Photo credit: www.motorsport.com

Austin Cindric Faces Setback at Talladega in NASCAR Playoffs

Austin Cindric’s hopes for a significant playoff shake-up were dashed at Talladega when he became entangled in a massive crash on Lap 183. Despite a strong showing where he won the second stage and held a commanding lead as the final five laps began, his race took a dramatic turn. With two fellow Fords positioned closely behind him, Cindric aimed to secure a victory that would guarantee him a spot in the Round of 8.

This scenario bore a resemblance to the previous day’s Xfinity race, where Sammy Smith, starting at the back among the remaining drivers, clinched a win that propelled him into the Round of 8. Unfortunately for Cindric, he was unable to replicate that success. Instead, he found himself spinning out, becoming the focal point of one of the largest accidents in NASCAR Cup Series history. Fortunately, NASCAR’s pre-race safety modifications effectively prevented serious airborne incidents, a positive outcome given the scale of the crash.

While NBC reported that a record 28 cars were involved in the pileup, official NASCAR records indicate 23 vehicles collided, with multiple playoff contenders affected. Although many of these competitors managed to continue, seven cars were unable to finish the race, including Cindric and his Team Penske teammate Joey Logano. As a result, both drivers now find themselves below the playoff cut-line, trailing Logano by 13 points and Cindric by 29 points.

“Obviously, incredibly frustrated,” Cindric expressed following his exit from the care center. “We had a great shot to win the race and I’m really proud of my team. We secured that stage win and set ourselves up for another opportunity.”

Reflecting on the incident that led to his spin, Cindric opted for restraint in his evaluation. “I don’t know. I don’t feel like complaining. I’m just too upset and it won’t change anything. I’m proud of the team for bringing some really fast cars,” he said.

The race featured high-stakes and chaotic four-wide racing, which Cindric described as “some of the craziest stuff I’ve ever been a part of.” He acknowledged his team’s superb performance and execution throughout the race, yet acknowledged that fortune did not favor him this time. Looking ahead, he recognized the road to playoff advancement would require a victory. “It puts us in a must-win situation for the Charlotte Road Course,” Cindric concluded. “We’ve consistently brought fast race cars throughout the playoffs, and I can’t emphasize enough how proud I am of my team. We need to deliver another strong performance next week.”

A detailed list of the cars involved in the wreck, per NASCAR, includes: Nos. 45, 48, 34, 17, 9, 13, 2, 21, 22, 42, 14, 23, 10, 99, 51, 4, 38, 62, 71, 19, 16, 20, 43.

Source
www.motorsport.com