Biography

Austin Cindric, the 2022 DAYTONA 500 champion, enters his fifth NASCAR Cup Series season in 2026, driving Team Penske’s iconic No. 2 Ford Mustang Dark Horse. A multi-time Cup Series winner, Cindric has advanced to the NASCAR Playoffs in three of his first four seasons, as he continues to establish himself as one of the sport’s most versatile young talents.

Cindric carried that momentum into the 2025 season, earning a victory at Talladega Superspeedway and securing another postseason berth. The year also marked a career high in laps led, as he paced the field for 325 laps across the season, including a race-high 59 laps after starting on the front row of the DAYTONA 500. Additional performances leading 40 or more laps at Atlanta, Las Vegas, Texas and Indianapolis further reinforced his ability to contend across a wide range of track types.

After reuniting with crew chief Brian Wilson late in the 2023 season, the pairing built on a successful history in 2024 that previously produced 13 wins and the 2020 championship in NASCAR’s second-tier division. That partnership delivered strong results, including a victory at World Wide Technology Raceway and a solid playoff run that resulted in Cindric’s best career championship finish to that point.

Cindric’s sophomore Cup Series campaign in 2023 followed a standout rookie season highlighted by a DAYTONA 500 victory, Rookie of the Year honors and a playoff appearance. While his attempt to repeat his success at Daytona ended in a late-race incident, he showed strong early-season speed, earning six top-10 starting positions in the first eight races. He also showcased his road-course skill with a sixth-place finish in NASCAR’s inaugural Chicago Street Course event.

With 10 races remaining in the 2023 season, Cindric and Wood Brothers Racing driver Harrison Burton swapped crew chiefs in an effort to optimize performance for both teams. The move reunited Cindric with Wilson and the duo closed the year with multiple top-10 finishes, including a top-five result.

Cindric’s rookie Cup Series campaign in 2022 was historic. Winning the DAYTONA 500 in just his eighth series start, he became the first rookie to capture NASCAR’s most prestigious event while also delivering the first DAYTONA 500 victory for the storied No. 2 car. That season, he earned his first pole position, led the championship standings, recorded four top-10 finishes on road courses and advanced to the Round of 12 in the Playoffs. He finished 12th in the final standings with five top-five and nine top-10 results.

Before reaching NASCAR’s top level, Cindric built an impressive resume in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. During his four-year tenure, he recorded 13 career victories and captured the 2020 drivers’ championship, along with the 2021 owners’ title for Team Penske. His 2020 season featured one of the most dominant stretches in series history, winning five of six races, sweeping a Kentucky Speedway doubleheader, earning Team Penske’s 200th NASCAR victory at Road America and claiming the inaugural Daytona Road Course event. He led 947 laps and earned 11 Stage wins en route to the championship, clinching the title at Phoenix Raceway in his 100th career start.

In 2021, Cindric followed up with five wins, 22 top-five finishes, 26 top-10 results and a series-leading 13 Stage victories while battling for the championship until the final lap of the season, ultimately securing the owners’ title for Team Penske.

Beyond NASCAR, Cindric has showcased his versatility across multiple disciplines, including multiple starts in the Rolex 24 at Daytona in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and two victories in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge. He has also competed in additional stock car, sports car, open-wheel and rallycross events.

Now 27 years old, Cindric resides in Mooresville, North Carolina. Away from the track, he enjoys cooking, golfing, working on his project car and following the Indianapolis Colts.
 

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