Austin J. Hill Bio
Austin J. Hill (born February 16, 2007) is an American professional auto racing driver from Frankfort, Ohio. He most recently competed part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for Joey Gase Motorsports with Scott Osteen, driving the No. 35 Chevrolet. A product of grassroots open-wheel racing, Hill built his early reputation in the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) ladder before transitioning to stock cars in 2025.
Early Life and Background
Austin J. Hill was born on February 16, 2007, in Frankfort, Ohio, in the United States. Growing up in a family with a deep interest in motorsports, he was introduced to racing at a young age. By the age of seven, Hill was already behind the wheel of a Quarter Midget, the small open-wheel cars that are a common starting point for young American drivers.
His family nurtured his passion for racing by supporting his move through the amateur ranks, eventually helping him establish a family-owned team. This early family involvement gave Hill a hands-on understanding of car preparation, race strategy, and the business side of the sport. His path through Quarter Midgets laid the foundation for his later move into sports car and open-wheel competition.
Path to NASCAR
Hill’s progression to NASCAR followed a long apprenticeship through junior formulae and club racing. He made his debut in the SCCA Pro Series in 2021 through Formula Race Promotions, racing in both the F2000 and Atlantic championships. In F2000, he won two races and finished runner-up in the standings to Trent Walko, while in Atlantic he won the Restricted Spec title.
He returned to the SCCA Pro Series in 2022, again competing in F2000 and Atlantic. In F2000, he added two more wins and again finished second in points, this time behind JC Trahan. In Atlantic, he dominated the Open Class, winning all but four races on his way to the championship. The following year, Hill captured a second consecutive Atlantic title with six wins and twelve podiums.
Alongside his SCCA commitments, Hill also raced in the Formula Regional Americas Championship for his family-owned team, scoring a best result of fifth at both Mid-Ohio and Virginia International Raceway. In 2023, he also made a one-off appearance in the XGT class of the Trans-Am Series at Road Atlanta. He then competed in the SCCA Hoosier Super Tour in 2024 in the STL and SMX classes, finishing runner-up to Danny Steyn in STL. In February 2025, just a month after earning his NASCAR license, he was announced as a part-time Xfinity Series driver for Joey Gase Motorsports, beginning at Sonoma.
Austin J. Hill Career
Early Career (2021–2022)
Hill’s first full seasons of car racing came in 2021 with the SCCA Pro Series’ Formula Race Promotions program. Running the F2000 and Atlantic series for his family-owned team, he quickly showed race-winning pace. His pair of F2000 victories and the Atlantic Restricted Spec title in his debut year established him as one of the top young talents in SCCA’s junior ranks.
In 2022, he returned to both championships and continued his upward trajectory. Two more F2000 wins were accompanied by a second-place finish in the standings, while in Atlantic he was nearly unbeatable, taking the Open Class crown by winning all but four races. Together, these seasons gave him the consistency and results needed to attract attention from national-level teams.
SCCA Pro Series Breakthrough (2022–2023)
The 2022 and 2023 seasons marked Hill’s breakthrough period in sports car racing. In 2022, he won the Atlantic Open Class title in dominant fashion, while in 2023 he successfully defended the crown with six wins and twelve podium finishes, cementing his reputation as the driver to beat in the series.
During 2023, Hill also expanded his resume by adding a Trans-Am Series start at Road Atlanta in the XGT class and a season in the Formula Regional Americas Championship, where he ended eleventh in points. These campaigns broadened his experience across different car types, a preparation that paid off when he moved to NASCAR’s development ladder.
Joey Gase Motorsports Era (2025)
On February 25, 2025, Joey Gase Motorsports with Scott Osteen announced that Hill would join the team for a part-time NASCAR Xfinity Series campaign, beginning at Sonoma Raceway. The deal came only a month after Hill obtained his NASCAR license, signaling strong confidence from the team in his open-wheel background. He drives the No. 35 Chevrolet for the organization.
The move to the Xfinity Series represents Hill’s first sustained exposure to stock car racing and to ovals, road courses, and superspeedways alike. Working with a smaller, developing team gives him the chance to gain valuable seat time while showcasing the skills he refined in SCCA competition. His progression through the early 2025 races is expected to shape his trajectory in the series.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hill’s open-wheel pedigree translates into a technically precise driving style, with particular comfort on road courses where race craft and mechanical sympathy are crucial. His success in the Atlantic and F2000 championships suggests strong car control, consistency over long runs, and the ability to manage tires and fuel. Those traits, paired with a crew chief partnership still in development, give him a foundation to grow within the Xfinity Series garage.
Notable Races and Milestones
Among Hill’s signature moments are his near-perfect 2022 Atlantic Open Class campaign and his six-win, twelve-podium defense of the title in 2023. His fifth-place finishes at Mid-Ohio and VIR during his Formula Regional Americas season also stand out as competitive results in a national championship. His 2025 Xfinity Series debut with Joey Gase Motorsports at Sonoma marks his first national NASCAR start.
Austin J. Hill Career Wins
Hill’s career wins are concentrated in the SCCA’s open-wheel ladder, particularly the Atlantic championship. He has also recorded victories in F2000 competition and podiums in the Formula Regional Americas Championship, though he has not yet scored a win in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
SCCA Pro Series Highlights
Hill has been a dominant force in the SCCA Pro Series’ Atlantic championship. In 2021, he won the Restricted Spec title, and in 2022 he captured the Open Class championship by winning all but four races. The following year, he successfully defended the Open Class crown with six wins and twelve podiums. In F2000, he picked up two victories in both 2021 and 2022, finishing runner-up in the standings each year.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond Atlantic and F2000, Hill has posted competitive results across several additional series. In the Formula Regional Americas Championship, he scored two top-five finishes at Mid-Ohio and VIR. In 2024, he finished runner-up in the STL class of the SCCA Hoosier Super Tour behind Danny Steyn. His sole Trans-Am start at Road Atlanta in 2023 ended with a fifth-in-class classification after a short run.
Austin J. Hill Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Hill comes from a motorsport-oriented family that has played a central role in his career. His family-owned team has fielded cars for him across the SCCA Pro Series, the Atlantic championship, F2000, and the Formula Regional Americas Championship. This hands-on family support has shaped his development as a driver and team operator.
Personal Life
Despite sharing a name with the Georgia-born NASCAR driver Austin Hill, the two are not related. Hill is a young American driver balancing his early professional career with the demands of competing on a national stage.
2025 Season Performance
Hill’s 2025 campaign centers on his part-time NASCAR Xfinity Series program with Joey Gase Motorsports with Scott Osteen, beginning at Sonoma. The season is designed as a developmental year, giving him seat time in stock cars and exposure to the variety of tracks on the Xfinity calendar. With his open-wheel experience, road-course events are expected to be his strongest opportunities to post competitive finishes.
As a younger driver learning the nuances of stock car racing, Hill’s main goals are consistency, finishing races, and building a working relationship with his crew chief. Each start offers a chance to translate the precision he showed in SCCA competition into results on the Xfinity stage. Continued progress could open the door to a fuller schedule in future seasons.
Looking ahead, Hill’s 2025 results will be measured less in wins and more in learning curves. A solid debut year with Joey Gase Motorsports would strengthen his case for expanded opportunities in the NASCAR ladder and provide a launching point for the next phase of his career.