Team Penske NASCAR playoff prospects have become the focal point as the team faces a pivotal moment following a standout performance at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. With Ryan Blaney securing advancement and Joey Logano leading the field for many laps, the attention now turns to Austin Cindric, who finds himself just outside the cutoff with two critical races remaining in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.
Recent Success and Ongoing Challenges for Team Penske
At New Hampshire, Team Penske and its associated Ford entries demonstrated strong form. Ryan Blaney, last season’s Cup Series champion, booked his spot in the next round of the playoffs, while his teammate Joey Logano, the reigning champion, set the pace during much of the race from his second pole position this season. However, not all Penske entries found success. One of the team’s cars struggled, finishing outside the top 15. This result has left the driver with a significant 19-point deficit that must be overcome with only two events left before the playoff field narrows again. The pressure is mounting as postseason implications weigh heavily on the team heading into Kansas Speedway.
Austin Cindric Maintains Optimism Despite Standings Deficit
Following the Mobil 1 301 at Loudon, four drivers remain below the playoff cut line: Bubba Wallace, Tyler Reddick, Ross Chastain, and Team Penske’s Austin Cindric. Despite a determined effort from the Ford teams, Cindric’s performance last weekend was affected by on-track damage, resulting in a 17th-place finish. This leaves him 10th in the standings, 19 points shy of playoff advancement.
Nonetheless, Cindric approaches the coming race at Kansas with guarded optimism, particularly as Goodyear introduces a new right-side tire for the event. Cindric discussed his outlook during a video interview with Bob Pockrass, offering insight into his perspective on the technical adjustments and his approach to high-stakes competition.
“You’re never fully gonna know, but I don’t expect much change,”
Cindric said. — Austin Cindric, Driver
He addressed the potential impact of the new tire compound in more detail:
“From Goodyear’s side, from what I understand, it’s more just from a durability standpoint with the construction of the tire, so I think pace and fall off and tire wear and the racetrack and all that, from everything that I understand and the information that I have, should all be fairly similar.”
— Austin Cindric, Driver
Assessing the unique demands of Kansas Speedway, Cindric added,
“Kansas is definitely one of those tracks that the teams push it right to the edge, so I don’t think that’s gonna be any different this weekend,”
expressing confidence in his team’s preparation. Cindric’s previous best result at Kansas was 11th earlier in the year at the 1.5-mile venue.
The Road Ahead: Kansas and the Charlotte Roval
Cindric began this playoff run intending to remain unnoticed until the field was trimmed to eight contenders. Unexpected setbacks, including a fire at Bristol and an underwhelming showing at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, have instead placed him in a more urgent—though not desperate—position.
With only Kansas Speedway and the Charlotte Roval remaining before potential elimination, the 27-year-old must close a 19-point gap to reach the next round. Despite recent challenges, he draws on past playoff experiences, notably his surprising 2022 Daytona 500 win that secured his postseason berth, as evidence that unpredictable outcomes remain possible for both himself and Team Penske.
As the playoffs reach a crucial phase, Team Penske NASCAR playoff prospects will depend on how Cindric performs under pressure. The coming races will determine whether the Talladega winner’s championship chase can continue, and how strategic decisions—such as new tire strategies and execution at high-stakes tracks—will shape the outcome for one of the sport’s most prominent teams.
While there is a new right-side tire with a construction change than what teams previously have had at Kansas and it is a debut for that tire this weekend, neither Austin Cindric nor Josh Berry feel it will have a big impact. What they said during their media zooms today: pic.twitter.com/TZBDWiTX0E
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) September 24, 2025
