The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series has been a true redemption tale for Austin Cindric. After capturing the Daytona 500 in 2021, Cindric faced a winless drought, with no victories in the last two seasons. But the 25-year-old driver turned his fortunes around at Gateway, breaking an 85-race winless streak.
Luck played a part when his teammate, Ryan Blaney, was sidelined due to a fuel issue. However, Cindric seized the opportunity, crossing the finish line first and punching his ticket to the playoffs.
Now, it’s no secret that Team Penske drivers ante up their efforts, bringing their A-game during the business end of the season. With all three drivers locked into the playoffs, Team Penske is on the verge of yet another historic season. But what exactly sets Penske’s drivers apart from the rest of the competition, especially in the playoffs? Speaking exclusively to EssentiallySports at the Pocono Raceway, Austin Cindric laid down the key pointers that make his team stand out in the knockout stages and also shared his views on meeting his objectives for the season.
Can Austin Cindric keep the championship trophy in Penske Camp?
While the start of the season had been pretty tame for the Penske trio, they certainly picked up the pace at the right time. Logano was the last of the three who recently sealed his playoff run with a win at the Nashville Superspeedway. It has to be noted that only two Cup Series teams have managed to win a championship three times in a row. Junior Johnson & Associates did it with Cale Yarborough, whereas Hendrick Motorsports is the only team able to repeat this feat.
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Team Penske is on the cusp of making history this season if they hit their markers right. Sharing his thoughts on keeping the championship trophy in Penske camp as he geared up for Pocono, Austin Cindric revealed his opinion as he answered a question by EssentiallySports’ on-ground reporter, Bharat Aggarwal, during the press address: “It’s all about using that system to be able to get to the next round each time and whether it is winning races late in playoffs or having the points. Our guys have been able to really execute in the round of 8 and propel themselves into a position to be in the Championship 4.”
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Logano, during his triumph in 2021, won the first race in the Round of 8. Similarly, Blaney also powered through with a win in the last race, sealing the title with a runner-up finish at Martinsville. Expanding on these strategy traits, Cindric told Bharat Aggarwal, “So, that’s about having your best day, so I think for us it’s about maximizing each opportunity with each playoff track and being able to understand any of our strengths and weaknesses are.”
USA Today via Reuters
Feb 20, 2022; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Austin Cindric (2) reacts after winning the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Having secured the playoff spot, Cindric himself might have a shot at winning the championship. While the prospect is lucrative, the driver is dialed in to help Team Penske win another title. “Well, the first step to winning the championship is to make the playoffs. It’s not that I’m not a goal-setter, but I don’t like a result-based goal. The only goal for me this season was to make the playoffs, and because it is your only avenue, your only way to win the championship as a team.”
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Although the likes of Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson, and Christopher Bell would like to weigh in on the championship favorite debate, it’s just hard to oversee how well the Penske drivers can weave their way through the final hurdles. And something similar will be expected of them this time around.
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Debate
Is Austin Cindric the next big thing in NASCAR after breaking his 85-race winless streak?