© Phelan M. Ebenhack
Austin Cindric, center, hoists the trophy after winning the NASCAR Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022, in Daytona Beach, Florida. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Austin Cindric drove his new NASCAR car to victory in the Daytona 500 on Sunday, capping team owner Roger Penske’s 85th birthday.
“Oh my God. There are many people I have to thank,” said a surprised Cindric after getting out of his car and waving to the crowd of about 120,000 spectators.
“First and foremost, Happy Birthday Roger Penske!” he commented.
Cindric drove masterfully at Daytona International Speedway and the Ford drivers got their strategy in sync all week and then executed the plan to perfection on Sunday night. The Blue Oval brand drivers pressed each other throughout the 500 miles and came together for the final start in overtime.
Cindric was the leader on the restart from the top lane of the track and managed to pull out a sizeable lead. He then went to the back lane in front of teammate Ryan Blaney so he and Cindric could work together on the last two laps to the finish.
On the last lap, Blaney tried to take the lead, and Bubba Wallace went down in his attempt to take the lead. Cindric slid in to block Blaney, but had to hold off Wallace.
“I appreciate that Ryan is a great teammate,” Cindric said. “Obviously he wanted to win this race.”
Blaney bounced off the wall, cars began crashing around him, and Cindric was declared the winner. It was the first Cup win of his career for the 23-year-old, who was promoted from the Xfinity Series to replace Brad Keselowski in the No. 2 Ford and compete for NASCAR’s Rookie of the Year award.
It was the third Daytona 500 win for Penske, which also lifted the trophy in 2008 with Ryan Newman and in 2015 with Joey Logano. Ford Motor Co. has won the Daytona 500 17 times, including two in a row.