NASCAR: 3 drivers who are the future faces of the sport

NASCAR faces to watch: No. 3 – Austin Cindric

Austin Cindric’s debut in his first full-time season in the NASCAR Cup Series didn’t disappoint. The 23-year-old won the Daytona 500, etching his name in history in just his eighth Cup Series start. While his season has since seen ups and downs, he has been able to show his natural talent on the road courses.

With two top five finishes at Sonoma Raceway and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, the 2020 Xfinity Series champion could again find himself contending at Watkins Glen International.

While other drivers in the Ford camp have served as faces of the manufacturer in the past, time is on Cindric’s side. Brad Keselowski, whom Cindric replaced at Team Penske, is currently in a driver-owner role at RFK Racing and seems to be in a rebuilding process with the team.

Kevin Harvick, who found continued success when Stewart-Haas Racing switched from Chevrolet to Ford, has been open about retirement in the past, and his contract runs out next season. In short, Ford has to consider a youth movement sooner rather than later.

Cindric’s connection to Team Penske is deep, as his father Tim serves as the president of the company. Between on-track success and connections within one of the premier Ford teams, his candidacy of being the face of the manufacturer and one of the faces of the sport going forward is strong.