Elton Sawyer, NASCAR’s senior vice president of competition, stated on Tuesday that there is currently no indication Austin Hill will face penalties for the collision involving Michael McDowell during Saturday’s Xfinity Series race at Watkins Glen International. Sawyer classified the event as a racing incident, conceding that several drivers made poor choices throughout the weekend but did not act with malicious intent.
Speaking on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Sawyer explained,
“We don’t see anything at this time,”
and added that NASCAR reviews all racing incidents thoroughly by analyzing data and scenarios not visible to the audience or teams. He highlighted that while there were mistakes made, he did not believe they warranted suspensions, points deductions, or fines. According to Sawyer,
“But that happens in racing from time to time. We’ve all been there and seen it. We’ll review all of that again, but I don’t see anything at this time that would rise to the level of any kind of points or suspension or money or anything. Maybe some conversations, but I don’t see anything deeper than that.”
Austin Hill’s Perspective on the Major Crash at Watkins Glen
Returning from a one-race suspension, Austin Hill found himself in the center of controversy again after a multi-car accident late in the race. While battling Michael McDowell for second place in Stage 3, Hill positioned alongside McDowell’s left rear quarter panel. Their contact sent McDowell’s car into the wall, and shortly after, 16 vehicles became involved in the resulting wreck, prompting a red flag stoppage.
Hill maintained after the race that he did not intentionally cause the crash. He described the situation as competitive, saying,
Image of: Michael Mcdowell
“Just two guys going for it. Nothing malicious, as much as everybody wants to sit there and try to make it more than it is. It was just two guys racing it out,”
and explained his urgency: he was trying to pass Connor Zilisch, the driver in first, who was pulling away from them both. Hill added he hoped to catch McDowell off guard with his move to the left side.
He further clarified the difficulty of the maneuver, remarking,
“The grass was coming up in front of us. I had to get to the right. I was kind of hoping he was going to move to the right and kind of give me some room, and it just didn’t happen.”
Ultimately, Hill finished fourth in the race, while McDowell, competing in his first Xfinity Series event since 2016, ended in 25th place.
Context and Implications of the Watkins Glen Incident
This incident comes amid a weekend marked by aggressive driving and multiple on-track clashes. NASCAR‘s review process prioritizes fairness and safety as it evaluates incidents retrospectively using detailed data and video analysis. Sawyer’s remarks suggest that while some mistakes occurred, NASCAR sees no reason to escalate disciplinary measures for Hill at this time.
The absence of penalties indicates NASCAR views the crash as part of the intense, competitive nature typical in road course races like Watkins Glen. For Hill, avoiding further sanctions is critical as he aims to maintain momentum after returning from suspension. Meanwhile, McDowell is gaining experience in the Xfinity Series once again, albeit under difficult circumstances.
Looking forward, NASCAR officials will continue monitoring driver actions closely to discourage reckless decisions while allowing room for hard racing. The outcome of this review may influence how similar future incidents are handled, balancing accountability with the inherent risks of competitive motorsports.
