Austin Cindric’s Talladega Triumph Signals New Era for Team Penske’s No. 2 Car
Austin Cindric is proving that persistence pays off. After a turbulent 2023 season and a slow start to 2024, the young driver has hit his stride in 2025—capped off by a major victory at the Jack Link’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. This win marks his third career Cup Series victory and a turning point in his role behind the wheel of Team Penske’s iconic No. 2 Ford.
Cindric’s path hasn’t been easy. After a sensational rookie season in 2022—where he captured the Daytona 500 and earned Rookie of the Year—his performance dipped amid rising competition and penalties. However, his win at Talladega, especially in a race where frontrunners Ryan Preece and Joey Logano were disqualified post-race for technical violations, showcased Cindric’s poise and racecraft.
“People see the wins, but they don’t see the work we’ve been doing behind the scenes,” Cindric said after the race. “This team never gave up, and neither did I.”
With this momentum and growing confidence, Cindric is now being seen as a serious threat week after week. The resurgence of the No. 2 car suggests that a new chapter is being written—one where Austin Cindric may no longer be the underdog, but a driver to beat.
