Austin Cindric managed to secure an electrifying victory in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup race, with a nail-biting photo finish at Talladega. Edging out Ryan Preece amidst the challenge from a pair of Hendrick cars, Cindric emerged victorious, thanks to his bold draft from two lapped cars converging on the inside line. The victory marked a significant success story for him and his supportive team.
An overwhelmed Cindric expressed his exultation over the win, praising his team’s effort, the Ford Performance, and the Roush Yates engine package for their stellar contributions. Showering his gratitude for everyone’s support, he highlighted the struggle it took to finally notch up a Cup win for John Menard and Menard’s, stretched over three to four years.
In his words: “From the cycles to the fast cars to the fuel-only stops. Doug — my spotter, everybody. I’ve been trying for three, four years now to get a Cup win for John Menard and Menard’s. That bright yellow car looks good out front. The Ford Performance, Roush Yates engine package at these types of race tracks are second to none.”
Speaking about the cliffhanger finish, he added: “Definitely wasn’t easy. I give a lot of credit. Kyle [Larson] did a lot to take care of me, pushing me at the right times in the tri-oval.”
This victory adds a third gem to his treasury of wins in the Cup Series and positions him as the first among the three Team Penske cars to reach Victory Lane this season. His previous triumphs came at the Gateway in 2024 and the 2022 Daytona 500.
Preece, despite his commendable performance, finished second in this otherwise clean race, witnessing an escalation in his career. 2025 thus signals a promising year for him too, despite having never won at the Cup level in nearly 200 starts before.
Besides the top two, the race witnessed Kyle Larson clinching the opening stage and finishing third, followed by William Byron and Joey Logano. The remaining top ten included Noah Gragson, Chase Elliott, Carson Hocevar, Alex Bowman, and Stage 2 winner Bubba Wallace.
The event, though largely clean, saw five drivers failing to complete the race and two cautions for on-track incidents. The list included biggies like Brad Keselowski, Ryan Blaney, and Kyle Busch, who were collected in a crash at the pit entry during Stage 1. Christopher Bell and Chris Buescher also fell out of the event after a poor bump on a restart.
The conclusion of the race bore testament to Austin Cindric’s astounding skill and strategic prowess on the track, leaving an indelible mark in NASCAR Cup history. The impact of his victory sets a high benchmark for the rest of the season and bolsters his prospects in the championship run. Coming races will only tell how much this turning point propels his future performances.
