Austin Cindric, the 2022 Daytona 500 winner and driver for Team Penske, faces a critical weekend at Kansas Speedway as he navigates the NASCAR playoffs struggles that have tested his season. Sitting 19 points below the transfer spot for the Round of 8, Cindric acknowledges that unless he finds success at Kansas, his hopes rest on a must-win scenario at the Charlotte Roval road course the following week.
While he’s aware a strong finish at Kansas can solidify his position, Cindric already looks ahead to the Charlotte Roval, recognizing the immense challenge. He admitted his performances on road courses within the NASCAR Cup Series have fallen short of both his and his team’s expectations this season.
Honest Reflections on the Season’s Challenges
During media interviews before the Kansas race, Cindric was candid about his season’s ups and downs, especially regarding his road course efforts.
“I’d say no, and I think that’s probably an obvious answer,”
— Austin Cindric, Driver
He expressed that the introduction of a new tire for all road courses at the start of the year presented fresh hurdles, making it difficult to optimize his car’s performance and speed.
“This year has been exceptionally challenging. I think the biggest change I could put on that is we have a tire that we’ve gone to at the start of the year that we’ve integrated into all road courses and, at the end of the day, I’ve struggled to figure out what’s best for my car and what’s best for making lap time.”
— Austin Cindric, Driver
Assessing On-Track Results and Playoff Standings
Cindric’s overall performance this season includes one win at Talladega, two top-five finishes, and five top 10 results. However, his record on road courses has been underwhelming, finishing outside the top 15 in nearly every event: 25th at Austin, 18th at Mexico City, 27th at Chicago, 30th at Sonoma, and managing only 16th at Watkins Glen. None of these are the results a playoff contender needs for advancement.
Despite some improvement at more recent road courses, Cindric recognized that even those performances were not up to his standards.
“I’d say my last two events that we did at Sonoma and Watkins Glen were probably our two best, which 15th isn’t what we shoot for here,”
— Austin Cindric, Driver
Cindric also remembered last year’s strong showing at the Charlotte Roval, where he finished fourth—his best road course result so far. However, he was unable to capitalize, finishing well outside the transfer positions in other rounds and ultimately failing to move forward in the playoffs then as well.
“I definitely look forward to Charlotte and once again trying to adapt what we know from our last couple years to the Roval, where we had a great playoff race there last year – (but) not good enough to win.”
— Austin Cindric, Driver
“(Road course racing has) actually probably been one of the weakest areas for me this year, and who would have thought saying that a couple of years ago. It ebbs and flows. It shows how competitive the series is, and nothing is guaranteed. You’ve got to keep evolving.”
— Austin Cindric, Driver
Playoff Pressure Mounts as the Rounds Narrow
This season, Cindric narrowly advanced through the Round of 16 by earning a 12th-place finish at Darlington, 19th at Gateway, and 30th at Bristol. Entering Kansas, he and his Team Penske Discount Tire team sit 10th in the standings, 19 points below the cut line with two races remaining to secure their place in the next round.
Cindric is under no illusion regarding the difficulty ahead. Last year, he was eliminated after struggling at Kansas (34th) and Talladega (32nd) before reaching the Roval, underscoring the ever-present risk of early playoff exits.
“We were in a must-win last year, but it’s gonna have to be a good event for us regardless, but it has been frustrating,”
— Austin Cindric, Driver
Mental Strategy: Staying Calm in High Stakes
Despite the mounting pressure, Cindric maintains perspective and is not succumbing to desperation. He recognizes that while the stakes are high, opportunities remain if he and his team can deliver standout performances at both Kansas and Charlotte.
“I’m not getting ahead of my skis here at all, but I think from our standpoint, you have to look at it realistically and think that we’re gonna have to go out and have two of our best weeks of the year to go make this happen on points, but I think those are two tracks that we’re capable of doing that. I’m excited for this weekend. It pumps me up. We’ve got nothing to lose and everything to go out and gain. I think that’s kind of where my head’s at.”
— Austin Cindric, Driver
Cindric acknowledges the volatility of both Kansas Speedway and the Charlotte Roval, noting that unexpected incidents and setbacks can intervene for any driver, potentially opening the door for a dramatic turnaround.
Pit Crew Strength and Team Unity Remain Key
Cindric credits his pit crew for their consistent and reliable performance throughout the playoffs, which he sees as a vital part of his ability to stay competitive. In his analysis, success moving forward will require both extracting the maximum from his race car and staying focused as a group.
“I don’t think any race has really gone the way we wanted it to so far,”
— Austin Cindric, Driver
“I can sit here and list off all the reasons why, and a lot of ways, I feel like that’s how our season has gone this year. If I looked at my season from the perspective of a top 10 means I’m good or not, I’d go crazy because we’ve had a lot more than just that, but we have to go out and put it up there.”
— Austin Cindric, Driver
“I think that’s really where my head’s at and where my focus is because I do feel like if we achieve the maximum of what we’re capable of as a group, or much closer to it, I feel like we’ll find ourselves in a very favorable position to continue fighting for a championship.”
— Austin Cindric, Driver
What’s at Stake for Cindric and Team Penske
The upcoming races at Kansas Speedway and the Charlotte Roval represent defining moments for Austin Cindric’s 2024 NASCAR campaign. With only two opportunities left to erase a points deficit, Cindric must rely on past experiences, adaptability, and the strength of his Team Penske crew to remain in championship contention. Rivals at Kansas and the notoriously unpredictable Charlotte Roval stand between Cindric and a spot in the coveted Round of 8, making these next events critical for his season’s outcome. Whether he can overcome recent struggles and capitalize on his team’s strengths will determine not just his playoff destiny, but also shape how his year is ultimately remembered within the NASCAR Cup Series.
