By: Zach Catanzareti, Staff Writer
Saturday’s plate package at Pocono Raceway offered something new to the XFINITY Series, with the restrictor plate package returning for the second time and first of 2018.
One driver who rose to the occasion in the Pocono Green 250 was Austin Cindric, the rookie who started third and finished fourth in his No. 12 Team Penske Ford. The result was the best of his XFINITY career in his 13th start.
“Definitely a great race. I felt we were capable of winning the race or at least running up there,” Cindric told Kickin’ The Tires. “I learned a lot running with guys like Kyle Busch, Daniel Hemric and Chase Elliott. That’s pretty good company to be in.”
Ending the day fourth and joining such company was only possible when passing was achievable. The plate package opened an opportunity for Cindric to make up necessary positions for the final 35-lap green-flag run after the No. 12 sped on pit road.
“Speeding on pit road wasn’t part of our strategy,” he said. “It’s unfortunate because they didn’t have pit road speeds in second practice. I thought I was being conservative so I guess that’s my first pit road speeding penalty. [I’ll] avoid that next time.”
Cindric has jumped three teams in 2018 form Penske’s Nos. 12 and 22 along with Roush Fenway Racing No. 60 Ford. Still, the 19-year-old has been fairly consistent in 2018, notching five top-15 finishes in the last seven races. However, the rookie has been wanting more from himself with equipment good enough to score weekly victories.
Saturday’s package touched on one of Cindric’s new-found strengths in plate racing, as he nearly ran from victory at Talladega this year before running out of fuel on a late restart. And following first practice, Cindric new what to expect and how the Pocono race would differ from Talladega.
“It’s what I was expecting after first practice,” Cindric said of the race. “I was cautiously optimistic. I think it’ll race different at Michigan, get wide open around the place. Here, you have to come all the way off the gas after a few laps.”
Cindric leaves Pocono 10th in XFINITY points.