Just like that, some more pieces of the 2022 NASCAR puzzle have fallen into place. According to the latest reports, Harrison Burton and Austin Cindric will make their full-time Cup Series debuts.

The two are currently locked in a tight championship battle in the Xfinity Series with AJ Allmendinger, Daniel Hemric and Justin Allgaier.

However, they can head into the rest of the season knowing that they will be in the Cup Series next year. First and foremost, Burton is joining the Wood Brothers Racing team in the #21 car.

This effectively means that it could be curtains for Matt DiBenedetto unless he can somehow snag a ride.

Meanwhile, Austin Cindric seems to have gotten the better end of the deal. This is because he is going to succeed Brad Keselowski in the #2 Team Penske car.

It is interesting to note that for a long time, many expected Cindric to be in the #21 car. So there was a considerable stir when this curveball came and plonked Cindric with the main Penske team.

Austin Cindric and Harrison Burton will be high on confidence

With the two fresh contracts in their pockets, Cindric and Burton will definitely look forward to the upcoming race. A new contract always works wonders for a driver’s confidence because it motivates them even further. On the other hand, there is a possibility that the new deals could pile on more pressure on them.

This is because there could be an innate desire to prove that they deserved the contracts and promotion. Owing to this, it opens up the chance for silly mistakes to bleed in.

Hopefully, for Cindric and Burton, things should not reach that sort of level. However, it is hard to predict what will happen in the future. For now, the two drivers are content with seeing out the 2021 Xfinity season before they focus on 2022.

READ MORE: Why the Future of Matt DiBenedetto Hangs on Keselowski’s Decision to Join Roush Fenway