Austin Cindric Seeks Turnaround at Pocono After Challenging Start to NASCAR Season

Austin Cindric has faced a turbulent beginning to the NASCAR Cup Series season, marked by two crashes and finishes in 26th place or lower during the initial four races. The driver of the No. 2 Team Penske Ford has found himself needing to recover from a difficult start. “Definitely some downs, some ups and a few more downs. The ebbs and flows of a season in some respects I guess,” Cindric reflected. “I don’t think there’s been many weeks where we’ve had consistent speed. Been involved in a ton of wrecks to start the year and not been able to complete races the way they should be.”

After achieving four top-10 finishes in the following eight races, Cindric seemed to be regaining momentum. However, setbacks occurred with a 38th-place finish in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte and a 26th-place result in Nashville. A recent 11th-place finish at Michigan has him optimistic as he prepares for The Great American Getaway 400 presented by Visit PA this weekend at Pocono Raceway. “The month prior was very productive for us. Definitely not discouraged by any means,” he said, emphasizing his hopes for improvement.

Pocono, known for its unique triangular track layout, is a venue where Cindric believes he can find success. “Track position is super important, restarts are crazy and strategy is all over the board,” he noted. Cindric appreciates the challenges presented by the three distinct corners of the track and looks forward to the vibrant atmosphere of the weekend. “It’s also a fun weekend. Campgrounds are always packed there and the track definitely does a great job. That area deserves a great show,” he added.

Over the years, Cindric has competed in multiple series at Pocono, including ARCA and Trucks, even capturing a victory in the Xfinity Series in June 2021. “I feel like that’s a place where I should have more than one of these things,” he said, referring to the coveted bald eagle trophy awarded at the track. Despite his best finish of 10th in four Cup starts there, he remains hopeful for a breakthrough performance this time around.

Currently sitting 16th in the Cup Series standings, Cindric is just above the playoff cutoff as the competition intensifies. With the current format emphasizing full-season consistency, he recognizes the importance of accumulating points. “Don’t get wrecked. That’s been somewhat difficult for us to avoid at times this year. That’s number one,” he acknowledged. The stakes are high as he heads into race No. 16 of the season with 11 races left to solidify his position.

Practice for The Great American Getaway 400 is set for Saturday from 1 to 2 p.m., followed by qualifying at 2:10 p.m. The 160-lap race is scheduled for Sunday at 3 p.m., as part of a tripleheader weekend that kicks off with the ARCA Menards Series Sunset Hills Shooting Range 150 on Friday afternoon.