Hill Promoted to Cup
Austin Hill Named Full-Time No. 33 Cup Series Driver for RCR in 2027
Key Points
Hill has registered 11 superspeedway victories in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series, more than the eight victories that Dale Earnhardt and Tony Stewart previously held as a benchmark for that track type.
In five seasons in the O'Reilly Series, Hill has qualified for the playoffs every year, captured the 2023 regular-season championship, and reached the Championship 4 in 2024, with a total of 16 wins in the division.
There were reports of an impasse in contract negotiations before Hill's extension was announced, signaling that talks had encountered a standstill prior to the deal being finalized.
The No. 33 currently is the renumbered former No. 8 after Kyle Busch’s passing, with the team indicating the No. 8 would be shelved for now, including a note about Brexton Hill potentially driving for the team in the future.
Richard Childress Racing announced that Austin Hill will drive the No. 33 Chevrolet full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series starting in 2027, according to WXII12. The promotion caps five seasons in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series where Hill racked up 16 wins and made the playoffs every year, including reaching the Championship 4 in 2024.
Hill, 32, has already piloted the renumbered No. 33 car this season after it replaced the No. 8 following Kyle Busch's death. His 11 superspeedway wins in the lower series surpass the previous benchmark of eight victories held by Dale Earnhardt and Tony Stewart, WTOP reported.
Five Seasons of Consistent Performance Lower Down
Hill has been a fixture in RCR's No. 21 car since 2020, building a track record that earned this Cup Series shot. Over five seasons, he posted 16 wins and qualified for the playoffs every single year, WTOP noted. In 2023, he claimed the O'Reilly regular-season championship before nearly winning it all in 2024.
The superspeedway success stands out most. Hill's 11 wins on those high-speed tracks like Daytona and Talladega now rank him ahead of legendary names in that specific category. The Score confirmed Hill has run 15 Cup Series races this season but hasn't yet scored a top-10 finish at NASCAR's highest level.
The No. 33 Replaces the No. 8 After Busch's Passing
Richard Childress Racing retired the No. 8 after Kyle Busch's death and renumbered the car to No. 33 for Hill to drive. WRAL reported that this number will continue as Hill's ride going into 2027. The team signaled the No. 8 would remain shelved, marking a respectful end to that storied number's tenure.
The decision represents a natural succession within the organization. Owner Richard Childress emphasized Hill's growth and work ethic as reasons for the promotion. InfoNews noted the move underscores RCR's long history of developing internal talent into Cup Series winners.
Hill Overcomes Contract Standstill to Secure Full-Time Seat
Before the announcement, negotiations between Hill and RCR hit a stalemate. The deal appeared in limbo until both sides reached agreement on terms for the multi-year Cup Series role. Hill expressed gratitude for the opportunity and pledged to apply lessons learned at RCR toward helping the team move forward in 2027 and beyond.
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