Roger Penske’s Driver Austin Cindric Attributes Darlington Triumph to Underdog Mentality
DARLINGTON, SC – Austin Cindric secured a hard-fought finish at Darlington Raceway in the Cook Out Southern โข500, capitalizing on a chaoticโฃ race were teammate Ryan Blaney faced misfortune. cindric’s performance underscores โa mindset within the Teamโ Penskeโ organization that embraces an underdog approach, particularly at challenging tracks like Darlington.
Cindric’s advancement came amidst a race punctuated by incidents, including a mid-race tangle โขthat impacted Blaney. The reigning NASCAR champion wasโ spun out on Lap 209 after checking up to avoidโ contact with Kyle Busch, who had gotten loose, but was then rear-ended by Austin Dillon. The incident forced โBlaney to pit forโ repairs, ultimately resulting in an 18th-placeโ finish after starting 12th.
“There’s less room to work, so I think that’s what makes that โขplace so difficult, and the two ends being vastly different is definitely โa challenge,” Blaney told reporters following the race.
Despiteโ Blaney’s setback, Cindric navigated the race effectively, securing a position โคwithin the top 20. The contrastingโ fortunes highlight Team Penske’sโ depth, but also the precarious nature of racingโฃ atโข the 1.366-mile oval, frequently enough referred to as “Too Tough to Tame.”โ
Blaney’s finish dropped him to seventh inโ the playoff standings with a +22 buffer. Cindric’s performance, coupled with Blaney’s resilience, demonstrates the team’s ability to adapt and compete under pressure as the playoffs continue, with the next race scheduled at Gateway and then Talladega in 2025.
