- Penske confirms Cindric is contracted through 2026
- Dismisses speculation following father’s firing from IndyCar team
- Urges focus on results: “We need to be talking about wins”
Austin Cindric will once again feature in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs in 2025, marking his second consecutive appearance. But within the championship-winning walls of Team Penske, the bar is set higher. Teammates Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney have collected three championships between them in the last three seasons, while Cindric has yet to reach the final four.
That contrast — and the fallout from his father Tim Cindric’s firing over a high-profile Indy 500 qualifying scandal — has raised questions about Austin’s long-term fit with the team.
Team owner Roger Penske was quick to stamp out the rumours. Speaking to FOX Sports, he said:
“As far as Austin Cindric is concerned, I had a good talk with him. He’s been a great young guy…I said, ‘Austin, you’ve got a job to do here, you’ve got a contract with us, and you’ve got a contract for next year.’ So, as far as I’m concerned, we don’t need to be talking about Austin Cindric’s [status]. We need to be talking about Austin Cindric in the winner’s circle.”
Cindric is locked in for the 2026 NASCAR season, and Penske’s comments reaffirm that the No. 2 car won’t see a change any time soon. While no commitment was made beyond 2026, the message was clear: deliver results, and the seat remains yours.
With the pressure dialled up and expectations higher than ever, Cindric’s path forward hinges on turning playoff appearances into deep title runs — and silencing the speculation with wins.
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