INDIANAPOLIS – Austin Cindric’s victory in Saturday’s Pennzoil 150 NASCAR Xfinity Series race may have been predetermined by his DNA.
Before Saturday’s IndyCar Series Big Machine Spiked Coolers Grand Prix, Team Penske president Tim Cindric was reminded about his son’s family tree. On the maternal side, his grandfather was Jim Trueman, the winning team owner of the 1986 Indianapolis 500. On his father’s side, his grandfather was Carl Cindric, a man who built engines for Herb Porter at Speedway Engines, one of the longtime engine suppliers for the Indianapolis 500.
With a family tree like that, Austin Cindric has Indianapolis Motor Speedway in his genetic makeup.
“He better get a win here,” Tim Cindric quipped.
RESULTS: Pennzoil 150 at The Brickyard
That became a reality a few hours later when Cindric drove the No. 22 PPG Ford to victory in the annual NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
It was Cindric’s fifth NASCAR Xfinity Series win this season. It also gave his father, Tim, and his mother, Megan, something to be deeply proud of after watching their son win at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
“There is nothing bigger,” Austin Cindric said of winning at the Brickyard.
He defeated A.J. Allmendinger’s No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet by 2.108 seconds.
Cindric sang, “Back Home Again in Indiana” on his victory lap over the team’s radio, paying honor to the famed traditional song that is sung before the start of the Indianapolis 500 since the 1950s.
Justin Haley of nearby Winamac, Ind., was third in the No. 11 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet followed by NASCAR Cup Series star Chase Elliott, who was filling in for the injured Michael Annett in the No. 1 JR Motorsports Chevrolet.
“I was still asleep today when I got the call and one of them was from Chad Knaus,” Elliott recalled. “Michael couldn’t drive today, and it was an opportunity for me to get some laps on a track that is new to me, and I couldn’t turn it down.
“I’m excited for tomorrow and I really appreciate having the opportunity to get behind the wheel today. I thought I was kind of choppy and couldn’t get a good rhythm. We’ll see how it is tomorrow.”
Noah Gragson rounded out the top-five in the No. 9 JR Motorsports Chevrolet.
Cindric made sure his burnout was not on the Yard of Bricks, but he did leave some signature rubber on the front straight after the big victory.
Cindric climbed out of the race car, and he walked over to the flagstand to get the checkered flag in what is likely to be his favorite victory of career.
Ironically, the flag fell off the stick after Cindric waved it.
“Unbelievable,” young Cindric said. “First of all, I have to thank Roger Penske for every opportunity I have had in my career and every opportunity he has given you race fans to enjoy this beautiful weekend with three race series’. How awesome is this facility now guys? It is amazing. I am so proud to be a part of this Penske family with PPG and Ford and everyone that has put so much into my career. This racetrack is so much deeper than just that with my family history and what this place means to me. I can’t even put into words what it means to win at Indianapolis.”
As for his rendition of “Back Home Again in Indiana”…..
“I didn’t even know I knew the words that well or could remember them that well,” Austin Cindric said. “Hopefully, I didn’t make Jim Nabors roll over in his grave. I was here the last time he sang the song and it gives me goosebumps every time. I am sure it does for everyone else. I am proud to be here, proud to drive for Roger, and proud to win at the Speedway.”
Team Penske swept both races on Saturday. Earlier in the day, Will Power won the Big Machine Spiked Coolers Grand Prix NTT IndyCar Series race. On Sunday, Team Penske will attempt to go for the sweep in the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard.
Riley Herbst finished eighth in the race and is 10 points ahead of Annett in 12th place in the Xfinity Series playoff race. Annett entered the race in 12th place, but after yielding the car to Elliott, he will probably not make the playoffs.
Last season, the Xfinity Series made its first trip to the Indianapolis Road Course. In 2020, Indiana native Chase Briscoe won the inaugural race on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course after starting from 12th. Haley, Gragson, Allmendinger and Cindric rounded out the top five.
Second-place finisher Allmendinger was disappointed in his effort after starting the race on the pole.
“Kaulig Racing needed a better driver today,” Allmendinger said. “I was just awful today.”
Haley led 17 laps before finishing third.
“I’m really proud of the third place,” Haley said. “Me and A.J. probably had the best cars today. This is my third race near my hometown and I’m definitely proud of where I’ve finished in each of these races. We have had a good string of putting some races together and getting some playoff momentum.”
For young Cindric, he was the star on Saturday and added the family name to the list of winners at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway – a facility that meant so much to the late Jim Trueman and the late Carl Cindric.
“It’s a racer’s dream and it’s not just the win; but the ability to compete,” Cindric said. “Every racer knows what this place means. My grandfather Carl passed away over the winter and I wish he were here today to see this today.
“A never give up attitude goes a long way in this sport.”