DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.: Daytona 500 champion Austin Cindric did everything he could to sweep the “World Center of Racing” in Sunday’s postponed Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona (Fla.) Speedway but a bump by Austin Dillon nearly became disastrous with nearly three laps to go.
After more than a three-hour rain delay, Cindric was able to muscle his No. 2 Team Penske Ford Mustang past Dillon on the restart and controlled the race but as Cindric began focusing on a plan to hold off a contingent of hungry Chevrolets behind him, Dillon bumped Cindric entering Turn 1 which knocked the car completely sideways.
Cindric was able to masterfully recover and despite losing his momentum and dropping outside the top-five, with drafting help, he was able to claw back into competition and took third from Cody Ware entering Turns 3 and 4 but ran out of time to challenge the Richard Childress Racing duo of winner Dillon and his teammate Tyler Reddick.
“I got hit by another race car going 190, 200 miles an hour,” said Cindric of the contact with Dillon. “Glad I saved it. Glad I had a shot to come back through the field.”
Without the benefit of any Ford Racing teammates at the front of the field when he was being hounded by the Chevrolets, Cindric had a flashback to his NASCAR Xfinity Series tenure where he often found himself the lone Ford Mustang trying to hold off the other manufacturers in the series.
I knew I was a sitting duck,” Cindric explained. “I felt like I was Xfinity racing again. I was the only Ford out there. (David) Ragan saved me and I was able to work with both the RWR (Rick Ware Racing) cars there to get back up through. One lap longer, might have had a shot. I don’t know.
“Frustrating just to be that close. You know that it’s just going to come down to when are they going to take the run. I was lifting all the way into the tri-oval and trying not to get that gap that big. They were just backing up to each other working together as they should.
“Kind of pissed about it but can’t be to upset.”
While Cindric had hoped to avoid any potential late-race drama in the final race of the regular Cup Series season, he wasn’t surprised at the contact from Dillon – especially knowing he needed a win to earn a spot in the Playoffs.
“He is racing for a Playoff spot,” added Cindric. “Totally expect to get drove through. Just a matter of time.”
Cindric told Fox Sports’ Bob Pockrass on pit road, “I think that’s fair game any race of the season, but that meant a lot for him to win that race,” Cindric. “He had three cars that were certainly going to be able to work with him…
“I feel like he got the run to late, and then he hit me straight on the entry to the corner. Just glad I saved it; glad I got a shot to still come back up through the field—but I hate losing…”
Heading to Darlington Raceway next weekend for the first of his NASCAR Playoff career, Cindric is seeded 14th overall and 34 points behind leader Chase Elliott.
Knowing his 10-race run in the Playoffs won’t be easy, he says his team has a lot fight and will do everything they can to make the Championship 4 at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway in November.
“It’s an amazing opportunity, but at the same time it’s what I expect out of myself and it’s certainly what the team expects – to have all of these cars in the playoffs – so I’m pretty motivated to make the most of the opportunity,” Cindric spoke.
“I don’t think anybody expects much out of us, but I expect a lot, so I’m looking forward to it.”
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
