Drivers/Teams

Biography

One of NASCAR’s promising young drivers, Austin Cindric returns to Team Penske in 2020 to compete in his second full-season racing the No. 22 MoneyLion/Menards/PPG/Snap-on/Enersys/LTi Ford Mustang in the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS). The 21-year-old native of Mooresville, NC will look to continue his rapid racing development following a breakout NXS season that saw Cindric produce two wins, four poles, a Playoff run and a sixth-place finish in the series championship standings.

In 2019, Cindric demonstrated a knack for performing with consistency over the course of the 33-race season. The young driver won back-to-back races in the middle of the season, capturing his first career NXS victory at Watkins Glen International. The following weekend at the Mid-Ohio Sport Car Course, Cindric had a dominant performance for his second consecutive win, as he won the pole and led 46 of 75 laps en route to victory. Cindric and the No. 22 Ford Mustang team were the top qualifiers at Kentucky, Mid-Ohio, Bristol – for the second consecutive year – and the team opened its NXS Playoff run by winning the pole at Richmond.

He completed his second full season of Xfinity Series racing, and first with Team Penske, with 14 top-five and 24 top-10 results, advancing to the Round of 8 in the 2019 NXS Playoffs before finishing sixth in the final point standings. As he returns to the No. 22 team in 2020 Cindric will once again work with crew chief Brian Wilson as the duo will look to surpass last season’s impressive totals and compete for Team Penske’s sixth Xfinity Series championship. Despite his young age, Cindric is considered one of the most diverse drivers competing in the NXS Series. Along with his NXS experience, Cindric has also competed in select IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Series races, including the Rolex 24 at Daytona, and in the Continental Tire Series as he won the IMSA Pilot Challenge at Road Atlanta last October. Cindric has also raced in the Pirelli World Challenge Series, Red Bull Global Rallycross and the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship over the course of his young career.

Cindric made his NASCAR debut competing in the Gander Outdoors Truck Series (NGOTS) in 2015 as he raced in two events for BKR, the team then owned by his current Team Penske teammate, Brad Keselowski. Cindric returned to BKR in 2016 and recorded three top-20 finishes in four races that season. Cindric also captured his first ARCA Racing Series victory in 2016 at Kentucky Speedway, and he produced two wins in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East events at Watkins Glen International and Virginia International Raceway that same season. 

In 2017, Cindric made his NXS debut racing at Road America for Team Penske. Competing in the No. 22 Discount Tire Ford Mustang, Cindric started on the pole when the field was set by owner points and he finished in 16th place for a solid result. The effort contributed to Team Penske’s fourth NXS owner championship won by the team that season. Cindric also raced the full NGOTS season for the BRK team in 2017. Cindric earned his first Truck Series victory from the pole as he outdueled Noah Gragson for the win at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Cindric delivered 16 top-10 finishes, eight top-five results, one pole position and he led 106 laps on his way to finishing third in the NGOTS championship standings.

In his first full NXS season in 2018, Cindric proved he could adapt to changing environments as he raced for two different organizations and three different teams while he produced solid results across the board. He made nine starts for Roush-Fenway Racing, competed in eight races in the No. 12 Ford Mustang for Team Penske and he drove 16 events in the No. 22 Team Penske Ford, including a memorable Playoff pursuit to close the season. Cindric captured three poles and posted podium finishes at Mid-Ohio and the Charlotte Roval. He finished his 2018 rookie NXS campaign with seven top-five and 13 top-10 finishes as he got his first taste of the series Playoffs and finished eighth in the championship standings. Cindric was the youngest of the 12 drivers to qualify for the series postseason.

A three-time Presidential Fitness Award Winner who was nominated to the Team USA Scholarship team in 2015, Cindric currently resides in Mooresville, NC.

Cindric Key Accomplishments:

• Finished sixth in the 2019 NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) championship standings after earning second consecutive series playoff berth
• Won the 2019 IMSA Pilot Challenge at Road Atlanta
• Earned first two NXS career wins on consecutive weekends in 2019 winning at at Watkins Glen and at Mid-Ohio
• Captured career-best four NXS poles in 2019
• Youngest 2018 NXS Playoff contender at 20 years old
• Won three NXS poles in 2018, including the inaugural pole position at the Charlotte Motor Speedway road course
• Finished third in 2017 NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series (NGOTS) standings
• Scored first Truck Series victory in 2017 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
• Posted two NASCAR K&N Pro Series East wins in 2016
• Won the 2016 ARCA Series race at Kentucky Speedway
• Became youngest winner in IMSA Continental Tire Series history with 2015 victory at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
• Won four races in the 2015 Global RallyCross Lites division and finished second in point standings
• Earned a bronze medal in the 2014 X-Games in RallyCross competition