The motorsport world is in a state of uproar following NASCAR’s seemingly lenient response to Austin Cindric’s aggressive move on Ty Dillon during the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix race. Cindric, a shining star of Team Penske, responded to Dillon’s four-wide push with a forceful right-rear hook to the No. 10 Chevrolet. Despite the evident intent to retaliate, NASCAR’s decision to merely levy a fine and a points reduction on Cindric has left many in the racing community bewildered and questioning the organization’s consistency.
Prominent voices, including Bubba Wallace’s No. 23 Toyota spotter, Freddie Kraft, have voiced their shock, joining the chorus calling out NASCAR for their perceived lack of clarity in enforcing rules. The burning question remains: where exactly did Austin Cindric cross the line?
This incident brings back memories of a similar event in 2022, when Bubba Wallace struck Kyle Larson’s right rear quarter panel at Las Vegas. The outcome? A one-race suspension. Fast forward a year to 2023, Chase Elliott met the same fate after hooking Denny Hamlin in Charlotte. But when Cindric delivered a similar right-rear hook to Dillon in 2025, NASCAR chose a different approach, opting for a 50-point reduction and a $50,000 fine without suspension.
To justify their decision, NASCAR managing director Mike Forde pointed out that the incident occurred at a road course, where drivers compete at lower speeds. Furthermore, the lack of significant damage and absence of a caution flag influenced their decision to refrain from suspending Cindric.
However, this reasoning has failed to soothe the voices of dissent. Freddie Kraft, along with co-hosts of the ‘Door, Bumper, Clear’ show, challenged NASCAR’s stance of making exceptions based on speed and intensity. Kraft argued that the focus should be on the intent behind the action, not the speed at which it occurred.
The debate over the severity of NASCAR’s punishment has intensified, with Kaulig Racing President Chris Rice terming Cindric’s monetary penalty as insignificant, especially considering the over $100,000 damage to the No. 10 Chevy.
Amidst the escalating outcry over NASCAR’s perceived leniency, public opinion seems to be turning against them. Meanwhile, Cindric, at the heart of the storm, is attempting to keep a low profile.
In a recent media session, Cindric acknowledged his missteps at COTA. He admitted to reacting poorly to adversity and expressed regret over his actions. Despite his attempts to explain his side, the Team Penske driver will have to prove himself on the racetrack to truly appease his indignant NASCAR colleagues.
Interestingly, some are siding with NASCAR’s decision, including competitor Erik Jones. He praised NASCAR for setting a precedent, stating that the context of the race must be considered when judging such incidents.
Cindric may have dodged severe punishment for now, but the spotlight remains firmly on him. To regain the trust of his rivals and put this controversy behind him, Cindric will need to demonstrate better conduct on the racetrack in the coming weeks.