Austin Cindric Secures 2027 Team Penske Seat Amid Career-Best Form

Austin Cindric will be back behind the wheel of the No. 2 Ford for Team Penske in the 2027 NASCAR Cup Series season. The contract confirmation arrives as the 28-year-old driver is in the middle of the hottest streak of his career, a dramatic turnaround that has made him a consistent threat in the playoffs.

Cindric's Contract Stability Fuels On-Track Surge

Cindric confirmed the multi-year extension with Team Penske on Saturday, October 10, 2026, according to crew chief Brian Wilson. This long-term security appears to have coincided with a performance breakthrough. Teammate Joey Logano, a three-time Cup champion, pointed to a clear change. "He's been really strong here recently, and they've been executing solid races," Logano said. He named raw speed as the primary factor in Cindric's sudden ascent from a mid-pack runner to a regular front-runner.

A Stunning Reversal on 1.5-Mile Tracks

The core of Cindric's resurgence is his complete about-face on NASCAR's 1.5-mile intermediate ovals. For the first five races on these tracks in 2026, his results were dismal. He finished 38th at Charlotte in the Coca-Cola 600 on May 24 after an early spin and contact, and his average finish over that stretch was a poor 19.4. Everything changed at Kansas Speedway on September 27. Cindric finished second, posting a 3.39 average running position, the best of his 181-race Cup career. He followed that with a fourth-place run at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on October 4. Over those two races, his average finish is a stellar 3.0.

This eight-race run of finishes 13th or better has propelled him into ninth place in the Chase standings. The momentum was evident again in the Bank of America 400 at Charlotte on October 11, where he ran second to Kyle Larson in the early laps.

Reflecting on Brad Keselowski's Influence and Exit

Away from his own results, Cindric reacted to the news that Brad Keselowski will leave RFK Racing after the 2026 season. Cindric told Claire Lang on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio he learned of the September 29 announcement alongside the fans. "My reaction was probably along with most of you all," Cindric said. He has a deep personal connection to Keselowski, who gave him his NASCAR start. Keselowski fielded the No. 29 Ford truck Cindric drove in his 2015 debut at Martinsville, and Cindric earned his first national series win with Brad Keselowski Racing in 2017. "Brad gave me my start in the Truck Series," Cindric noted, adding that Keselowski's own statements suggest he plans to continue driving elsewhere.

Building Toward Charlotte and Beyond

The schedule now brings Cindric back to Charlotte Motor Speedway for the traditional fall oval race, replacing the Roval event. It's a chance for redemption at a track that handed him his worst result of the year just months ago. With his recent form, he enters as one of the most watched drivers in the field. His ability to maintain position inside the top five for entire races, as he did at Kansas, shows a new level of competitiveness for the No. 2 team. This consistency is what he needs to advance in the playoffs and challenge for more wins.

• Contract Secured: Austin Cindric and Team Penske have confirmed he will return in the No. 2 Ford for the 2027 season.
• Streak of Success: Cindric has eight consecutive finishes of 13th or better, including recent results of second at Kansas and fourth at Las Vegas.
• Intermediate Track Turnaround: After an average finish of 19.4 on 1.5-mile ovals early in the year, his last two such races have yielded an average finish of 3.0.
• Playoff Position: This surge has placed Cindric ninth in the current Chase for the Cup standings with several critical races remaining.