{"id":32187,"date":"2020-11-07T22:12:43","date_gmt":"2020-11-08T04:12:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=32187"},"modified":"2020-11-07T22:13:11","modified_gmt":"2020-11-08T04:13:11","slug":"austin-cindric-wins-2020-xfinity-championship-in-overtime-at-phoenix","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2020\/11\/07\/austin-cindric-wins-2020-xfinity-championship-in-overtime-at-phoenix\/","title":{"rendered":"Austin Cindric wins 2020 Xfinity championship in overtime at Phoenix"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

Austin Cindric, driver of the #22 Menards\/Richmond Ford, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Desert Diamond Casino West Valley 200 and the 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway on November 07, 2020 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

By Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service<\/em><\/p>\n

After establishing the pace most of the afternoon, 22-year old Austin Cindric ultimately relied on raw determination to claim the 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series championship. The Team Penske driver pulled off the most clutch lap-pass of his young career to take the race victory in Saturday\u2019s Desert Diamond Casino West Valley 200 and earn his first NASCAR title.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Justin Allgaier, driver of the #7 BRANDT Chevrolet, Chase Briscoe, driver of the #98 HighPoint.com Ford, Austin Cindric, driver of the #22 Menards\/Richmond Ford, and Justin Haley, driver of the #11 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet, lead the field to start the NASCAR Xfinity Series Desert Diamond Casino West Valley 200 at Phoenix Raceway on November 07, 2020 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

After pitting for tires just before a final overtime restart, Cindric was able to work his way forward at the final green flag and got around Noah Gragson on the last lap – driving away to a .162-second victory for his sixth win of the season, easily the most celebrated of his career.<\/p>\n

After celebratory donuts in his car, Cindric pulled himself out of the driver\u2019s window, climbed on top of his bright yellow No. 22 Team Penske Ford and flashed No. 1 victory signs on both hands before waving a giant champion\u2019s flag.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was a lot of work put into this race car,” a grinning Cindric said, carefully taking the time to thank everyone from his team owner, NASCAR Hall of Famer Roger Penske, to his sponsors, his team, pit crew, spotter and ultimately his mom and dad.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m speechless, I can\u2019t believe it. You know the equipment you\u2019re in is the best of the best and the people you\u2019re working with are the best of the best,” he added.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Austin Cindric, driver of the #22 Menards\/Richmond Ford, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Desert Diamond Casino West Valley 200 and the 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway on November 07, 2020 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Certainly as exuberant as Cindric understandably was, the other three members of the Championship 4 felt disappointment and dismay. Veteran Justin Allgaier, who led a race high 77 laps \u2013 five more laps out front than Cindric \u2013 was in position to try and secure his first NASCAR title.<\/p>\n

The 34-year old driver of the No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet kept the field honest consistently throughout the evening but ultimately on that last restart Allgaier was unable to hold off Cindric who had fresher tires and was able to muscle around Allgaier and Allgaier’s JR Motorsports teammate Gragson.<\/p>\n

Allgaier finished fifth and the other Championship 4 drivers: Justin Haley and Chase Briscoe finished eighth and ninth, respectively.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Austin Cindric, driver of the #22 Menards\/Richmond Ford, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Desert Diamond Casino West Valley 200 and the 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway on November 07, 2020 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Gragson (second), Brandon Jones (third) and Michael Annett (fifth) were the non-Playoff drivers to finish in the top-five. Harrison Burton, Ross Chastain, Haley, Briscoe and Jeremy Clements round out the top-10.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo close but so far away,” Allgaier said. \u201cFirst of all, hats off to Austin and the entire Team Penske group, they\u2019ve been strong competitors all year. To have the race they did tonight, they were obviously the best car and they deserved to win. I\u2019m proud of my guys, proud of everybody at JR Motorsports.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had a shot at it at the end and when it\u2019s all said and done, that\u2019s all you can really ask for.”<\/p>\n

