One of NASCAR’s promising young drivers, Austin Cindric will compete in his first season driving full-time for Team Penske in 2019, racing in the NASCAR XFINITY Series (NXS) for a team with a championship pedigree. The 20-year-old Cindric will drive the No. 22 MoneyLion/Discount Tire Ford Mustang following a breakout rookie NXS season that resulted in a Playoff run and top-10 finish in the series championship standings in 2018.
Cindric’s first complete season in the XFINITY Series was unique as he raced for two different organizations and three different teams over the course of 2018, producing solid results across the board. During his rookie NXS campaign, the young racer made nine starts for Roush-Fenway Racing, he 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.
Throughout 2018, Cindric demonstrated a knack for performing with consistency in a dynamic environment as he worked with three different crew chiefs across two different shops over the course of the season. Cindric won three pole positions in the No. 22 Mustang as he was the top qualifier in the NXS races at Iowa, Mid-Ohio and the Charlotte Roval for Team Penske. He also posted impressive results on the NXS road courses as he produced podium finishes at Mid-Ohio (season-best second place result) and the Charlotte Roval (third place). He was also running up front at Road America in August before engine issues brought an early end to his race.
Biography
One of NASCAR’s promising young drivers, Austin Cindric will compete in his first season driving full-time for Team Penske in 2019, racing in the NASCAR XFINITY Series (NXS) for a team with a championship pedigree. The 20-year-old Cindric will drive the No. 22 MoneyLion/Discount Tire Ford Mustang following a breakout rookie NXS season that resulted in a Playoff run and top-10 finish in the series championship standings in 2018.
Cindric’s first complete season in the XFINITY Series was unique as he raced for two different organizations and three different teams over the course of 2018, producing solid results across the board. During his rookie NXS campaign, the young racer made nine starts for Roush-Fenway Racing, he 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.
Throughout 2018, Cindric demonstrated a knack for performing with consistency in a dynamic environment as he worked with three different crew chiefs across two different shops over the course of the season. Cindric won three pole positions in the No. 22 Mustang as he was the top qualifier in the NXS races at Iowa, Mid-Ohio and the Charlotte Roval for Team Penske. He also posted impressive results on the NXS road courses as he produced podium finishes at Mid-Ohio (season-best second place result) and the Charlotte Roval (third place). He was also running up front at Road America in August before engine issues brought an early end to his race.
The Mooresville, NC native completed his rookie XFINITY Series season with seven top-five and 13 top-10 results to go along with three poles and he battled to eighth-place championship finish in the NXS Playoffs standings. Cindric was the youngest of the 12 drivers to qualify for the series postseason.
In 2017, Cindric made his NXS debut 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 was part of Team Penske’s fourth NXS Owner Championship won by the team.
Cindric also raced full time in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series (NGOTS) for Brad Keselowski Racing (BKR) in 2017. In his first full Truck Series season, Cindric captured his first NGOTS 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 a third-place championship run in the NGOTS Playoffs.
After he made his debut in the Truck Series, competing in two races for BKR at Martinsville Speedway and Phoenix International Raceway in 2015, Cindric made four NGOTS starts during the 2016 season. He produced a second-place qualifying effort at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and recorded three top-20 finishes for BKR that season. Cindric also captured his first ARCA Racing Series victory in 2016 at Kentucky Speedway, and he also produced two wins in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East events at Watkins Glen International and Virginia International Raceway that same season.
Driving in multiple disciplines to help develop and refine his driving skills, Cindric has also raced in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the Pirelli World Challenge Series, Red Bull Global Rallycross and the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship over the course of his young career.
In 2019, Cindric will be reunited with Brian Wilson, who will again serve as crew chief of the No. 22 Team Penske NXS team that has won four series Owner Championships since 2013. Cindric and Wilson teamed up for last season’s playoff push with No. 22 Ford team and the duo will work together to pursue the NXS championship again in 2019.
