Team Penske NASCAR Xfinity Race Report - Mid-Ohio

August 10, 2019

Track:    Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
Race:     B&L Transport 170
Date:     August 10, 2019
 
No. 22 PPG Ford Mustang – Austin Cindric 

Start: 1st (5th-career NASCAR Xfinity Series pole)
Stage 1: 14th
Stage 2: 3rd
Finish: 1st (2nd-career NASCAR Xfinity Series victory)
Status: Running
Laps Completed: 75/75
Laps Led: 46
Driver Point Standings (behind first): 5th (-183)
 
Notes: 

• Austin Cindric and the No. 22 PPG Ford Mustang team won the B&L Transport 170 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on Saturday afternoon in dominate fashion. Cindric remains fifth in the driver point standings, 183 points behind leader Tyler Reddick and 27 points behind fourth-place Justin Allgaier.
• The driver of the PPG Ford Mustang started his day at Mid-Ohio by qualifying on the pole with a lap time of 84.231 seconds and a speed of 96.506 mph. The qualifying effort was the second-straight year Cindric captured the pole position at Mid-Ohio and was the his fifth pole position of his Xfinity Series career.
• At the drop of the green flag, Cindric showed the strength of the No. 22 PPG Ford, maintaining his position out front. Over the course of the first 20-lap stage, Cindric repeatedly ran the fastest laps on track, jumping out to a 1.3-second lead over second place. With teams on different strategies, Wilson elected to pit under green on lap 18 for four fresh tires and fuel. Cindric would be scored in the 14th position at the end of the Stage 1. 
• The Mooresville, N.C. native would remain on track during the stage caution, restarting from the second position on lap 23. Shortly after the restart, the caution would fall once more on lap 28. Cindric radioed to his team that his PPG Ford was good and felt he was better than the leader. The race restarted once again on lap 31, with Cindric falling to the third position as the caution waived right away. Due to extensive clean-up, the second stage would conclude under caution with Cindric scored in third. Most of the field would pit under the stage caution on lap 41, including Cindric and he would line up seventh for the restart on lap 42.
• The 20-year-old driver sliced his way through traffic to regain the race lead on lap 44. He broke out to a 2.3-second lead on the No. 20 of Christopher Bell before the fifth caution slowed the pace on lap 56. Wilson elected to pit the PPG Ford of Cindric for an air pressure adjustment, four fresh tires and fuel. Cindric would line up seventh with 15 laps remaining in the 75-lap race. He wasted no time making his way back into the lead in just two laps. The remaining laps ran caution free as Cindric extended his lead on the field, crossing the finish-line victorious for the second weekend in-a row to capture Team Penske's 23rd overall victory at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
• The win was his second victory in the past two weeks and his 15th top-10 finish in 2019. It was also his first victory at the track and second top-10 finish in two races at Mid-Ohio.

 
Quote: “I think this gives our team a lot of confidence. When we come to racetracks like this, we have a lot of assurance in our racecars and our speed. I am just over the moon to get my first win here at Mid-Ohio and my second win within a week of each other - it's just incredible. I am just so thankful for Brian (Wilson) and my team, Mr. Penske for giving me this opportunity and sticking behind me. I have had to learn and grow a lot in this series.  It has taken me a little bit to understand it all. Next weekend isn't going to be easy, but I have grown a lot on tracks like Bristol. I am already thinking of where the groove is and what I will be needing for my racecar based on the Spring race. I'm motivated to get a win on an oval. But I am happy the hard work is starting to pay off.”