NASCAR has issued penalties to Austin Cindric and the No. 2 Team Penske Ford, as well as the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports team, following incidents during last Sunday’s Cup Series race at Circuit of The Americas (COTA).
Austin Cindric was penalized for his involvement in an early-race incident with Ty Dillon. Cindric made contact with the right rear of Dillon’s No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet, sending Dillon spinning down the frontstretch. NASCAR determined that Cindric’s actions constituted intentionally wrecking another vehicle, a violation of Sections 4.4 B&D of the NASCAR Rule Book.
As a result of this ruling, Cindric has been penalized 50 driver points and fined $50,000. This penalty drops him from 11th to 35th place in the Cup Series standings. While NASCAR has previously issued one-race suspensions for similar incidents, most notably to Bubba Wallace and Chase Elliott, Cindric avoided a suspension.
Mike Forde, NASCAR managing director of racing communications, explained that the decision to forgo a suspension was based on the specific circumstances of the incident. He noted that the race occurred on a road course, characterized by lower speeds and tighter confines, and that the incident did not result in a caution flag. In contrast, the previous incidents that led to suspensions occurred on 1.5-mile speedways.
In a separate penalty, the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports team faced consequences for a safety violation. Jackman Brandon Johnson and front tire changer Blaine Anderson have been suspended for two races, in accordance with Sections 8.8.10.4.A&C of the NASCAR Rule Book, which pertain to tires and wheels.
The suspension stems from an incident during Stage 2 of the COTA race, where Kyle Larson’s No. 5 Chevrolet lost a right-front wheel shortly after a pit stop. This violation resulted in an immediate two-lap penalty for Larson, contributing to his 32nd-place finish.
To fill the vacancies on the No. 5 pit crew, Hendrick Motorsports has called up jackman Eric Ludwig and front tire changer Jafar Hall. These crew members, previously assigned to Spire Motorsports cars, will join the team for this Sunday’s Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway.
These penalties highlight NASCAR’s commitment to enforcing its rules and ensuring safety on the track. The incidents at COTA have resulted in significant consequences for both Cindric and the Hendrick Motorsports team.
Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.
- 21 is a Winning Hand—Berry Delivers Wood Brothers a Vegas Victory - March 16, 2025
- Prime Video Announces Final Pieces of its NASCAR Broadcast Team - March 11, 2025
- Bell Survives the Madness as NASCAR’s Tire Experiment Shakes Up Phoenix - March 9, 2025