For most of the race the title contending quartet ran up front. In addition to Cindric and Allgaier, the Stewart-Haas Racing driver Chase Briscoe showed the speed that had made him the winningest driver in the series this year. He won a career-high and season-best nine races and led 41 laps on this championship night, but a struggle to get his car comfortable, a late race spin and the loss of track position was a setback he ultimately couldn\u2019t overcome.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Justin Allgaier, driver of the #7 BRANDT Chevrolet, Chase Briscoe, driver of the #98 HighPoint.com Ford, and Austin Cindric, driver of the #22 Menards\/Richmond Ford, race during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Desert Diamond Casino West Valley 200 at Phoenix Raceway on November 07, 2020 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cJust a frustrating day, this is by far not my best race track,” said Briscoe, who will move into the SHR team\u2019s No. 14 NASCAR Cup Series ride next year.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the start of the race for me, just to lead laps here, I was like \u2018wow this is different.\u2019 I was just so loose at the beginning of the race and as the night came I was freer and freer and I don\u2019t know how many times I about wrecked into one. I ended up hitting the wall. I\u2019ve got to do a whole lot better job. There\u2019s just something about this place that I really struggle at. We have a lot of homework to do.<\/p>\n

\u201cDefinitely frustrating to finish fourth in the championship after the year we had, but overall to win nine races, it\u2019s been a phenomenal year.”<\/p>\n

Haley, a three-race winner in 2020, didn’t lead any laps in his No. 11 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet, but he rallied from a slow start and kept his car competitively among the top 10.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Chase Briscoe, driver of the #98 HighPoint.com Ford, and Austin Cindric, driver of the #22 Menards\/Richmond Ford, race during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Desert Diamond Casino West Valley 200 at Phoenix Raceway on November 07, 2020 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

“It’s been awesome,” Haley said of his Playoff berth. “Just the growth of this Kaulig Racing team from when I stepped into it last year and were out in the first round of the Playoffs.<\/p>\n

“Just the courage and the faith and everyone at Kaulig Racing, we bet on each other. I love it. I love everyone there. Super excited and super blessed to have another year. Doesn’t sting as much because I know next year I get another chance at it.”<\/p>\n

 <\/h3>\n

 <\/h3>\n

 <\/h3>\n

Interviews:<\/h3>\n

Austin Cindric – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/NXS_PHX_ACindric_110720.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

Crew chief Brian Wilson –<\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/NXS_PHX_Wilson_110720.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

Team Penske owner Roger Penske and Team Penske president Tim Cindric – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/NXS_PHX_TCindricPenske_110720.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rookie of the Year Harrison Burton – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/NXS_PHX_Burton_110720.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

Justin Haley, Justin Allgaier and Chase Briscoe – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/NXS_PHX_HaleyBriscoeAllgaier_110720.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

NASCAR Xfinity Series Race – 22nd Annual Desert Diamond Casino West Valley 200<\/b><\/p>\n

