CONCORD, N.C.: Austin Cindric didn’t have the fastest car at the end of Saturday night’s Drive for the Cure 250 at the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway ROVAL, but the Team Penske driver will head to the opening race of the Round of 8 second in the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship standings.
Cindric, driver of the No. 22 Menards Ford Mustang led twice for a race-high 22 laps Saturday, but championship rival AJ Allmendinger dominated Stage 3 and walked away with the victory in overtime.
The Mooresville, N.C. native leaves the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL though unhappy his 18th top-five of the 2021 Xfinity Series season.
“I feel like this has honestly been one of my weakest road courses for probably exactly what you saw — the rear tires fall off way too much,” said Cindric. “I felt like I was driving a skid pad car after about 10 laps.”
The reigning Xfinity Series champion feels lucky that he didn’t endure any bad luck at a time where his car wasn’t at its finest.
“I feel a little bit lucky and a bit fortunate, honestly,” he said. “I didn’t get moved or put in the wall, so either way we had a fast car. I think we set a fast lap time and got a good finish, so that sets us up well for Texas. I just wish we could have taken advantage of getting a playoff point.”
In overtime, Cindric said spinning his tires kept him from battling Allmendinger for his sixth win of the season and ultimately sent the 13-time Xfinity Series winner into protection mode to hold onto second.
“I spun my tires like crazy,” Cindric explained. “I was worried about that, but I didn’t think it was gonna be that bad. Like I said, I feel like I could have tried a second gear restart. I think that would have helped me out at least maintaining some track position, but from there it was just not meant to be today.”
Cindric, 22, however heads to Texas Motor Speedway next weekend knowing the pressure is on to perform in his quest to repeat the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship.
With just four races left as a full-time NASCAR Xfinity Series driver for Team Penske, Cindric hopes to back-up his June Texas Motor Speedway performance when he finished third and led 14 laps to kick off the penultimate round of the Playoffs in style.
Six points separate Allmendinger and Cindric for control of the top spot.
“In this format you have to get to Phoenix and then have your best day,” sounded Cindric. “That’s where my mind is. Honestly, out of anyone in the playoffs I would like AJ to win because he and I have the most playoff points over anybody and if he gets five more, it’s way better than the guy right below the cut getting five more..
“That’s my mentality. Those guys have been on it all season, not just recently, so I think today we maximized.”
P2 at the Roval.
Me and my rear tires did not see eye to eye today… Fun & challenging final stage. @sam_mayer_ kept me honest w/respect.Back to work next week 👊🏻
Thx @Team_Penske @MenardsRacing @FordPerformance— Austin Cindric (@AustinCindric) October 9, 2021
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
