Who is Austin Hill?

Last updated July 13, 2026

When Kyle Busch was hospitalized and then died in May 2026, Richard Childress Racing turned to Xfinity Series race winner Austin Hill for the Coca-Cola 600 — and later handed him the ride for the rest of the season.

Quick facts

Known for: Taking over Kyle Busch's RCR Cup ride after Busch's death in May 2026; NASCAR Xfinity Series race winner
Born: April 21, 1994, Georgia
Team: Richard Childress Racing (No. 21 Xfinity; No. 33 Cup car, formerly Busch's No. 8)
Xfinity Series résumé: 16 career wins, 2023 regular-season champion, 2024 Championship 4
First Cup fill-in race: Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte, May 24, 2026

Why people are searching for Austin Hill

RCR named Hill as Kyle Busch's fill-in for Charlotte on May 21, 2026, after Busch was hospitalized. Busch died later that day at age 41, and fans wanted to know who was taking over the ride.

About Austin Hill

The announcement came on May 21, 2026: Austin Hill would fill in for two-time Cup Series champion Kyle Busch at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Busch had been hospitalized with what his family described as a severe illness, forcing him to miss a Cup points race for the first time in more than a decade.

Hill (born April 21, 1994) is a stock car racing driver from Georgia. Since 2022 he has driven the No. 21 Bennett Transportation & Logistics Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing (RCR) in the NASCAR Xfinity Series (now the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series), where he's been a consistent winner — reaching the playoffs every season, winning the 2023 regular-season championship, and making the Championship 4 in 2024. His win total in the series reached 16 in June 2026, and his 10 victories on drafting tracks surpassed marks previously held by Hall of Famers Dale Earnhardt and Tony Stewart.

Later that same day, the news turned tragic: Busch died at age 41. His family said severe pneumonia had progressed into sepsis with rapid, overwhelming complications after he became unresponsive on May 20 during a simulator session at the GM Technical Center in North Carolina.

In the aftermath, RCR shelved the No. 8 — which had become synonymous with Busch, and which the team said would be held for his son Brexton — and renumbered the car to No. 33 for Hill, who drove it in the Coca-Cola 600 on May 24 and again the following week at Nashville. In early June, Hill was confirmed as the car's driver for the remainder of the 2026 season, and he later delivered RCR's first victory since Busch's death.

Frequently asked questions

Who drove Kyle Busch's car at the Coca-Cola 600?

Austin Hill, RCR's Xfinity Series driver, on May 24, 2026. After Busch's death, RCR shelved the No. 8 and renumbered the entry to No. 33 for Hill.

Why was Kyle Busch out of the race?

Busch was hospitalized with a severe illness and died on May 21, 2026, at age 41. His family said severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis after he became unresponsive during a simulator session on May 20.

Is Austin Hill driving the car for the rest of 2026?

Yes — after filling in at Charlotte and Nashville, he was confirmed as the driver of the renumbered RCR Cup entry for the remainder of the 2026 season.

What happened to the No. 8 car?

Richard Childress Racing retired it from active use because the number had become synonymous with Kyle Busch, saying it would be reserved for Busch's son Brexton. The car now runs as the No. 33.