Penske Racing

NASCAR Xfinity Series Race Report - Mid-Ohio

June 5, 2021

Track:    Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
Race:      B&L Transport 170
Date:      June 5, 2021


No. 22 PPG Ford Mustang – Austin Cindric 

Start: 1st
Stage 1: 2nd
Stage 2: 5th
Finish: 14th
Status: Running
Laps Completed: 78/78
Laps Led: 30
Point Standings (ahead of second): 1st (+96)

Notes:

  • Austin Cindric and the No. 22 PPG Ford Mustang team were in position to win Saturday at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course until a late-race caution bunched the field.  On an ensuing restart with just four laps to go, Cindric was pushed into the grass and spun, resulting in a 14th-place finish in the B&L Transport 170.  Cindric showed speed and lead 30 laps and, despite the finish, Cindric extended his NASCAR Xfinity Series driver standings points lead to 96 markers over second place, A.J. Allmendinger.
  • Saturday's starting lineup was once again set per the NASCAR rule book, which gave Cindric the first starting position. He grabbed the lead early and was consistently running the fastest laps on track. He surrendered the top position to Allmendinger and held the second position to finish the first stage.  The reigning Xfinity Series Champion reported his PPG Ford Mustang had good long-run speed, but lacked turn on the short run. Crew chief Brian Wilson elected to pit during the stage caution for four tires, fuel and a slight air pressure adjustment.
  • With various pit strategies playing out throughout the first stage, Cindric restarted the second stage from seventh.  The road course veteran showed his skills, racing his way to the third position before a caution prior to the stage end bunched the field. Wilson elected to play a different pit strategy and called the PPG Mustang to pit road on lap 42 for fuel. Cindric restarted 17th with less than 10-laps remaining in the second stage and was scored fifth at the conclusion of Stage 2.
  • Shortly after the final restart, Cindric recaptured the race lead and extended his lead to over 10-seconds. Unfortunately, with less than six laps to go, the sixth caution flag of the day was displayed, diminishing Cindric's dominate lead. As the field took the green for the restart, Cindric was taken three-wide and pushed into the grass by his competitors and spun through the infield. He was forced to pit for damage assessment and repairs during the caution, rejoining the field for NASCAR overtime in the 25th position. With the perseverance of a past champion, Cindric fought to the 14th position at the end of the event. 
  • The NASCAR Xfinity Series is back in action at Texas Motor Speedway on Saturday, June 12th, for the Alsco Uniforms 250. Live coverage will begin at 4:00 p.m. ET on FS1. PRN and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio.

 
Quote: "It was a good effort by my PPG team. Brian Wilson had a great strategy. My PPG Mustang was fast and I appreciate all the work by the team. We did not want that last caution to come out but that's racing – we will put it behind us and move on to Texas." 

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