Austin Cindric addresses Martinsville contact with Riley Herbst, responds to claims it was intentional

Last week at Martinsville, Austin Cindric got into Riley Herbst and ended up spinning the No. 35 driver out. After being penalized by NASCAR for intentionally right rear hooking Ty Dillon at COTA, Cindric is on thin ice.

Many fans thought the move was intentional. It really didn’t make sense if it was intentional. Herbst was not going to be much of a challenge to pass for the Team Penske driver.

This week, Austin Cindric was able to take questions from the media about the situation. He explained it as more or less a racing deal. However, he did take the blame for forcing it three-wide when he shouldn’t have.

“Kinda got jumbled up there off of Turn 2 and got us all three-wide and you know, spent the entire front straightaway kinda getting squeezed and um, yeah, kinda just got shoved up into the 35 and spun him out,” Cindric said, via Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports.

“So, on my end, it’s nothing; it’s probably the first lap I’ve spent side-by-side with Riley. I have no issues with Riley either. So, I hope that’s somewhat clear to see that just a bit of a three-wide situation gone wrong and unfortunately I feel like, the lesson for me in that is you know, I’m the first one with an opportunity to lift to not make it three-wide.”

Austin Cindric reached out to Riley Herbst and smoothed things over. Usually a pretty level-headed driver, Cindric made a mistake earlier this season and, rightfully, is under heavier scrutiny now. He can’t worry about that, though.

Austin Cindric, Team Penske hoping for no mechanical issues

What has been up with Team Penske this season and the mechanical issues? Ryan Blaney blew two engines. Then, at Martinsville, both Josh Berry and Austin Cindric had battery issues. That group, particularly Joey Logano, has to be wondering who and what is next.

Cindric has had an up-and-down season so far. He led the most laps at the Daytona 500 but finished P8 in the end. He then went on to earn a P6 finish at Las Vegas. Bad news: he has as many top-10s as DNFs this season.

Austin Cindric isn’t a dirty driver. He is starting to run up front, or at least be expected to run near the top-10 on a regular basis. Year four at Penske in the No. 2 car. That means results have to come now, not later. Next step, Darlington.