Talladega Superspeedway was charged on April 27, 2025, when Austin Cindric inscribed his name in NASCAR history books with a jaw-dropping photo finish. The Team Penske No. 2 edged RFK’s Ryan Preece by a mere 0.006 seconds. His first victory since Gateway last June was more than a race win. It was redemption, an exhale, and a ticket to the playoffs for the driver who’s been knocking on superspeedway doors for years.

Cindric’s win was an exercise in teamwork and strategy. His team laid down the quickest final-cycle pit stop of the day, a fuel-only stop that put the yellow Menards car into the lead. But maintaining that lead on Talladega’s frenetic final lap was no easy task. The pack was relentless, with Ryan Preece charging hard for the win. Cindric required more than speed—he required trust.

Austin Cindric is no longer mad at Kyle Larson

That trust was earned from an unexpected ally: Kyle Larson. Earlier this year, Cindric had been livid with Larson following a contentious incident at Atlanta Motor Speedway. But as they came together on Talladega’s tri-oval on the last lap, Larson did an unthinkable thing—not to pass Cindric, but to nudge his car just at the right moment. That move for a push helped keep Cindric ahead, and in front of a bellowing Alabama mob, he took the checkered flag.

“I’m just so proud of this team,” Cindric said, heavy with emotion. “I’m just so grateful for everybody’s support… We talk about it in every single one of those meetings, why we haven’t won one of these races, and no, just proud of the effort and very grateful for Discount Tire, Snap-On, and AutoTrader. Roger Penske, everyone, makes it possible for me.”

Team Penske has been through times this season, leading a lot of laps but unable to take the checkered flag. Cindric was even in a position to win the 2025 Daytona 500 until Cole Custer shoved into him and Denny Hamlin on the final lap. This win was retribution. Not only for Team Penske, but for Cindric after what happened at Atlanta.

When asked about the final pit cycle and taking the lead, Austin Cindric added, “Yeah, no, it sure wasn’t easy… Kyle did a lot to look out for me, getting on my case at the right times in the tri-oval. As mad as I was at him after Atlanta, I feel like we’re good now.” At Atlanta, Larson nudged Cindric into the wall, ending his race and William Byron’s race as well. And, while Larson is now known for his superspeedway prowess, he delivered a top ride today, finishing third at ‘Dega.

The victory marked his third career Cup win and guaranteed his spot in the 2025 playoffs, a milestone for the driver who’s faced scrutiny for inconsistent results. As the checkered flag waved high, Cindric’s radio crackled in celebration. Spotter Doug, the entire Penske team, and he were celebrating, knowing that they had overpowered one of NASCAR’s trickiest tracks. The bright yellow machine, celebrating John Menard’s long-term support, was shining in the Alabama sun as a testament to perseverance paying dividends.

For Cindric, the win was personal. Years of close calls at Daytona and Talladega had fueled his hunger. “We’ve been so close,” he’d often said in team meetings, dissecting every missed opportunity. This time, with Larson’s unexpected alliance and his team’s flawless execution, close was finally enough. As he stood in victory lane, the anger of Atlanta faded. However, his teammate did not share the same sentiment.

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Joey Logano was frustrated with Cindric

Talladega Superspeedway was a pressure cooker for Joey Logano, and his emotions boiled over at a pivotal moment. Vexed by a mistake that he felt robbed him of a stage victory, Logano let loose with a heated radio tirade aimed at teammate Austin Cindric. “Way to go Austin, way to go, you dumb f—!” Logano said, “Way to f—- go. What a stupid s—. You just gave it to him. Gave a Toyota a stage win. Nice job. Way to go. What a dumba—. Put that in the book again.” Logano snapped. The Penske #22 felt Cindric’s positioning in the draft disrupted their teamwork, leaving him stranded when he needed support in the hunt for points. Cindric moved up the outside and gave Logano no room, forcing the #22 to go down on the inside as 23XI Racing’s Bubba Wallace led the field to the win in Stage 2.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. had his say, sympathizing with Logano‘s tantrum. Logano’s anger demonstrated his desire to win, but his sportsmanship indicated his heart. For Cindric, the win was a defining moment in his career, albeit with a side of tension within the team. The tension stemmed from the chaotic nature of Talladega’s pack racing, amplified by the Next-Gen car’s quirks. Logano, however, cooled down after the race. “It’s about time one of us wins these things,” he told Regan Smith of FOX Sports. “You think about the amount of laps led by Team Penske and Ford in general, we just haven’t been able to close. To see a couple of Fords on the front row duking it out — I wish one of them was me in a selfish way — but it’s good to see those guys run up there and click one off for Penske,” he said. Ford got their strategy spot on today, as even RFK Racing’s #60 Ford, Ryan Preece, finished 2nd, in what was the OEM’s first dominant outing of the season.

From a clean pit stop by Cindric to clinch the win to leading the draft and staying amongst the top during the end of stages, it truly felt like Team Penske of old. The organization that has won all the Next-Gen era championships has had a slow start to the season, despite Logano, Cindric, and Ryan Blaney all being amongst the top-6 in laps led. In the end, Logano also managed his first top-5 finish of the season, getting that proverbial monkey off his back.

Do you think Cindric’s win will spur his Penske teammates back to Victory Lane? Let us know in the comments!