NASCAR: 3 possible landing spots for Austin Cindric in 2021
By Asher Fair
Austin Cindric 2021 landing spots: Wood Brothers Racing
Had Brad Keselowski made the decision to leave Team Penske ahead of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season and Austin Cindric not been named his replacement, it would have made sense for his replacement to be Matt DiBenedetto.
DiBenedetto currently competes for Wood Brothers Racing, which have had a technical alliance with Team Penske since the 2015 season, behind the wheel of the #21 Ford.
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DiBenedetto has had a solid season since replacing Paul Menard after last year, as qualified for the playoffs for the first time in his career with a top finish of second at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He has certainly justified Menard’s recommendation to the team that he be given the seat this year.
But replacing Keselowski won’t happen, and it isn’t even guaranteed that DiBenedetto will stick around for a second season with Wood Brothers Racing since he is only competing on a one-year deal that requires the team to pick up his option.
Wood Brothers Racing and Team Penske could make the decision to promote Cindric to his seat. This would give Cindric a ride within the Team Penske organization, but not quite at the Captain’s three-car flagship organization quite yet.
According to Sports Business Journal‘s Adam Stern, a DiBenedetto return is seen as decreasingly likely. Wood Brothers Racing’s deadline to pick up his 2021 option was yesterday, and no announcement has been made about the matter.
.@MattDRacing said that he expects news on his status for 2021 this week, but while an announcement hasn't been made yet, industry execs are increasingly doubtful that he will be extended at Wood Brothers Racing.
— Adam Stern (@A_S12) September 30, 2020
➖ @AustinCindric is waiting in the wings if the change is made. pic.twitter.com/Q1XOXWLPpz
This would provide Cindric with the perfect opportunity to develop at the sport’s highest level of competition against all of the best drivers before receiving a high-pressure promotion that he may not be ready for yet anyway.
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Where will Austin Cindric compete in the 2021 NASCAR season? Will he remain at Team Penske’s Xfinity Series for the third consecutive full season, or will he be promoted to the Cup Series?