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Larry McReynolds Hates Road NASCAR Is Going Down After Austin Cindric Penalty

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kyle Dalton | Last updated Mar 5, 2025 3:44 PM ET

During Wednesday’s “On Track Show” on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Larry McReynolds and co-host Danielle Trotta had plenty to talk about. First, there was the breaking news that NASCAR had filed a countersuit against 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, as well as Michael Jordan’s longtime business partner Curtis Polk.

Then, later in the show news broke on Austin Cindric’s penalty from Circuit of the Americas, where he right-hooked Ty Dillon early in the race. The Team Penske driver was docked 50 driver points and fined $50,000.

America’s Crew Chief didn’t like the sanctioning body's decision and how it's inconsistent with past rulings for hooking another car, including one-race suspensions for Bubba Wallace in 2022 after Las Vegas and Chase Elliott in 2023 at Charlotte.

“I'm happy for the 2 team, Danielle, because (crew chief) Brian Wilson and that group, they didn't do anything wrong,” McReynolds said. “And obviously, whenever your driver is penalized, you get penalized along with it because you are a race team.

“I heard you really going to bat with a caller on Monday about road courses versus intermediate tracks or whatever. I just hate we've now put this out there that we're saying it's okay on a lower speed road course versus a mile-and-a-half.

After @NASCAR announced its penalty for @AustinCindric's hook of @tydillon at @COTA, @LarryMac28 shared his thoughts on the subject. He's not a fan. pic.twitter.com/Sxr6x5NfQi
— Kyle Dalton (@kdsportswriter) March 5, 2025

“I kind of hate we've went down this road. Hooking is hooking. Whether it's at Martinsville or whether it's at Las Vegas. I realize the speeds are different, but where's the line in the sand going to be now?

"Anything under a mile-and-a-half, it's okay? You'll just get points and fined? Anything a mile-and-a-half and bigger, you're going to get suspended? I'm happy for Austin because I felt like he just made a bad decision, but I hate now we've created this where we've differentiated the size and speeds that you hook somebody.”

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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