NASCAR has been slammed for its “inexcusable” decision to grant Austin Hill a waiver for the Xfinity Series playoffs despite serving a one-race suspension for intentionally crashing Aric Almirola at Indianapolis, losing the 21 playoff points he had earned, and forfeiting any additional playoff points through the regular season. The Richard Childress Racing star subsequently missed last weekend’s race in Iowa due to suspension, and NASCAR rules state any absence that is not medically related stops drivers from being eligible for the Playoffs unless granted a waiver.

Hill, 31, a three-time race winner this year, has now been granted a playoff waiver by NASCAR. “NASCAR officials have granted a waiver to Austin Hill, officials confirmed to NASCAR.com Tuesday night, allowing the No. 21 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet driver to remain eligible for the Xfinity Series Playoffs despite missing last weekend’s race at Iowa Speedway,” NASCAR said.

“By receiving the playoff waiver, Hill remains eligible for the postseason despite missing one of the Xfinity Series’ 33 races this year,” they added. “However, as the result of a rule change established ahead of the 2025 campaign, Hill will forfeit the 21 playoff points he had earned through the opening 21 races and will be ineligible to receive any additional playoff points through the Xfinity Series’ regular-season finale at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway on Sept. 6.”

Hill will return to action this weekend at Watkins Glen, where he has one top-20 finish in three starts. However, NASCAR’s decision has proven unpopular among fans.

“Inexcusable, dereliction of duty by NASCAR. w– is even the point,” one said about the decision. “Then w– is the point of the rule if you’re just going to waive it every time?” another fumed.

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“NASCAR shouldn’t give waivers for these kinds of things. It’s okay for illness or the birth of your child, but intentionally causing someone to crash and then not being able to race for a week doesn’t require a waiver,” a third added.

“Honestly, why even suspend him. If NASCAR wants to prove a point. You suspend all drivers from playoff contention if they are found wrecking other drivers on purpose. Team violations and such don’t deserve that, but @NASCAR do better,” a fourth said.

The decision also comes after Almirola declared it one of the hardest hits he has suffered in motorsport, describing it as “violent.”

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“That was violent,” Almirola said of the crash. “To be totally honest, that was one of the hardest hits I’ve taken in my NASCAR career. The impact felt very similar to when I broke my back (in 2017 at Kansas Speedway). I’d be very interested to see the black box data from (Saturday’s) crash, but it was vicious and that’s just uncalled for.

“I got him a little bit loose to get under him because it was time to go. I would have never done that five laps into the race, but when you’re coming down to the end of the race at Indianapolis and he’s already blocked me three times, I certainly got him loose.

“I didn’t feel what he did was necessary. I felt like he could have easily fell back in line. He was damaged anyway. We were losing time to the leaders. It wasn’t like we were on pace with them. He was holding me up clearly.

“It’s just unfortunate. He obviously lost his mind right there. That was really bad judgment in my opinion.”