Whereas the penalty dropped Cindric from eleventh to thirty fourth within the factors standings and might sound hefty at first look, it’s not as extreme as some penalties handed down by NASCAR in recent times.
When Bubba Wallace intentionally wrecked Kyle Larson and hooked him into the surface wall at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2022, NASCAR handed Wallace a one-race suspension.
Lower than a yr later, Chase Elliott retaliated against Denny Hamlin and despatched him into the surface wall at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2023. Elliott was given a one-race suspension as nicely.
When speaking on the “Hauler Talk” podcast on Wednesday, Mike Forde, NASCAR’s managing director of racing communications, supplied an inventory of explanation why a one-race suspension was not given to Cindric.
Amongst them was the slower tempo automobiles have been touring at when the incident occurred, versus quicker intermediate-style tracks like Las Vegas and Charlotte. Moreover, Dillon had no important injury, which allowed him to drive away and prevented NASCAR from having to throw the warning. Because of this, Ford didn’t really feel {that a} one-race suspension was warranted.
Cindric’s penalty might not have been as harsh as others, however it’s nonetheless a substantial setback for a driver who obtained off to a blistering begin to the season. He was in rivalry to win the season’s opening two races at Daytona and Atlanta earlier than getting worn out in late-race incidents. A disappointing Twenty fifth-place end at COTA didn’t assist issues.
Because the sequence prepares for its second cease on the three-race West Coast swing this Sunday at Phoenix Raceway (3:30 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), Cindric will look to rebound, which might not be probably given his lack of high 10s in six begins within the Arizona desert.
Moreover, Kyle Larson and the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports group have been additionally penalized on Wednesday as a result of right front wheel coming off Larson’s automotive earlier than the tip of Stage 2 at COTA.
Because of the security violation penalty as described in Sections 8.8.10.4.A&C: Tires and Wheels of the NASCAR Rule Guide, jackman Brandon Johnson and entrance tire changer Blaine Anderson will miss the subsequent two races at Phoenix and Las Vegas.
In contrast to Cindric, Larson has solely two finishes exterior the highest 10 in his final 12 Cup Collection begins at Phoenix, so a rebound from the Thirty second-place end at COTA ought to be in retailer.
