Austin Cindric was among the four drivers knocked out after the Round of 12 stage of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at the Roval on Sunday. Meanwhile, his Team Penske teammates Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano remain in title contention. Blaney sits six points above the cut line, and Logano is clinging to the final transfer spot in eighth, 24 points adrift.
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Sticking to the Penske philosophy of teamwork, Cindric has vowed to back his teammates. This camaraderie is in sharp contrast to the tension going on at Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota garage, where non-playoff drivers have failed to lend support to their postseason counterparts.
Cindric entered Charlotte ranked 12th in playoff points, 48 below the cut line. He needed nothing short of a win to stay alive. But the Roval proved to be rather unforgiving to the 27-year-old.
After starting 19th, Cindric struggled to find pace early. His troubles compounded when a missed backstretch chicane drew a stop-and-go penalty. Soon after that, contact from Justin Haley sent him spinning through the infield, further sinking his chances.
Cindric’s day went from bad to worse in Stage 2 when Carson Hocevar collided with him from behind, ending his playoff hopes for good. On the first lap of the stage, Hocevar had already turned Kyle Busch from the inside rear before slamming into Cindric’s No. 2 Ford.
Both cars spun, and according to Fox Sports’ Bob Pockrass, two control arms and a rear toe link on Cindric’s Mustang were damaged beyond repair. Though he managed to limp the car back to pit road, the team soon pushed it to the garage.
With the upcoming races being crucial for the team, Cindric is now shifting his focus to the team’s greater goal. He emphasized his commitment to aiding Logano and Blaney.
“Yeah, I mean, I think that’s what the focus will be for the next couple [of] days, and trying to understand how we can best help and support because you know the next couple weeks are super important for the team,” said Cindric.
.@AustinCindric recaps his rough day at the ROVAL. Also hear from @Chris_Buescher and @Mc_Driver after scoring top fives. #NASCAR
Presenting partner: @MyPlaceHotels pic.twitter.com/TzY1ioRkEb— Frontstretch (@Frontstretch) October 6, 2025
Last year, Logano advanced to the Round of 8 under similar circumstances and capitalized on that lifeline by capturing his third Cup title. This time, too, fate played its hand in Logano’s favor after Ross Chastain’s late crash opened the door for his advancement.
As the postseason tightens, all eyes will be on the Penske to see if teamwork can once again tip the scales in their favor.
