Austin Cindric Bio
Austin Louis Cindric (born September 2, 1998) is an American professional auto racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 2 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Team Penske. He also competes part-time in the Supercars Championship, driving the No. 5 Ford Mustang S650 for Tickford Racing. Cindric has built a versatile career across multiple racing disciplines, including sports cars, the Road to Indy ladder, and the Global RallyCross Championship.
He is best known for winning the 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship and capturing the 2022 Daytona 500 in only his eighth Cup Series start. In 2022, he was also named NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year.
Early Life and Background
Austin Louis Cindric was born on September 2, 1998, in Columbus, Ohio. He is the son of Tim Cindric, a former president of Team Penske, and Megan Cindric. Through his father, Cindric is the grandson of Jim Trueman, the former IndyCar team owner and founder of Red Roof Inn, which gave him deep family ties to motorsports from an early age.
Cindric began his racing journey in semi-professional Legends cars and Bandolero racing in North Carolina. He later attended the Skip Barber Racing School to sharpen his road racing skills, a move that helped lay the groundwork for his future in open-wheel and stock car competition. He graduated from Cannon School in Concord, North Carolina, on May 18, 2017, just hours before competing in a Truck Series race at nearby Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Path to NASCAR
Before reaching NASCAR, Cindric competed in a wide range of disciplines. In 2013 and 2014, he raced in the U.S. F2000 National Championship, first with Andretti Autosport and later with Pabst Racing Services, where he earned a podium finish on the oval at Lucas Oil Raceway. He also competed in Historic Sportscar Racing, winning a race in a Porsche 944, and was a member of the Porsche North American Junior Academy.
In 2014, Cindric made his Global RallyCross Championship Lites debut and won a bronze medal at the X Games Austin. The following year, at age 17, he became the youngest driver to compete in the Bathurst 12 Hour, driving a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG for Erebus Motorsport. He then made his IMSA Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge debut in 2014 and won a race at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in 2015, becoming the youngest winner in series history. These varied experiences prepared him for the transition into NASCAR’s national series.
Austin Cindric Career
Early Career (2015–2016)
Cindric made his ARCA Racing Series debut in July 2015 at Iowa Speedway, finishing fourth for Cunningham Motorsports. Later that year, he made his NASCAR debut in the Camping World Truck Series at Martinsville, driving the No. 29 Ford F-150 for Brad Keselowski Racing as a substitute for Austin Theriault.
In 2016, Cindric joined Martin-McClure Racing for two K&N Pro Series East events, winning at Virginia International Raceway and Watkins Glen International. He also recorded his first ARCA win at Kentucky Speedway and made his restrictor-plate debut at Talladega. That November, Brad Keselowski Racing announced that Cindric would compete full-time in the Truck Series in 2017.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Breakthrough (2017)
During the 2017 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season, Cindric grabbed the pole for the lone road course race at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. On the final lap, he made contact with Kaz Grala while on newer tires, taking the lead and the win. The aggressive move secured a playoff berth for Brad Keselowski Racing in its final season, though it drew widespread criticism from fellow drivers.
Cindric finished the 2017 Truck Series season ranked third in the standings, recording one win, one pole, and 16 top-ten finishes. In August 2017, he also joined Team Penske’s No. 22 car for an Xfinity Series race at Road America, signaling his pending move up the ladder.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Breakthrough (2018–2020)
In 2018, Cindric ran the full Xfinity schedule, splitting time between Team Penske and Roush Fenway Racing. He earned his first pole at Iowa and survived a violent barrel-roll crash at Daytona, gaining valuable experience across the season. On November 8, 2018, Team Penske announced that Cindric would drive the No. 22 Ford Mustang full-time in 2019.
In 2019, Cindric scored his first NASCAR Xfinity Series wins with back-to-back road course victories at Watkins Glen and Mid-Ohio, finishing the year sixth in points. In 2020, he swept the Xfinity races at Kentucky Speedway, becoming the first driver to win national series races at the same track on consecutive days since Richard Petty in 1971. He then won the regular-season championship and clinched the 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship at Phoenix, leading all drivers with 19 top-fives and 26 top-tens.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Continued (2021)
Cindric returned to the No. 22 Ford Mustang in 2021 and quickly added victories at Daytona, Phoenix, Dover, Pocono, and the Indianapolis Road Course. He led much of the regular season standings before finishing runner-up to A. J. Allmendinger at Bristol. He ultimately lost the championship to Daniel Hemric on the final lap at Phoenix, ending the year ranked second.
NASCAR Cup Series Breakthrough (2021–2022)
In October 2020, Team Penske announced Cindric would race part-time in the Cup Series in 2021 before moving up full-time. His first Cup start came at the 2021 Daytona 500, where he finished fifteenth. On July 15, 2021, Team Penske confirmed that Cindric would drive the No. 2 car in 2022, replacing Brad Keselowski.
