Austin Hill to race full time in NASCAR Cup Series

Austin Hill will drive the No. 33 Chevrolet on a full-time basis in the NASCAR Cup Series for Richard Childress Racing beginning next season, the team announced Monday.

Hill has run 15 Cup races this season but has failed to register a top 10 finish.

However, he has 16 wins over the past five seasons driving RCR's No. 21 Chevrolet in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. He has qualified for the Chase in each of those five seasons.

Austin Hill is introduced to the crowd before a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, New Hampshire, on Sunday. AP

"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,” chairman and CEO Richard Childress said. "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.”

RCR has long been known for developing some of the sport’s biggest stars, including Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer, Austin Dillon and Tyler Reddick.

"I’m extremely thankful to Richard and everyone at RCR for believing in me and giving me this opportunity,” Hill said. "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."

Associated Press