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 eighth in 2018 NASCAR XFINITY Series (NXS) as a rookie
- 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
2018 - Finishes eighth in the NASCAR XFINITY Series (NXS) Playoffs during rookie season as the youngest NXS Playoff contender at 20-years-old. Wins three NXS poles, including the inaugural pole at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course. Also posts pole positions at Iowa Speedway and Mid-Ohio. Completes first full NXS season making nine starts for Roush-Fenway Racing, driving eight races in the No. 12 Ford for Team Penske and races in 16 events in the No. 22 Team Penske Ford, including a championship run to close the season. Also races sports cars in the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona as well as at Petit Le Mans and competes in Rally Cross on Ice in Sweden.
2017 - Finishes third in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) Playoffs. Makes his NASCAR XFINITY Series (NXS) debut for Team Penske at Road America as he wins the pole and finishes 16th to ultimately help secure Team Penske’s fourth NXS owner title. Posts first career NCWTS win from the pole at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.
2016 - Makes four NCWTS starts for BKR, with a second-place qualifying effort at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Completes 507 of 510 total possible laps (99.41 percent) among four starts. Wins from the pole in K&N Pro Series East starts at Watkins Glen International and Virginia International Raceway. Scores first ARCA Series victory at Kentucky Speedway. Runs full-season schedule for K-PAX Racing in the Pirelli World Challenge Series.
2015 - Makes NCWTS debut with Brad Keselowski Racing at Martinsville Speedway as he qualifies 14th and runs well before a late-race incident results in a 25th-place finish. Makes second NCWTS start at Phoenix International Raceway and finishes 14th. Totals 28 other starts across seven different series including ARCA, Red Bull Global Rallycross Lites and the IMSA Continental Series, earning 11 podium results. Wins four races in Global Rallycross competition. Becomes the youngest winner ever IMSA Continental Tire Series race winner with victory at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.
Career Highlights
2018 - Finishes eighth in the NASCAR XFINITY Series (NXS) Playoffs during rookie season as the youngest NXS Playoff contender at 20-years-old. Wins three NXS poles, including the inaugural pole at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course. Also posts pole positions at Iowa Speedway and Mid-Ohio. Completes first full NXS season making nine starts for Roush-Fenway Racing, driving eight races in the No. 12 Ford for Team Penske and races in 16 events in the No. 22 Team Penske Ford, including a championship run to close the season. Also races sports cars in the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona as well as at Petit Le Mans and competes in Rally Cross on Ice in Sweden.
2017 - Finishes third in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) Playoffs. Makes his NASCAR XFINITY Series (NXS) debut for Team Penske at Road America as he wins the pole and finishes 16th to ultimately help secure Team Penske’s fourth NXS owner title. Posts first career NCWTS win from the pole at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.
2016 - Makes four NCWTS starts for BKR, with a second-place qualifying effort at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Completes 507 of 510 total possible laps (99.41 percent) among four starts. Wins from the pole in K&N Pro Series East starts at Watkins Glen International and Virginia International Raceway. Scores first ARCA Series victory at Kentucky Speedway. Runs full-season schedule for K-PAX Racing in the Pirelli World Challenge Series.
2015 - Makes NCWTS debut with Brad Keselowski Racing at Martinsville Speedway as he qualifies 14th and runs well before a late-race incident results in a 25th-place finish. Makes second NCWTS start at Phoenix International Raceway and finishes 14th. Totals 28 other starts across seven different series including ARCA, Red Bull Global Rallycross Lites and the IMSA Continental Series, earning 11 podium results. Wins four races in Global Rallycross competition. Becomes the youngest winner ever IMSA Continental Tire Series race winner with victory at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.
2014 - Competes in the Global RallyCross Championship Lites, winning the bronze medal in his first race at X Games Austin. Makes IMSA Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge debut.
Cindric claimed his tenth top-10 in 12 races this season and his second top-10 finish in two races at the 2.5-mile triangular-shaped track. He now has 23 top-10 finishes in
