Undoubtedly, Roger Penske would be lamenting the ‘missed opportunity’ after his team came alarmingly close to a much-desired victory at the 2025 Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Despite being top contenders for the 2025 Cup Series title, a win has eluded the racing team thus far, a situation that’s eerily reminiscent of their near-victory at the Daytona 500.
Austin Cindric, one of their key drivers, has been grappling with a streak of bad luck. The Ohio-born racer was on the cusp of snapping his 22-race winless run at the 1.5-mile oval, only for his bid to be thwarted by an aggressive Kyle Larson. Post-race, Cindric was forthright in his criticism of his Hendrick Motorsports rival, accusing him of recklessness.
Cindric’s outing at the Atlanta Motor Speedway was nothing short of calamitous. In the driver’s seat with just 10 laps remaining, he seemed poised for a crucial victory. But Larson’s audacious move, despite not being entirely clear of Cindric, led to disaster. Given no choice but to veer off course, Cindric’s car crashed into the inside wall and spun out of control on the track. The incident also ensnared William Byron, ending any hopes either driver had of a commendable finish.
The aftermath saw a visibly irate Cindric call out Larson, stating, “Up in the wall, wrecked, and didn’t win. We’re not clear. I don’t know what information he’s getting. Obviously, my car is on his outside. It definitely merits conversation. It’s unfortunate because we led a lot of laps and had four of the fastest cars in Atlanta but didn’t win.” He further expressed his disappointment, saying, “As a team, as Fords, we had the best cars here this weekend. We put ourselves into position to win the race and got used up and into the fence and didn’t win the race. It’s a shame.”
This isn’t the first time the 26-year-old has been denied a potential victory. In the season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway, Cindric was leading just before being caught up in a wreck initiated by Cole Custer. The incidents have left him with an 8th and a 28th place finish, leading him to express, “Two weeks in a row I feel like we have had the car to beat and haven’t done it. One way or another it is disappointing.”
Cindric’s misfortune is striking, considering he’s only had two wins since joining Team Peske in 2022, despite delivering numerous dominant performances. This year alone, he’s led an impressive 106 laps in just two weeks, yet has nothing to show for his efforts. This stands in stark contrast to his teammates Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney, who boast Cup Series championships, while Cindric continues to struggle despite having access to the same equipment.
However, Larson openly admitted his role in the incident, stating, “Yeah, that was my fault. I haven’t seen a replay, but I’m sure that was my fault. I was gonna clear him a little bit better and, like, just drive in front of him, and he could pick me up in the backstretch, and I think he just, he just got there, like, he got closer to my right side quicker than I anticipated, and then I’m, like, tight, you know? My spotter is yelling last second, outside, outside, and I’m just, I’m trying to give space because I don’t want to get hooked myself in the wall.”
Last week, Denny Hamlin praised Cindric’s skills on superspeedways. Despite the Atlanta Motor Speedway being less than 2 miles long, it’s considered a smaller drafting track, similar to Daytona or Talladega. Cindric’s performance at the 2025 AmBetter Health 400 validated Hamlin’s claim, albeit with a win still eluding him. However, with the season still in its early stages, there are ample opportunities for Cindric to alter his trajectory and secure a playoff spot.