The ongoing rivalry between Austin Hill and Shane van Gisbergen added another heated chapter during Sunday’s race at Kansas Speedway. The two Chevrolet drivers have clashed repeatedly since van Gisbergen joined the NASCAR ranks, with incidents at COTA, Sonoma, Pocono, and San Diego in 2024, followed by a wreck at Chicagoland earlier this summer that prompted NASCAR to intervene.
Watch: Austin Hill argues with spotter during Kansas race
The latest flashpoint occurred when van Gisbergen moved up the track in front of Hill while battling for position, forcing Hill into the wall. The contact triggered an immediate and intense radio exchange between Hill and his Richard Childress Racing spotter, Derek Kneeland.
Kneeland urged Hill to “settle down,” but Hill fired back: “What do you mean settle down!?”
Kneeland responded: “You can’t keep racing each other like this every week. We’re gonna have destroyed cars and no finishes. Whether he’s being the d*ck or we are, we’ve got to be able to finish. We’re decent, I know this run’s went to shit, but we’ve got to get it back together here. Just keep it together.”
Hill snapped: “I don’t want to hear it! Honestly, I really don’t want to fricking hear from you! Just spot!”
Kneeland replied simply: “10-4.”
Later in the race, after guiding Hill through a restart pileup, Kneeland vented further frustration while communicating with the No. 33 crew chief.
“Piece of s*** but at least he listened to that,” Kneeland said. “I mean, listen, I got his back every f******* week but we cannot keep doing this every week. We’re going to have wrecked race cars and no finishes. I’m not a fan of the No. 97’s bulls*** either, but we cannot keep doing it.”
Both drivers endured a difficult afternoon. Hill finished 26th, while van Gisbergen placed 24th.
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