Austin Cindric drove race of his life at Richmond to inch closer to Chase berth

Austin Cindric has won three NASCAR Cup Series races, including a Daytona 500. But the best and most clutch drive of his career may have happened on Saturday at Richmond Raceway. 

After getting track position early in the race during the first green-flag pit cycle of the evening, Cindric kept his No. 2 Team Penske Ford in the mix all night. He earned 14 crucial stage points, finishing fourth in Stages 1 and 2. 

Austin Cindric turned in huge performance at Richmond

The 2022 Daytona 500 champion didn't flinch in the final stage, either, coming home third to score his second top five of the season and his first since Darlington on March 22. It was also just the fifth top-10 finish of the season for the No. 2 team, matching Cindric's 2025 total in both categories. 

When the dust settled, Cindric, who entered Saturday's race firmly on the Chase cut line in 16th and only 29 points to the good over Ryan Preece, was 15th in the standings and 57 points up on 17th with two races left in the regular season. 

Given that those two races are New Hampshire, another flat, short track where Penske should have plenty of speed, and Daytona, where he's won before, Cindric and the No. 2 group should be feeling pretty good about their postseason chances.