Hill says Xfinity wreck "might be the dumbest move…

Austin Hill’s NASCAR Xfinity race came to an abrupt end Saturday at Phoenix Raceway in a very unusual wreck. The 31-year-old was in the middle of a scrap, just outside the top-five on a Lap 62 restart, when it all went wrong.

Following a three-wide situation into Turn 3, Hill's car suddenly shot across the track, slamming into the No. 00 of Sheldon Creed before both hit the outside wall. Moments later, Dean Thompson in the No. 26 plowed into Hill's wounded car.

The replay revealed what went wrong: Hill, a winner of 11 Xfinity races, was a little too shallow on entry and actually hit the inside the wall five or six feet before the apex of the corner. The contact sent him careening up the track collecting the other two in the process.

"All on me dude," a despondent Hill radioed to his Richard Childress Racing team. "I'm so sorry about that guys. I was following the guy in front of me and I hit the damn inside wall. Stupid mistake."

😱😱😱 pic.twitter.com/14HguLIVKk
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) March 8, 2025

Hill's race was over, recording his second DNF in the first four races. However, he is already locked into the playoffs, courtesy of a victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Hill further explained what happened after being released from the infield care center.

"Couldn't see much," he told The CW. "I was right behind the 8 [Smith] getting into Turn 3 there and I just misjudged the inside wall. That might be the dumbest move I've ever had happen to me in racing. Feel bad for everyone involved in the wreck. Looks like the 26 [Thompson] got in there, the 00 [Creed] -- feel bad for those guys. They're innocent bystanders. It's 100% my fault. Just misjudged it on my part."

As for how such an experienced racer could make such a mistake, Hill added: "I was just following the 8 really tight and I was going to try and get a little bit of air to the left side and I didn't realize he was that close to the wall. As soon as I realized it, it was already too late. Feel really bad for everybody ... I hate to wreck race cars, especially that way."