LINCOLN, Ala. — In yet another close finish at a track notorious for them, Austin Cindric edged out Ryan Preece in a photo finish to win the Jack Link’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. This victory marks Cindric’s first Talladega win and the third of his Cup career, highlighting his prowess as a superspeedway racer. With only 15 laps remaining, Cindric took the lead after a quick final pit stop executed brilliantly by his crew, battling against fellow Daytona 500 champion William Byron before Ryan Preece, eager for his first Cup victory, made a bold move to the top line to contend with Cindric for the win.
The final moments of the race were nothing short of thrilling, as both drivers raced neck and neck towards the finish line. Ultimately, Cindric crossed the finish line just ahead of Ryan Preece by a mere 0.022 seconds, which is approximately half a car length. This nail-biting conclusion left fans on the edge of their seats, capturing the raw intensity of NASCAR racing.
However, the post-race excitement took a sudden turn when Preece and fifth-place finisher Joey Logano were disqualified as their cars failed the post-race tech inspection. Preece’s car was found with three shims on the rear spoiler instead of the permitted two, while Logano’s car was noted for a missing spoiler bolt. Consequently, the official standings were adjusted, crediting Kyle Larson with second place. William Byron, Noah Gragson, and Chase Elliott rounded out the top five results after the significant disqualifications. The remaining top ten included Carson Hocevar, Alex Bowman, Bubba Wallace, Daniel Suarez, and Austin Dillon.
Cindric’s journey toward victory has been a testament to perseverance, especially considering the challenges he faced at superspeedways throughout the previous year. In February’s Daytona 500, for instance, he found himself leading late in the race, yet circumstances thwarted his chances of winning. This time, fortune favored him as he held his ground against heavy competition to enter the record books at Talladega.
I’m just so proud of this team,
Cindric shared in an interview with Fox Sports.
The Ford Performance, Roush Yates engines package at these types of racetracks are second to none. We talked about in every single one of those meetings why we haven’t won one of these races. Just really proud of the effort.
His words resonate with the relentless dedication and teamwork that underlines NASCAR’s competitive nature.
The racing itself remained discipline-oriented, with the majority of the lead pack showing exceptional skills as they navigated the track three and four-wide. Surprisingly, the feared Big One, a large multi-car accident that often characterizes races at Talladega, was notably absent during the 500 miles of racing. However, pit road remained a hotspot for drama, leading to early retirements for three former Talladega winners: Brad Keselowski, Kyle Busch, and Ryan Blaney, all of whom faced issues during their pit stops. While Busch managed to remain in contention, he ultimately ended the race in 27th after incurring a pit road speeding penalty.
With 34 of the 39 drivers who started the race still running at the finish, it was an impressive day of racing with an astonishing 67 lead changes among 23 different drivers. The event showcased not only the thrill of competition but also the unpredictability and strategy involved in NASCAR racing. As fans reflect on the exhilarating finish with Ryan Preece narrowly losing to Austin Cindric at Talladega, excitement builds for the upcoming races, where anything can happen as drivers continue to chase their dreams and victories on the track.
