Austin Hill will drive the No. 33 United Rentals Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing in five NASCAR Cup Series events during the 2026 season. This Richard Childress Racing partnership begins with the Straight Talk Wireless 500 at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday, March 8, with live coverage on FOX Sports 1 starting at 3:30 p.m. ET. The collaboration aims to provide Hill increased experience as he continues toward a full-time Cup Series schedule.
Longstanding Collaboration Between Hill, United Rentals, and RCR
United Rentals, the world’s largest equipment rental firm, will sponsor Hill throughout the part-time Cup races. With more than 1,600 rental centers across North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, United Rentals serves a wide customer base including municipalities, utilities, and construction companies from its Stamford, Connecticut headquarters. This 2026 season marks United Rentals’ fifth year partnering with Richard Childress Racing and their ninth year supporting Hill personally.
Hill expressed pride in representing United Rentals once again, highlighting their meaningful role in his career.
“United Rentals continues to be a special part of my career and carrying their colors once again in the Cup Series means a lot,”
said Hill.
“I’ve represented their company for almost a decade now and it never gets old winning races and having success together. The No. 33 team was able to get our first top-10 last season in Chicago, and I genuinely felt like we had a shot to win the fall race at Talladega. Racing on Sundays full time is the end goal, so expanding the track lineup will be a good challenge to gain experience. Grateful to Richard, every man and woman at RCR, ECR, and CT Spring, and of course United Rentals for the opportunity.”
Craig Schmidt, senior vice president of sales for United Rentals’ national accounts, emphasized the value of their ongoing alliance.
“We value the strong partnership we’ve built with Austin Hill and Richard Childress Racing and are excited to continue that momentum into the 2026 Cup Series season,”
Schmidt stated.
“Together, we’re focused on delivering results and showcasing the skill and teamwork that drives NASCAR success. It’s shaping up to be a great year, and we’re proud to be part of it.”
Hill’s NASCAR Progression and Performance Highlights
Austin Hill is the 2023 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Regular Season Champion and is in his fifth full-time season driving the No. 21 Chevrolet in that series. He made his Cup Series debut with Richard Childress Racing in 2022 at Michigan International Speedway and has since competed in 15 Cup Series races. His top performance came with a ninth-place finish at the 2025 Chicago Street Race. Most recently, Hill claimed victory in the United Rentals 300 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series event at Daytona International Speedway, kicking off the 2026 season on a high note.
RCR Leadership Expresses Confidence and Commitment to Hill’s Growth
Mike Verlander, president of Richard Childress Racing, highlighted the importance of the partnership with United Rentals and its impact on Hill’s development.
“Everyone at RCR is proud of our long-standing partnership with United Rentals and looking forward to building on the strong branding, at-track activation and hosting programs we have developed together over the last five years,”
Verlander said.
“United Rentals has been instrumental in Austin Hill’s continued rise and success, and together we’re looking forward to watching him in the NASCAR Cup Series for select races in 2026.”
Growing Experience Set to Propel Hill Toward Full-Time Cup Series Competition
This part-time schedule with Richard Childress Racing offers Austin Hill an important opportunity to deepen his Cup Series experience and put him closer to his goal of racing full time on Sundays. The 2026 season will serve as a critical phase in Hill’s transition from a successful career in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series to becoming a consistent competitor in NASCAR’s top-level series, supported by committed sponsors and a prominent racing organization.
