RICHMOND, Va. – Austin Cindric will be the first to admit his first full season as a NASCAR Xfinity Series driver hasn’t exactly gone to plan.
From a last-place finish in the opening-round event at Daytona to a career-high fifth place performance in Friday night’s ToyotaCare 250 at Richmond (Va.) Raceway, Cindric is finally settling into his zone after eight races.
Cindric’s Richmond debut, however, didn’t come without its challenges. After qualifying a season-high third earlier in the day, the Team Penske driver would have to the start the race from the rear after the team made an unapproved adjustment dropping the No. 22 Fitzgerald Glider Kits to 40th on the grid.
Methodically, however, Cindric was able to march his Ford Mustang through the field and using some pit strategy, the Mooresville, N.C.-native was able to keep his nose clean and score some much-needed stages points at the end of Stage 1.
Maintaining his own throughout Stage 2, Cindric earned two more stage points after Stage 2 – placing ninth overall despite combating a tight race car which didn’t allow Cindric to be able to turn his car well and lacked the drive he needed off the corners to make gains on the race track.
Setting up for the finish, Cindric’s team led by Brian Wilson made a chassis adjustment during the pit stop which allowed the 19-year-old to press forward during the longest green flag run of the race. Moving up four positions by the end of the night, Cindric scored his first career top-five finish in his ninth Xfinity Series race.
“That was more work than I thought I was going to have to do tonight,” Cindric mentioned. “We were definitely a top-three car, we just needed a Cup race worth of distance to get there. Track position was pretty important. We had a great long-run car all night and definitely a car that was able to contend for the win.”
The handling of his race car though wasn’t the only significant issue the young driver faced during the quick 250 laps around Richmond’s 0.875-mile oval. Cindric’s right ankle was sore which created cramping during the final 90-lap stint
“My right ankle is sore just from cramping it up so hard trying not to burn it off those last 90 laps because, for me, I didn’t know what I was in for,” he explained. “I had those other 75-lap runs to base off of, but you add another 25 on that and it’s a chore.”
Cindric’s result on Friday night was the second top-10 finish for the son of Team Penske president Tim Cindric in three races. While half of the season has been spent behind the wheel of a Team Penske car – and the other a Roush Fenway Racing Ford shared with drivers Chase Briscoe and Ty Majeski, the teenager believes he is finding his footing after a slow start and no matter what car he’s piloting – the confidence is building – which he hopes will transpire onto the track with performance.
With his career-night on Friday, Cindric received a bonus courtesy of series sponsor Xfinity. Next Saturday, he’ll join Christopher Bell, Elliott Sadler and Matt Tifft at Talladega Superspeedway as the drivers competing for the third round of the Dash4Cash – which rewards the team and driver with an extra $100,000 payday to the highest finishing eligible driver.
“I’m really, really happy with the guys,” Cindric boasted. “They’ve been patient with me and coming to this track never having seen it before, I’m happy with the run. This is my best finish so far in the XFINITY Series and we’ll just keep going.”
While Cindric would like to glisten in the bliss of dollar bills, he heads to Talladega for his Xfinity Series debut hoping for a different outcome than his Xfinity restrictor plate debut two months ago at Daytona International Speedway.
Still early in the season, Cindric is hunting for crucial stage points – while searching for his first elusive NASCAR National Series win – knowing it will likely guarantee him a placement into the postseason Playoffs and even a shot at a championship.
A chance at a championship is an experience Cindric isn’t a rookie scenario.
Last year, Cindric was one of four drivers in the hunt for the Truck Series title. And despite earning his eighth top-five finish of the year at Homestead with a fifth-place result, Cindric finished third overall in the title fight.
This year, Cindric hopes the experience comes full circle.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
