Bursting through the silence of the NASCAR off-season, Team Penske’s rising star Austin Cindric confidently asserted his team’s newfound momentum. “It was a good comeback,” remarked Ryan Blaney, reflecting on Team Penske’s late-season surge in 2025 during the Ambetter Health 400 race. This sentiment seems to be shared across the team as Penske’s Cup Series team has been lighting up tracks in recent months, with all three drivers making it to the playoffs and Joey Logano securing his third Penske championship.
Traditionally, Team Penske’s brilliance tends to emerge towards the end of the racing season. However, Austin Cindric, the man behind the wheel of the No. 2 Ford, believes that this pattern is no longer a concern. Cindric, who clinched the first race victory for Team Penske last season, has carried his winning momentum into the early part of this season, a sharp contrast to the usual pattern.
Cindric’s assertion stems from the team’s impressive performances in the 2024 playoffs, where he secured two of his four top-five finishes. Ryan Blaney, the 2023 Cup Series champion, made it to the Round of 8. Joey Logano, despite an elimination, rebounded and made a strong push for the championship. This year, all three drivers have maintained this momentum, significantly improving their early-season performance previously plagued by crashes and poor finishes.
In an interview with Frontstretch, Cindric confidently declared, “I was right.” He was referring to the fact that his team has shown no signs of slowing down in the early races of the season, with the three drivers leading 334 of the 467 laps run in Daytona and Atlanta. Cindric attributes this to significant improvements made to the body of the Ford Mustang Dark Horse – a factor that had previously been identified as a reason for the team’s slow pace.
Cindric’s individual momentum was clearly visible at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where he started third, led for 63 laps, and won Stage 1. Despite a loose wheel slowing him down, he managed to finish 6th in the Pennzoil 400 race. His performance was praised by NASCAR expert Eric Estepp, reaffirming Cindric’s claim that Team Penske has hit its stride early in the season.
However, the team’s improved performance may not just be due to on-track adjustments. There have been significant organizational changes at Team Penske. Tim Cindric, Austin’s father, and Roger Penske’s right-hand man, stepped down from his role overseeing the NASCAR operations. His responsibilities have now been divided between Michael Nelson, President of Team Penske’s NASCAR Program, and Jonathan Diuguid, Managing Director of Porsche Penske Motorsport.
Tim Cindric’s exit marked the end of an era for Team Penske, where he served as President of the team for 25 years and contributed significantly to its success in NASCAR, IndyCar, and sports car racing. While his departure may have influenced the team dynamics, it has not slowed down Team Penske’s chart of success.
As Team Penske blazes through the 2025 season with renewed vigor, Austin Cindric is confident that the team is on the right path. With their early-season surge, it is clear that Team Penske is driving forward without any sign of slowing down.