Austin Cindric, known for his persistence in the racing world, recently shared memories from the 2020 Bristol Xfinity race—an experience he described as the most miserable of his career. As he prepares for another playoff run, with momentum from a Talladega win and a strong showing at Richmond, Cindric looks back on the heartbreak that shaped his approach to racing at tracks like Daytona and beyond. The Austin Cindric Bristol Xfinity race 2020 remains a painful checkpoint in his journey toward NASCAR glory.
Describing the Unbearable Challenge on the Track
During an appearance on Jeff Gluck’s well-known “12 Questions” interview segment, Cindric spoke candidly about the physical and emotional toll of that night at Bristol. He did not hesitate when asked about his toughest moment behind the wheel:
“It has to be the 2020 Bristol Xfinity race,”
—Austin Cindric, Driver
He recounted how he seized the lead from Ross Chastain after a restart, only to be hit with a major setback five laps later. Cindric said,
“I passed Ross Chastain on a restart to take the lead and drove off. It was a 40-lap run, but five laps into the run, I lost power steering. At Bristol. Old car. And I held on to the lead until six laps to go.”
—Austin Cindric, Driver
That loss of power steering left him exhausted and struggling. The physical battle was overwhelming, as Cindric pushed himself to continue against crushing odds. He later described, in less-quoted detail, the sensation of being physically trapped with no one able to step in as the pain escalated while he tried to defend his lead.
Emotional Fallout and Personal Lessons
The pain was not just physical. According to Cindric, the strain brought him close to tears—a unique occurrence in his career.
“I’ve never been in tears because of physical pain and strain before, but just to lose like that, it sucked hard. The tough part about being miserable in a race car is you’re trapped in the car, alone. No one can help you.”
—Austin Cindric, Driver
After the checkered flag fell, Cindric had to face not just his own disappointment, but also questions from other competitors. He described the most difficult moment coming not on the track, but in the media center, when Chase Briscoe, the winner, approached him.
“Hey man, did you just get tight? What happened?”
—Chase Briscoe, Driver
Cindric, still feeling raw from the experience, gave a short response.
“Sure, I got tight. Leave me alone.”
—Austin Cindric, Driver
Reflecting on that race, Cindric admitted to experiencing a new level of pain and helplessness.
“I’ve never felt so helpless in all my life. I’ve never felt such pain in a race car. My body went numb for a while… I’ve never lost a race that way.”
—Austin Cindric, Driver
Looking Forward After Bristol’s Heartbreak
Although no success can fully erase the bitterness of his 2020 Bristol loss, Cindric acknowledges that major playoff performances or advancing to the Championship 4 could help him slowly move beyond the agony. His resolve, forged on difficult nights like that, continues to push him as Team Penske aims for strong playoff results this season. Each race—whether at Talladega, Richmond, Daytona, or Bristol—brings new tests, but for Austin Cindric, the memory of the Bristol Xfinity race 2020 remains a defining moment that still motivates him to strive for redemption on NASCAR’s biggest stages.