Phoenix Raceway<\/b><\/p>\n

Avondale, Arizona<\/b><\/p>\n

Saturday, November 7, 2020<\/b><\/p>\n

               1. (3)  Austin Cindric (P), Ford, 206.<\/p>\n

               2. (6)  Noah Gragson, Chevrolet, 206.<\/p>\n

               3. (8)  Brandon Jones, Toyota, 206.<\/p>\n

               4. (10)  Michael Annett, Chevrolet, 206.<\/p>\n

               5. (1)  Justin Allgaier (P), Chevrolet, 206.<\/p>\n

               6. (5)  Harrison Burton #, Toyota, 206.<\/p>\n

               7. (7)  Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 206.<\/p>\n

               8. (4)  Justin Haley (P), Chevrolet, 206.<\/p>\n

               9. (2)  Chase Briscoe (P), Ford, 206.<\/p>\n

               10. (13)  Jeremy Clements, Chevrolet, 206.<\/p>\n

               11. (9)  Riley Herbst #, Toyota, 206.<\/p>\n

               12. (14)  Brandon Brown, Chevrolet, 205.<\/p>\n

               13. (16)  Josh Williams, Chevrolet, 205.<\/p>\n

               14. (27)  BJ McLeod, Toyota, 205.<\/p>\n

               15. (33)  Bayley Currey(i), Chevrolet, 205.<\/p>\n

               16. (29)  David Starr, Chevrolet, 205.<\/p>\n

               17. (31)  Kyle Weatherman, Chevrolet, 205.<\/p>\n

               18. (15)  Myatt Snider #, Chevrolet, 204.<\/p>\n

               19. (12)  Brett Moffitt(i), Chevrolet, 204.<\/p>\n

               20. (25)  Colby Howard, Chevrolet, 204.<\/p>\n

               21. (21)  Alex Labbe, Chevrolet, 203.<\/p>\n

               22. (30)  Kody Vanderwal #, Chevrolet, 203.<\/p>\n

               23. (19)  Timmy Hill(i), Toyota, 203.<\/p>\n

               24. (24)  Mason Diaz, Toyota, 202.<\/p>\n

               25. (18)  Daniel Hemric, Chevrolet, 201.<\/p>\n

               26. (34)  JJ Yeley(i), Toyota, 200.<\/p>\n

               27. (23)  Joe Graf Jr #, Chevrolet, 199.<\/p>\n

               28. (37)  Stan Mullis, Toyota, 198.<\/p>\n

               29. (20)  Jesse Little #, Chevrolet, 198.<\/p>\n

               30. (36)  Jesse Iwuji(i), Chevrolet, 197.<\/p>\n

               31. (11)  Ryan Sieg, Chevrolet, 196.<\/p>\n

               32. (22)  Jeffrey Earnhardt, Chevrolet, 185.<\/p>\n

               33. (28)  Ryan Vargas, Chevrolet, 124.<\/p>\n

               34. (17)  Tommy Joe Martins, Chevrolet, Engine, 73.<\/p>\n

               35. (32)  Matt Mills, Toyota, Accident, 36.<\/p>\n

               36. (26)  Donald Theetge, Chevrolet, Accident, 27.<\/p>\n

               37. (35)  CJ McLaughlin, Chevrolet, Accident, 27.<\/p>\n

Average Speed of Race Winner:  92.342 mph.<\/p>\n

Time of Race:  2 Hrs, 13 Mins, 51 Secs. Margin of Victory:  0.162 Seconds.<\/p>\n

Caution Flags:  8 for 47 laps.<\/p>\n

Lead Changes:  16 among 7 drivers.<\/p>\n

Lap Leaders:   J. Allgaier (P) 1-6;C. Briscoe (P) 7-33;J. Allgaier (P) 34;C. Briscoe (P) 35-48;J. Allgaier (P) 49;T. Martins 50-52;J. Allgaier (P) 53-82;A. Cindric (P) 83-93;J. Allgaier (P) 94;B. Jones 95-97;J. Allgaier (P) 98-129;A. Cindric (P) 130-162;R. Chastain 163-172;A. Cindric (P) 173-199;J. Allgaier (P) 200-204;N. Gragson 205;A. Cindric (P) 206.<\/p>\n

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  Justin Allgaier (P) 7 times for 76 laps; Austin Cindric (P) 4 times for 72 laps; Chase Briscoe (P) 2 times for 41 laps; Ross Chastain 1 time for 10 laps; Brandon Jones 1 time for 3 laps; Tommy Joe Martins 1 time for 3 laps; Noah Gragson 1 time for 1 lap.<\/p>\n

Stage #1 Top Ten: 98,22,7,9,10,1,11,20,18,19<\/p>\n

Stage #2 Top Ten: 22,7,98,19,9,1,11,20,51,21<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  By Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service After establishing the pace most of the afternoon, 22-year old Austin Cindric ultimately relied on raw determination to claim the 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series championship. The Team Penske driver pulled off the most clutch lap-pass of his young career to take the race victory in Saturday\u2019s Desert Diamond […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":676,"featured_media":32196,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[11],"tags":[526,16,181,395],"class_list":["post-32187","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nascar","tag-austin-cindric","tag-nascar","tag-nascar-xfinity-series","tag-phoenix-raceway"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/GettyImages-1284476778-scaled-e1604808296165.jpg?fit=640%2C426","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-8n9","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32187","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/676"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32187"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32187\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32200,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32187\/revisions\/32200"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/32196"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32187"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32187"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32187"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}