NASCAR CUP SERIES: HOLLYWOOD CASINO 400

September 27, 2026

Austin Cindric

Pit Lane Interview

Q. Austin Cindric and his 2 team with a strong performance here today. Finishing third and second in the stages and just short at the end within a half second of winning this race. I know you could see that battle with Larson and Briscoe. What did you think as those laps were closing in?

AUSTIN CINDRIC: Obviously it was a hell of a race for the win there, and I was just loading them up, and traffic definitely played a huge factor. I thought our Discount Tire Ford was versatile than most, and I thought Brian and those guys did a great adjustment trying to get us good on the long run there.

Overall happy with the performance and the speed. I mean, it's one of the best race cars I've driven. It was a ton of fun today. Our guys came really well prepared.

Yeah, I just feel like that cycle could have gone better for us. I feel like just the way it all played out with three cars coming in front, and I slipped through the box a little bit, having some stuff on my tires. I could have done a better job there.

When you only lose by half a second, I wish I would have had at least a shot at it. I felt like we could have at least joined the fun at least.

But, no, proud of the effort and great points for today.

Q. I know it's bittersweet to be that close, but this is your first top-10 on a 1.5 mile this year. What does that say about this Penske Group and the potential you have in these Fords right now?

AUSTIN CINDRIC: We have to be good on those racetracks, right? This is the bread and butter, so we got to be able to continue this performance for Vegas and for Charlotte and for Homestead. No reason to think that we can't.

Just proud of everybody from Team Penske and Ford really stepping up and really improving from where we were at in the spring.