Austin Cindric Breaks 85-Race Drought with Victory at World Wide Technology Raceway

Team Penske driver Austin Cindric won the Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway, ending an 85-race winless streak. This victory came after his teammate, Ryan Blaney, ran out of fuel on the penultimate lap.

Cindric, who hadn't won since his victory at the Daytona 500 in 2022, showed a mix of emotions as he stepped out of his No. 2 Ford. "It was a great weekend for all of us. Having two cars in the fight was amazing, although I feel bad for my teammate," Cindric commented. He thanked the team and his crew chief, Brian Wilson, for their efforts.

Pit Strategy

The three Team Penske drivers (Cindric, Blaney, and Joey Logano) made only three pit stops, one less than their competitors. This tactic allowed them to restart in the top positions after the second stage break.

Blaney took the lead on lap 217 after Kyle Larson pitted. However, Christopher Bell, with the fastest Toyota in the race, quickly caught up to him. Bell had to deal with engine problems and, with help from his teammate Martin Truex Jr., managed to finish the race in seventh place.

Problems in the Final Laps

Blaney, confident that he had enough fuel, was unfortunately surprised when he ran out of gas on the penultimate lap. "I never thought we would run short," Blaney said. Despite the disappointment, he congratulated Cindric and the Penske team on their win.

Tyler Reddick finished in fourth place, followed by Logano, Austin Dillon, and Bell. Sunoco rookie Carson Hocevar achieved his best result in eighth place, followed by Justin Haley and Kyle Larson.

Incidents in the Race

Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson were involved in an accident on lap 140, severely damaging Busch's car, forcing him to retire from the race in 35th position. Larson, on the other hand, managed to finish in tenth place.

Busch, without victories this season and at risk of not qualifying for the Playoffs, expressed his frustration: "We can't afford days like this."

The race, with an average winning speed of 133.889 mph and a duration of 2 hours, 48 minutes, and 3 seconds, had five yellow flags and 16 lead changes among 10 drivers.