NASCAR: 3 possible drivers for the #2 Team Penske Ford in 2021

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Austin Cindric, Team Penske, NASCAR (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /

Possible 2021 Team Penske drivers: Austin Cindric

Team Penske’s one and only NASCAR Xfinity Series driver is Austin Cindric. He is in his third season and second full season driving for the team, and he has made big strides since he began competing at the sport’s second highest level of competition.

More than halfway through last season, the 21-year-old Columbus, Ohio native had not won a race in 53 career starts. He proceeded to win two consecutive races at Watkins Glen International and Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

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After a sixth place finish in the 2019 championship standings, he entered the 2020 season as one of the favorites to advance to the Championship 4. But he was still without an oval win, and 13 races into the year, he found himself on a 25-race win drought.

So what did he do? He went out and won three consecutive oval races, two at Kentucky Speedway and one at Texas Motor Speedway, to solidify himself as a true contender.

He also happens to be the son of Team Penske president of Tim Cindric, which, like it or not, does count for something.

With all things considered, his career trajectory has him ending up in one of Roger Penske’s Fords at NASCAR’s top level at some point. The big question seems to be whether or not he is ready for that promotion yet.

Will it happen as soon as the 2021 season, and if it does, will he have been rushed up the ladder to replace the driver for whom he drove when he finished in third place in the 2017 Truck Series championship standings?

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Will Brad Keselowski re-sign with Team Penske for a 12th season next year, or will Matt DiBenedetto be called to replace him? If neither, will the team promote Austin Cindric from their Xfinity Series program?

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