(Cover Photo Credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
By Adam Carabine
In case you missed it, StatChat is counting down the days ‘til the 2023 Daytona 500. Every two days, we will have a new article featuring one of the 36 charters of 2022.
12th Place – Austin Cindric – 2,225 pts
TEAM PENSKE – FORD
1st Win in His 8th Start – Austin Cindric made quite a splash in his first race as a Rookie of the Year candidate when he won the 2022 Daytona 500. He had made seven Cup Series starts in 2021, with a best finish of 9th at the Indianapolis Road Course. However, his 8th ever Cup Series start also happened to be his first ever win. Of the current Cup Series drivers, only two others got their first win in less time – Kevin Harvick in 3, and Brad Keselowski in 5.
-199 Pass Differential in 2022 – In any form of auto racing, it’s never good to be passed by anyone. When you’re averaging being passed 5.5 more times than you pass others in each race – that’s not exactly a recipe for success. It wasn’t the worst of the Cup Series charters, but it was definitely up there. Of 36 charters, Austin Cindric’s -199 was 30th. When you drive for Team Penske and Cody Ware has a better Pass Differential than you in a Rick Ware car, it might be time to take a long look in the mirror. Obviously winning the first race of the year and making it into the playoffs made Cindric’s year a success, but he can likely be even better if he tightens these things up.
9 Top 10s in 2022 – Not to shabby for a rookie! Austin Cindric’s Rookie of the Year crown was confirmed when he was the only rookie to make the playoffs. However, it wasn’t just a win at a track somewhat known for flukier winners (any Super Speedway, really) that sealed the deal. Even without his win at Daytona, his season was far better than other ROTY candidates Harrison Burton and Todd Gilliland. Compare Cinrdic’s 9 Top 10s to Burton and Gilliland each getting just 2.
Top 15 Career Average Finish – With an admittedly small sample size (only 43 races), Austin Cindric’s career Cup Series Average Finish is 17.33, or 15th best among active drivers. Certainly he’ll have to show he can maintain that or even best it in the coming years, but it’s a good place to start. Throw in the fact that he’s starting his Cup Series career in good equipment with Team Penske, and he could be on a great trajectory. Keep an eye on Cindric!
13 ROTY Winners Have Gone On to Win a Championship – Winning Rookie of the Year is not necessarily a surefire way to eventually score a championship, but it’s certainly a good way to start. 13 previous drivers who won ROTY in their respective year went on to win a championship. Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth, Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Alan Kulwicki, Rusty Wallce, Dale Earnhardt, David Pearson, and “The King” Richard Petty all won both ROTY and at least one championship. For those drivers who never won ROTY, fear not – Jimmie Johnson didn’t win it (he lost to Ryan Newman), and he went on to win seven!
Austin Cindric, who was originally slated to run 2022 in the Wood Brothers’ No. 21 (which has an alliance with Team Penske), was bumped up to the No. 2 to coincide with Brad Keselowski’s departure from the car. Cindric will return in ’23 to that same No. 2 Ford.
Coming up next in the Countdown to Daytona series – Austin Dillon!
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