On February 20, 2022, Cindric won the 2022 Daytona 500 in only his eighth Cup Series start, becoming the ninth driver to win his first Cup race in the Daytona 500 and the second-youngest winner in NASCAR history. The victory was the third Daytona 500 win for Team Penske. He finished the season 12th in points and earned NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year honors.
Team Penske Era (2022–Present)
After a promising rookie campaign, Cindric struggled in 2023, missing the playoffs and finishing 24th in the standings with only one top-five and five top-ten finishes. In 2024, he broke through at Gateway, winning after Christopher Bell lost an engine and Ryan Blaney ran out of fuel, ending an 85-race winless streak. He was eliminated in the Round of 12 at the Charlotte Roval.
Cindric began 2025 with an eighth-place finish at the Daytona 500. Later, he was docked 50 driver points and fined for a right-rear hook of Ty Dillon at Circuit of the Americas. He then won at Talladega, beating Ryan Preece by 0.022 seconds, marking his third career Cup Series victory.
Driving Style and Strengths
Cindric is widely regarded as a strong road course racer, a skill he developed through sports car and open-wheel racing early in his career. He has demonstrated solid oval racing pace, particularly on intermediate tracks, and has built a strong working relationship with his crew chief Jeremy Bullins. His aggressive style has produced highlight-reel finishes, though it has occasionally drawn criticism from competitors.
Notable Races and Milestones
Cindric’s signature moments include his 2020 sweep at Kentucky Speedway, his 2020 Xfinity Series title at Phoenix, and his 2022 Daytona 500 victory in only his eighth Cup start. He also captured the 2025 Jack Link’s 500 at Talladega, cementing his reputation for clutch performances on the biggest stages.
Austin Cindric Career Wins
Austin Cindric has recorded wins across multiple NASCAR national series, with his most celebrated victories coming in the Xfinity Series and the Daytona 500. He has also won races in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the ARCA Menards Series.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Highlights
Cindric has 13 Xfinity Series wins, 89 top-tens, and 8 poles, with his first victory coming at Watkins Glen in 2019 and his most recent at the Indianapolis Road Course in 2021. His 2020 championship run featured five wins, including a weekend sweep at Kentucky Speedway. He also won the 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series Regular Season Championship and led all drivers in top-fives and top-tens that season.
NASCAR Cup Series Highlights
Cindric has 3 Cup Series wins, 31 top-tens, and 1 pole. His first win came at the 2022 Daytona 500, and his most recent was the 2025 Jack Link’s 500 at Talladega. His best season finish is 11th in 2024, and he is the 2022 Cup Series Rookie of the Year.
Other Wins and Performances
Cindric has 1 win in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in 2017, finishing third in the final standings. In the ARCA Menards Series, he has 1 win and 1 pole, with a best finish of 30th in 2016. He also won 2 races in the ARCA Menards Series East in 2016 at Danville and Watkins Glen.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| NASCAR Cup Series | 3 | 31 | 1 |
| NASCAR Xfinity Series | 13 | 89 | 8 |
| NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series | 1 | 16 | 1 |
| ARCA Menards Series | 1 | 5 | 1 |
| ARCA Menards Series East | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Austin Cindric Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Austin Cindric is the son of Tim Cindric, a former president of Team Penske, and Megan Cindric. He is also the grandson of Jim Trueman, a former IndyCar team owner and the founder of Red Roof Inn. This strong motorsports heritage has played a key role in shaping his career path and connections within the racing industry.
Personal Life
Cindric graduated from Cannon School in Concord, North Carolina, in 2017, balancing his education with an already demanding racing schedule. He continues to be based in the NASCAR heartland, where he works closely with Team Penske.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season has been a mixed campaign for Austin Cindric. He opened the year with an eighth-place finish at the Daytona 500, but a controversial right-rear hook of Ty Dillon at Circuit of the Americas resulted in a 50-point penalty and a US$50,000 fine. The setback briefly disrupted his momentum, but he responded with his first win of the season at Talladega, edging Ryan Preece by 0.022 seconds for his third career Cup victory.
Cindric’s partnership with crew chief Jeremy Bullins has remained central to his performance, with the duo focused on consistency across both oval and road course events. His Talladega win bolstered his playoff position and demonstrated his ability to deliver in high-pressure moments.
Looking ahead, Cindric will also contest the Supercars Championship finale at Adelaide with Tickford Racing in a wildcard entry, expanding his international racing footprint. With momentum from Talladega and the support of Team Penske, he enters the closing stretch of the 2025 season with renewed confidence and a clear push toward the playoffs.
