​NASCAR chose not to penalize Austin Hill or Shane van Gisbergen after their confrontations at Chicagoland Speedway this week. The two drivers were escorted to the hauler for a sit-down in an effort to prevent further on-track clashes, but it remains uncertain whether the meeting will avert future incidents.
Before Sunday’s race at EchoPark Speedway, van Gisbergen told reporters that he appeared more remorseful about last weekend’s events than Hill did. He also hinted that Hill may still be seeking retribution. The two had a tense exchange in the hauler, and van Gisbergen described it as a strange dynamic and a peculiar ending. He suggested Hill has a personality that wants to have the last word or the final strike, implying that Hill hinted at continuing the feud.
News of the meeting and the lack of penalties came as little surprise to observers. Most viewed van Gisbergen’s Chicagoland contact as intentional payback for a prior incident at Naval Base Coronado, even though van Gisbergen publicly maintained that the contact was accidental. In the evolving disciplinary landscape of the NASCAR Cup Series, the standard this season seems to hinge on admissions of intentional wrecking, a trend underscored by Ryan Preece’s penalty for hitting Ty Gibbs after signaling a plan on the radio shortly beforehand.
Hill’s case is less straightforward. He did not receive a fine for deliberately making contact with the No. 97 car under caution. The 33 car’s driver repeatedly heard radio instructions not to retaliate, yet he struck under caution and then proceeded to the garage. NASCAR deemed the contact only moderate, and thus did not issue a fine.
NASCAR officials brought both drivers into the hauler on the Atlanta weekend to defuse the feud and avoid any further incidents of intentional wrecking. Van Gisbergen stressed the importance of moving on because any continued actions could trigger a significant points penalty that might jeopardize his chances of reaching The Chase. In Hill’s case, there isn’t the same incentive to back off. As Richard Childress Racing’s temporary second driver, Hill isn’t eligible for Cup Series points or a spot in The Chase, which means the consequences for escalating the feud are not as severe.
From van Gisbergen’s perspective, the takeaway from the meeting appears to be that he will need to steer clear of the No. 33 for the rest of the season to avoid further trouble. Yet if Hill chooses to escalate, the consequences could be more severe for him, including a potential harsh punishment from NASCAR for any intentional wrecking of van Gisbergen after the hauler confrontation and warnings. The ongoing dynamic leaves both drivers in a tense standoff: van Gisbergen must be cautious around Hill’s car, while Hill could still decide to pursue revenge if he believes it will not result in a more stringent penalty, though such a course would carry the risk of a stiffer punishment if another incident occurs.