NASCAR Silly Season: Bob Pockrass reveals why Penske is set to keep Austin Cindric for 2025

According to Bob Pockrass, Austin Cindric is set to continue his Cup Series stint with Team Penske despite not having signed a deal with the Roger Penske-led organization for the 2025 season. The 25-year-old is in his third full-time season, piloting the #2 Ford Mustang.

Before NASCAR's two-week break for the Paris Olympics, Cindric secured a seventh-place finish at the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. With 22 races under his belt in the 2024 season, the Ohio native has already clinched a playoff berth following his second career victory at World Wide Technology Raceway in June.

Moreover, according to a Fox Sports 2025 lineup projections report, there appears to be a dearth of "must-have" drivers in the free agent market who could potentially replace the 2022 Daytona 500 winner at Penske. Here's what Pockrass wrote in his report:

"Austin Cindric isn't signed yet for next year but the win earlier this year and making the playoffs probably keeps him in this ride, especially considering there aren't any "must-have" drivers who are available to take this seat."

With secure playoff spots for himself and his two Penske teammates, Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano (both former Cup Series champions), Cindric has solidified his position behind the wheel of the #2 Ford.

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"We've never lost faith in him" - Team Penske vice president on Austin Cindric after he wroke the 85-race winless streak

Before his full-time Cup Series stint, Austin Cindric competed in the Truck and Xfinity Series for Team Penske. His impressive resume includes the 2020 Xfinity Series championship and a runner-up finish in the 2021 Xfinity season standings. However, prior to the 2024 season, his sole victory came in his rookie year at the prestigious 2022 Daytona 500.

In a media interaction, Team Penske's executive vice president, Walt Czarnecki, shared his views on Cindric snapping his 85-race winless streak at World Wide Technology Raceway in June. Czarnecki said:

"He's a fellow who has been frustrated. But he's come along, in particularly the last five or six races we've seen a great deal of progress. He's never lost his desire, his intensity. I use the word 'desire' to win."

"I will tell you, he has not lost his desire. This is a reaffirming situation, circumstance for him today. In fact, we just talked about it in Victory Lane. We've never lost faith in Austin Cindric, I promise you," he added.

Here's a look at Cindric's unpredictable win at the 2024 Enjoy Illinois 300 race:

With the Olympic break now over, drivers and teams are gearing up for the Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway on August 11, marking the fourth last race of the regular season. Following Richmond, the series heads to Michigan, Daytona, and Darlington before the 2024 playoffs kick off at Atlanta Motor Speedway on September 8.