Is Austin Cindric in the hot seat, driving the No. 2 Team Penske car in the NASCAR Cup Series? Well, this has been one of the subtopics after another major scandal hit the IndyCar Series. And once again, Team Penske was at the center of the controversy that ultimately cost Tim Cindric, Austin’s father, his job. On May 21, just days before the Indy 500, Roger Penske found itself in hot water when Josef Newgarden and Will Power, teammates of Scott McLaughlin, failed technical inspection during the Firestone Fast 12 qualifying.

It wasn’t just a bad day; rather, it was a body blow to a team that’s used to running the show, leaving them to pick up the pieces of their reputation. The violation? A “body-fit” issue on the rear attenuator, a spec safety part meant to absorb impact, which Penske had modified by filling a seam, likely to cut drag and gain a straight-line speed boost. IndyCar didn’t let it slide, penalizing both cars and dropping them to 32nd and 33rd on the grid, a humiliating slap in the face for Roger Penske’s squad, already reeling from their second IndyCar scandal in as many years.

The fallout was swift and brutal. Three days later, on May 24, 2025, Penske announced the departure of three senior leaders: Team President Tim Cindric, IndyCar Managing Director Ron Ruzewski, and IndyCar General Manager Kyle Moyer. For Cindric, Austin’s father, it marked the end of a 26-year tenure with Penske that began in October 1999. Promoted to the role of president at Team Penske, Tim had been a strategist for Penske’s IndyCar teams, guiding Will Power to the 2014 title and Josef Newgarden to championships in 2017 and 2019.

Reflecting on his exit, Tim said, “I don’t have a guilty conscience… I sleep well at night knowing what my intentions are and what I’ve done.” But the damage was done. Penske’s legacy took a hit, and now, fans are turning their attention to Austin, speculating if the sins of the father might cost the son his ride with Roger Penske’s team in NASCAR.

The timing couldn’t be worse for Austin, who’s been a steady presence in the No. 2 Ford for Team Penske since his full-time Cup Series debut in 2022. Just hours after running the qualifying laps for the Coca-Cola 600, Austin found himself facing questions not about his performance, but about his future. Some fans and critics are whispering that Penske might cut ties with the 26-year-old to distance themselves from the scandal tied to his father.

“I’m in no different place professionally than I was a week ago. I feel like we have a lot of momentum on our team right now on the #2 car. I’ve never felt better. So, for me, I’m more focused on execution.” This was Cindric’s reply to the question of whether he feels that he has earned the right to keep his seat at Team Penske. But his loyal fans didn’t buy into the logic that a structural overhaul on the IndyCar side of things would directly affect his ride in NASCAR.

Austin Cindric is here to stay in NASCAR

“It’s a bit frustrating that he even has to answer questions like that. He’s running just as well as his veteran teammates this year, has been in the playoffs 3 years out of 4 years he’s been in Cup, and he more than earned his Cup ride by almost winning back-to-back Xfinity championships.”, one fan vented on Reddit. To be on the hot seat, a driver has to be struggling on the track in terms of performance and results. So far, Cindric has already sealed his spot in the playoffs and is arguably the best Ford driver behind Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney right now.

Another fan doubled down, saying, “I’m not even sure why this is a question. Guy’s locked into the playoffs, it’s not like he’s gonna be canned mid-season because his dad was. Only thing this may do is shorten his leash if he starts underperforming.” There were talks about Austin’s future within the team at the start of the year, but with consistent performances and results, he’s earned his spot. Now, there is a possibility that if things do go south, there will be questions surrounding his stay, which again was the conversation at the start of the year. So, essentially, the situation hasn’t changed for the driver, despite Tim Cindric’s departure.

His Daytona 500 win as a rookie in 2022 and claiming the crown jewel proved he can handle pressure, and his 25 top-10s in Cup show he’s no fluke. Even in a tough 2023 season, where he finished 24th in points, he still managed 5 top-10s, showing resilience that Penske values. If you compare these stats to Austin Dillon or Harrison Burton, it is evident that Cindric has risen to the occasion and delivered the goods on the racetrack.

“What Tim Cindric did/didn’t do has nothing to do with Austin,” another fan argued, echoing the sentiment that Austin’s performance should stand on its own. Fans also pointed out that Penske has little reason to replace him. “From the Penske perspective, there is only one possible ‘available’ driver who would even be considered an overall upgrade… It’s Tyler Reddick. And Cindric is 4 years younger than Reddick, so even then it’s questionable,” a fan noted. Reddick is a good option, but it is hard to lure him out of 23XI Racing. Only last year, he had a shot at the championship. Unless the NASCAR lawsuit situation doesn’t force him to find a new home, he is expected to stay within the Toyota camp.

It is hard to find a talented driver from the Ford ranks who could take over the #2 car. The most realistic choice is Josh Berry, but he is already with Wood Brothers Racing, and he is doing well for himself. If anything, a swap between Berry and Cindric is the possibility that could arise in the future. This again would be purely based on performance and unlikely to be related to the current situation at IndyCar. In fact, this conversation wouldn’t be taking place if Roger Penske didn’t own the IndyCar Series in the first place.

Expressing the frustration with this ordeal and the unnecessary questions that are poping up against Austin Cindric, a fan replied, “If Roger didn’t own Indy car he wouldn’t have fired anybody. He isn’t gonna start attacking the guys son as well. If Roger didn’t want Austin in the car in the first place he wouldn’t have been.” 

What are your thoughts on this situation? Is Austin Cindric’s future at Team Penske in question after his father’s dismissal due to the IndyCar blunder?