Keselowski Out at Penske Replaced by Cindric, Harrison Burton in For DiBenedetto at Wood Brothers

LONG POND, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 27: Austin Cindric, driver of the #22 Car Shop Ford, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Pocono Green 225 Recycled by J.P. Mascaro & Sons at Pocono Raceway on June 27, 2021 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
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The dominoes are starting to fall. Team Penske announced Thursday that Brad Keselowski will be replaced by Austin Cindric in the NASCAR Cup series starting in 2022.

The move had been widely expected as the rumors are that Keselowski will become part owner at Roush-Fenway Racing starting next season.

Cindric has been part of Penske’s farm system for the past several years racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series where he won the championship last season. Keselowski won the Cup series championship with Team Penske in 2012.

Cindric had been expected to move to the No. 21 for Wood Brothers Racing next season. The Wood Brothers has a technical alliance with Penske.

The rumors of the Roush move for Keselowski began earlier in the season and it’s believed that he is the one who started the process to become a team owner.

The odd driver out in all this is Matt DiBenedetto. The popular driver has been under a year-to-year contract with the Wood Brothers and was given an extension for this season. With the No. 2 opening up at Penske and being filled by Cindric there seemed to be the possibility of a lifeline of sorts for the fan favorite DiBenedetto. Those hopes were dashed Thursday when the Wood Brothers announced that Harrison Burton will be driving the No. 21 for Wood Brothers Racing starting in 2022.

Burton has been competing in the NASCAR Xfinity series for Joe Gibbs Racing.

Greg Engle