News

Track:    Auto Club Speedway
Race:     Production Alliance Group 300
Date:     March 16, 2019  

No. 22 America's Tire Ford Mustang – Austin Cindric 

Start: 11th
Stage 1: 7th
Stage 2: 8th
Finish: 6th
Status: Running
Laps Completed: 150/150
Laps Led: 0
Driver Point Standings (behind first): 5th (-41) 

Notes: 

• Austin Cindric and the No. 22 America's Tire team rebounded from a cut tire on lap 111 to score a sixth-place finish in the Production Alliance Group 300 Saturday afternoon at Auto Club Speedway. Cindric racked up his fourth top-10 in five races this season, moving up to fifth in the NASCAR Xfinity Series driver standings. He claimed his 17th career top-10 finish in 39 series starts.       
• The Mooresville, N.C. native started from 11th position in his No. 22 America's Tire Ford Mustang. Early in the race Cindric communicated to crew chief Brian Wilson his Mustang lacked grip on the short run, causing him to fall to 13th by lap 19. But the young driver was able to rebound as the Stage drew to a close, moving up to seventh-position when the segment concluded on lap 35 and gaining four valuable stage points. 
• Following a scheduled four-tire pit stop during the stage caution, Cindric restarted seventh when the race went green on lap 41. Cindric battled a loose-handling Mustang over the short run and faded to 11th position. But as the run progressed in Stage 2, Cindric rallied back to eighth position when the segment concluded on lap 70. He pitted during the stage caution on lap 73 for four tires and adjustments to aid his loose-handling condition. Cindric restarted 12th when the race went green on lap 77.
• He was up to 10th position when the third caution slowed the race on lap 85. The America's Tire team held their own on the round of pit stops that followed, allowing Cindric to restart 10th on lap 89. Cindric flexed the mussel of the No. 22 Ford, climbing up to fourth position before making slight contact with the wall on lap 111, which cut the right-rear tire on the No. 22 Mustang. One lap later Cindric spun off Turn 4, bringing out the fourth caution of the race. He pitted on lap 113 for four tires and repairs and lined up 14th when the race went green on lap 117.
• Once again Cindric worked his way through traffic, climbing up to seventh position before the fifth and final caution waved on lap 125. Wilson called Cindric to pit road with 24 laps remaining for four tires and one final round of adjustments. He restarted 11th on lap 130 but rallied over the final 20 laps to finish sixth when the checkered flag waved on lap 150.

Quote: 

"If you look at the numbers on stages and finishes it seems like we had a pretty quiet day. We didn't really have the practices or qualifying we wanted. I had a lot of long run speed to begin the race. I restored to running against the wall, which is something I am not the best at, and I learned a lot on how to do it today. I am proud of that effort. We made our America's Tire Mustang better throughout the day and got into position to score a top-five then had the blown rear-tire. We were sniffing a top-five at the end. Days like today are hard to come by when you make a couple mistakes and learn a lot of things. We were able to rebound with stage points and a good finish."