Austin Cindric wins at Indy, Cars go Curb Crazy

As part of a huge racing weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the NASCAR Xfinity Series makes a return to the Indianapolis Road Course for the Pennzoil 150 that followed after the NTT IndyCar Race. Stages for this race will be 20-20-22, with a total of 62 laps in this race. Chase Briscoe won this race on the road course one year ago.

AJ Allmendinger and Austin Cindric, two heavy favorites, led the field to the green flag to begin the second running of this event. Allmendinger went high going into the first turn, giving the lead to the Indiana native, Justin Haley. Then on the same opening lap, Alex Labbe and Josh Bilicki went spinning but there would be no caution. The caution came out just after one lap as the #90 of Preston Pardus came to a stop. Brandon Jones had heavy damage and was pushed to the garage area, after hitting a curb. Harrison Burton had damage from the same curb too that was coming off of turn six but was able to keep going. Kevin Harvick, who was running for B.J. McLeod, had issues with his power steering pump and getting work done on his car.

The next restart came on lap five as Haley and Cindric were side by side heading into turn one, Haley would continue to lead. Ryan Sieg went spinning on lap 10 but was able to keep his #39 Ford running. Sieg went spinning again a couple of laps later. Cindric battled Haley as he stayed to his back bumper, but Haley was doing what he could to protect his lead. With six to go in stage one, Cindric slid to the inside going into turn one and Cindric took the lead. Ryan Sieg’s day keeps getting worse as he has a flat tire, leaving debris on the track, and will throw out the second caution of the race. With two to go in stage one, Sage Karam and Riley Herbst led the field to the restart as Riley Herbst took the lead. He needed stage points to get himself into the playoff picture. What looked like a stage win, Justin Haley then made a pass in the final couple of turns to take the stage win from Riley Herbst.

Stage One Top 10:

1. Justin Haley
2. Riley Herbst
3. Jeb Burton
4. Austin Cindric
5. Sage Karam
6. Noah Gragson
7. Jeremy Clements
8. Tommy Joe Martins
9. Chase Elliott
10. Ty Gibbs

On the restart to start stage two, insanity took place with spins from Chase Elliott and Ty Gibbs, Kris Wright ran into a curb and made his car airborne like a rally car. Ty Gibbs went to pit road shortly after. Austin Cindric took the lead as well. Austin Hill’s car came to a stop on the front stretch and that would bring out the next caution on lap 29. Cindric and Gragson led the field to the restart with eight laps left in stage two. Gragson, who hasn’t won yet, was able to get away with the lead. AJ Allmendinger had a huge run during that lap and took the lead from Gragson just shortly after. Austin Cindric dropped to fourth on the restart. Austin Dillon went spinning in turn one and kept going after that. Now it’s a Kaulig Racing 1-2, with Allmendinger first and Haley in second. Pit stops were made in the closing laps of stage two, but the caution comes out with two to go for Will Rodgers in the 24. Justin Allgaier had to go to the rear for not making the pit line before the caution came out. AJ Allmendinger went on to win stage two.

Stage Two Top 10:

1. AJ Allmendinger
2. Justin Haley
3. Noah Gragson
4. Ty Gibbs
5. Andy Lally
6. Jeb Burton
7. Daniel Hemric
8. Jeremy Clements
9. Riley Herbst
10. Josh Williams

Ty Gibbs jumps to the lead with 19 laps to go, as stage three begins. Austin Cindric took the lead a lap later and Sam Mayer made contact with Chase Elliott, sending his #8 spinning into the wall. Austin Cindric was able to cruise away and pick up the win at Indianapolis, giving Team Penske the IndyCar-Xfinity sweep, and allowing Cindric to sing Home Home Again in Indiana during the cool-down lap.

Pennzoil 150 Final Results:

1. Austin Cindric
2. AJ Allmendinger
3. Justin Haley
4. Chase Elliott (subbed for Michael Annett)
5. Noah Gragson
6. Austin Dillon
7. Myatt Snider
8. Riley Herbst
9. Harrison Burton
10. Andy Lally
11. Justin Allgaier
12. Daniel Hemric
13. Alex Labbe
14. Jeremy Clements
15. Josh Williams
16. Kyle Weatherman
17. Landon Cassill
18. James Davison
19. Ty Gibbs
20. Jade Burford
21. Tommy Joe Martins
22. J.J. Yeley
23. Jeb Burton
24. Spencer Pumpelly
25. Josh Bilicki
26. Sage Karam
27. Sam Mayer
28. Will Rodgers
29. Austin Hill
30. Kris Wright
31. Brett Moffitt
32. Ryan Sieg
33. Kevin Harvick
34. Brandon Brown
35. Preston Pardus
36. Brandon Jones