After the high tension ending at Richmond, it was the deeds of another racer with the same name that stunned the fans at Daytona International Speedway. As the race progressed to the crucial juncture on Lap 153, a wreck hit the racetrack like a bombshell. For a few seconds, it seemed that the cars had significant damage. But thankfully, some cars started showing signs of race-level readiness soon after.

The victim of the incident, Michael McDowell of Front Row Motorsports, could only thank heavens he wasn’t hurt. Something interesting, however, happened after the race with the perpetrator. The No. 2 Ford Mustang of Team Penske did not deny or admit to doing it deliberately!

As Michael McDowell’s car flies in the air and makes contact with others on the racetrack, Austin Cindric’s car too was not out of danger. The supposed perpetrator of the wreck was at a spot where the impact was thickest. It damaged his Ford Mustang if he could not race any longer and had to retire prematurely. Michael McDowell’s car, too, had to meet with a similar fate. The 39-year-old had to head towards the pit road and retire before the race could finish so that his team could further assess the damages done to his car.

While the world may label Austin Cindric as the face of Daytona’s ‘Big One’, the 25-year-old thinks otherwise. Talking about the incident after the race, the rising star of Team Penske said, “I haven’t seen the replay, but I wasn’t trying to push him. I mean, it sounds like I made contact. I was out of gas, but everyone triggered a wreck there, especially since there were not many laps to go. I think the intentions were there, but just a lot of energy to the pack and the same thing with how I got spun out of the lead.”

While such a spin story would outrage some within the racing community, others may accept it to be Cindric’s justification. Whatever the case may be, the talking points to Cindric’s side of the story may only appear as time passes by. Questions have also been surfacing on the safety measures introduced by NASCAR on driver’s safety and cars going airborne.

After Corey LaJoie’s car flipped at Michigan International Speedway, NASCAR introduced new safety measures, including a right-side rear window air deflector designed to prevent similar incidents. But if you saw how Josh Berry and Michael McDowell’s cars flipped at Daytona, you’d wonder if those measures are doing their job.

The Coke Zero Sugar 400 was nothing short of chaotic, with not just Berry and McDowell’s flips grabbing attention but also the ripple effect these wrecks had on the entire field. The race saw seven caution periods, each one a reminder of the carnage on the track. While Berry and McDowell took the worst of it, other drivers weren’t spared either. The damage from these wrecks didn’t just hurt their cars; it put a serious dent in their playoff prospects.

4 playoff spots are undecided; here’s who has the best shot

The Cup Series qualification race has gone tighter, with just the race at Darlington Raceway remaining. A total of three spots are up for grabs. While the significant wrecks at the Daytona International Speedway did harm the prospects of racers like Bubba Wallace, a strong second-place finish from Kyle Busch has resurfaced him back in the mix to qualify for the playoffs. Other racers in contention to make the playoffs through points include racers like Martin Truex Jr., Chris Buescher, and Ty Gibbs.

On the other hand, Harrison Burton secured a playoff spot after winning the Coke Zero Sugar 400. The winner of the season finale at Darlington Raceway is also sure to secure a playoff spot. The equation of playoffs is such that only two spots remain to be qualified on the merit of points. That race has become more heartbreaking for drivers and their teams than the actual race. With the margin of points so slender, the qualification is still very much open.

What are your thoughts on Austin Cindric’s comments? Who do you think can qualify for the playoffs? Do tell us in the comments down below.