Austin Cindric opened his NASCAR Xfinity Series title defense with a Saturday night victory at Daytona International Speedway that could consider the greatest of his blossoming career.
Cindric got a push to the lead toward the beginning of the two-lap additional time from AJ Allmendinger that gave him control of the race. Cindric bounced up to the top line in his No. 22 Ford before Harrison Burton, who thus attempted to dash beneath Cindric before Cindric threw a block.
Cindric held off Burton and Brett Moffitt over the last lap to get his first profession win on Daytona’s oval. He makes his Cup Series debut Sunday in the Daytona 500 for Team Penske.
His triumph was a continuation of where Cindric left things in November, when he snapped a 13-race losing streak to win the season finale and the Xfinity title.
“Obviously, coming off a lot of momentum with that championship last year, but nothing’s guaranteed,” Cindric said. “Try to do it again tomorrow, I guess.”
Cindric last August won the Xfinity Series debut on Daytona’s street course, and he won a RallyCross occasion from the get-go in his profession. Neither looks at to winning on Daytona’s celebrated 2.5-mile banked oval.
“Anything with four wheels, man,” Cindric said.
Moffitt was second in a Chevrolet and Burton third for Toyota.
Ty Dillon completed fourteenth to end a severe Speedweeks for him.
Dillon took an action for the lead with 16 laps staying by maneuvering into a center path. Dillon attempted to sift through traffic yet couldn’t clear Daniel Hemric before Dillon attempted to bounce once again into the base path. Dillon spun and set off a 14-fender bender.
He missed the Daytona 500 in light of the peculiar passing arrangement that gave Cindric a spot in the race despite the fact that Dillon beat him in their passing race. He’s out of a task after four seasons dashing in Cup and Saturday was the first of four Xfinity races he has arrived with Joe Gibbs Racing.
Dillon is the grandson of Richard Childress, and his more established sibling, 2018 Daytona 500 champ Austin Dillon, is among the competitors Sunday. He’s resolved to go his own way, however his time this year at Daytona will be remembered with the conversation he started about the 500’s qualifying system.