or the Cup Series. And it’s hard to win in Cup. You see it time and time again. Guys going on droughts and not winning races and things like that. So it’s going to be hard to get it done, but I think we have a really good shot at getting it done and going for Number Five on the O’Reilly side and getting the first one on the Cup side. That would be a perfect weekend for us. So yeah, hopefully that ends that way on Saturday night."
Hill’s upcoming season marks a significant chapter in his racing career, transitioning from a highly successful Xfinity Series driver to a full-time competitor in NASCAR’s premier division, all while honoring the legacy of those who paved the way.
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