Shock and elation have been the watchwords for Staff Penske driver Austin Cindric, who gained Sunday’s Take pleasure in Illinois 300 at World Extensive Know-how Raceway on the expense of teammate Ryan Blaney.
The race was Blaney’s to win—till the reigning NASCAR Cup Collection champion ran out of gas on the next-to-last lap and handed the result in his teammate. Cindric charged previous Blaney at first/end line and accomplished the checkered-flag lap as Blaney rolled agonizingly slowly to a Twenty fourth-place end result.
The victory was Cindric’s first since he gained the 2022 DAYTONA 500 as a rookie, a dry spell that lasted 85 races. Nonetheless, Cindric expressed conflicting feelings after he climbed from his No. 2 Ford.
RYAN BLANEY IS OUT OF GAS. AUSTIN CINDRIC WINS AT WWT RACEWAY! pic.twitter.com/aTY0SL6zpI
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) June 2, 2024
“This weekend was an amazing weekend for everyone concerned,” Cindric stated. “However, yeah, to have two automobiles within the battle, eventual 1-2. Heartbroken for these guys.
“That is big for me. That is big for this crew. I’m so glad I used to be in a position to get a win with Brian (Wilson) as my crew chief within the Cup Collection. You by no means know when it’s going to occur once more. Simply drove my butt off, hope for one of the best.”
All three Staff Penske drivers—Cindric, Blaney and Joey Logano—made solely three pit stops to a minimum of 4 for all different opponents. They stayed out below warning for the Stage 2 break and restarted 1-2-3 on lap 149.
After pitting early within the ensuing cycle (Blaney on lap 176, Cindric on lap 177 and logano on Lap 179, Blaney gained a spot on Cindric and started working his manner by way of the sector, bettering his place as automobiles forward of him got here to pit street.
On lap 217, when Kyle Larson pitted, Blaney assumed the lead, however with the race’s quickest automotive—the No. 20 Toyota of Christopher Bell—in sizzling pursuit. Bell quickly caught Blaney and pulled alongside a number of occasions earlier than engine points precipitated Bell to sluggish dramatically.
“I’m blowing up, I’m blowing up,” Bell radioed to his crew.
However Bell, who had gained the primary two phases, nursed his automotive to the end with assist from Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Martin Truex Jr. Three laps down and mired in thirty fourth place, Truex repeatedly pushed Bell’s Camry within the closing laps.
Then it was Blaney’s flip to undergo game-changing misfortune.
“By no means thought in my thoughts we have been quick,” Blaney stated. “A type of issues. Gosh, pleased with the No. 12 boys. We have been quick. Had my work minimize out for me holding off Christopher. That was a enjoyable battle. I don’t know what occurred to him.
“Yeah, one lap quick, which simply stinks. Congrats to the No. 2 crew. They did a very good job all day. Props to them, Austin. Proud for Staff Penske and Ford.
“Actually pleased with our displaying immediately. I don’t know what I’ve acquired to do to get some luck on our facet. Gosh, wrecked the final two factors races. Thought we had an amazing shot to win immediately. Ended up dangerous.”
Bell was contemporary from victory within the rain-shortened Could 26 Coca-Cola 600 and had a automotive that was dominant from the outset. He handed pole winner Michael McDowell on lap 41 to win Stage 1 and stayed on the monitor below warning for Josh Berry’s collision with the Flip 3 wall to win Stage 2.
Within the closing laps, it appeared inevitable that Bell would overtake Blaney, till Bell’s engine turned bitter.
“I do not know what occurred,” stated Bell, who rolled to a seventh-place end. “Some type of motor subject. I’m stunned that I made it to the top. Glad we have been in a position to salvage one thing out of it.
“You don’t get race automobiles like that fairly often. Everytime you do, you could benefit from it. Disappointing day.”
Tyler Reddick completed fourth and Logano fifth, adopted by Austin Dillon, Bell, Sunoco rookie Carson Hocevar (a career-best eighth), Justin Haley and Larson.
On lap 140, the ultimate circuit of Stage 2, Kyle Busch and Larson have been battling in shut quarters for the seventh place when Larson’s No. 5 Chevrolet broke unfastened beneath Busch’s No. 8 Camaro, sending each automobiles sliding into the skin wall.
Busch’s automotive was broken past restore and exited the race within the thirty fifth place—the primary DNF of the season for the two-time Cup champion. Larson, then again, was in a position to salvage the Tenth-place end result.
“We will’t afford days like this,” stated Busch, who’s winless this 12 months and squarely on the bubble for a Playoff spot. “Yeah, he acquired unfastened and wiped us out.”
