Saturday’s 300-mile Xfinity Collection race had been an earthly affair, that includes principally single-file racing with drivers apparently unwilling to take dangerous strikes for concern of shedding observe place.
Quite a few vehicles working out of gasoline on the finish arrange a dramatic two-lap additional time and shock winner, however that was hardly indicative of what a lot of the race had provided.
That’s why there have been so many lingering questions coming into Sunday’s 400-mile Cup race.
Nonetheless, a 16-car wreck on lap 2 of the Cup race was a fast sign the Cup race would take a distinct – and way more dramatic – observe.
The sphere remained principally two-wide, and drivers traded the lead at head-spinning pace. The have been dangerous blocks, and vehicles repeatedly banging off one another, or the skin wall.
The race resulted in essentially the most intense and suspenseful end attainable, with three vehicles racing side-by-side off Flip 4 on the ultimate lap to the checkered flag.
After a quick video evaluation by NASCAR, Daniel Suárez was declared the winner over Ryan Blaney by a 0.003-second margin – third closest in sequence historical past. Kyle Busch was third, solely 0.007 seconds behind Suárez.
And whereas the picture end was exceptional and memorable, there was a second earlier in Sunday’s race that provided the very best trace of how this race would play out.
Because the race went into the ultimate stage, Blaney’s Penske teammate, Austin Cindric, developed right into a critical contender for the win himself.
With 50 of 260 laps remaining, Cindric discovered himself behind three drivers racing three-wide for the lead.
With little hesitation, he drove his No. 2 Ford under all three on the frontstretch and coming into Flip 1 to make it a four-wide battle – a sight few might bear in mind seeing beforehand on the 1.54-mile observe.
Cindric emerged because the chief from that daring maneuver however couldn’t stay out entrance for lengthy. He ended up with a stable fourth place end, simply behind the trio who fought for the win.
“That was sort of cool, wasn’t it? I imply, four-wide at Atlanta, that doesn’t actually work within the corners, it solely works within the straights, however I had sufficient time to consider if it was a good suggestion and it was a good suggestion,” Cindric, 25, mentioned.
“I’m positive it seemed cool and made for good photos. Somebody’s received to do it. I can promise you I’ll be the man.”
The 32 laps led is career-best for Cindric in Cup. It’s only one lap shy of his complete laps led for all of final season. Two races into the 2024 season, he has already matched his prime 5 complete from final 12 months.
Whereas Cindric mentioned he was assured in his potential to make the transfer at that second to take the lead, he puzzled if one other massive wreck was probably within the race when he noticed the sector proceed to race four-wide even after he cleared for the lead.
“I had a sufficiently big run that it didn’t final too lengthy. I did look in my mirrors anticipating them to wreck being four-wide for that many laps,” he mentioned. “That’s fairly spectacular.
“What the viewer doesn’t perceive is how tough it’s to comply with at this race observe, particularly when you have got all that turbulent air popping out of the hood subsequent to the opposite vehicles. That’s what received me on the finish, truthfully, guys simply working near me.
“It’s not straightforward to do, however I suppose that’s why they name us the very best on this planet.”
It’s certainly.
