The Food City 500 race was held last weekend at Thunder Valley, which is marked as one of the best short-track races in the Next-Gen era. The NASCAR community witnessed a phenomenal showdown, which included 54 lead changes by 16 drivers and a total of 19 yellow flags in the 500-lap race. But what exactly prompted the yellow flag at lap 368?

It was when, at turn 4 of the pavement, the No. 2 driver, Austin Cindric, shot from the inside lane, three wide with Todd Gilliland and Ricky Stenhouse Jr, and made contact with the No. 47. As a result, both Cindric and Stenhouse Jr spun out, while Gilliland stacked up the field, bringing out the caution.

Austin Cindric regrets calling Ricky Stenhouse Jr’s Bristol frustration obvious

NASCAR Fox Sports reporter Bob Pockrass, with his recent tweet, shed light on the incident. Bob, in his post, seemed to have a conversation with Austin Cindric. As the race concluded, Bob observed Austin Cindric’s attempt to approach Ricky Stenhouse Jr for a post-race conversation. However, the latter appeared disinterested and continued walking.

Acknowledging the challenging conditions of the race, Pockrass speculated that Cindric’s tires might have been compromised, hindering his ability to control his car during the incident with Stenhouse.

In his apologetic chat with Bob Pockrass, Austin Cindric opened up about the incident, admitting, “I put us in a bad spot, drove through marbles, put us three wide with the 38(Todd Gilliland).” Reflecting on his actions, he said, “Complete responsibility is on me for that accident and I don’t know, what his(Ricky Stenhouse Jr.) race was looking like at that point. But I’m sure wasn’t appreciated, and um yeah he was fairly frustrated after the race. And I think he has every right to be.“

Austin Cindric expressed regret for his role in the collision, acknowledging, “Kind of just making a bad situation worse on my end.” Understanding his fault, he further stated, “So certainly have to do less of that. So yeah, definitely. Uh Not fun and, you know, I hate to find myself in that situation. And um, Yeah, totally on me.”

Considering his failed efforts to communicate with Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Cindric recognized Stenhouse’s frustration and accepted the consequences of his actions wholesomely.

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How has the Cup Series been so far for Cindric and Stenhouse Jr?

Team Penske’s driver, Austin Cindric, driving his No. 2 from the Ford Regiment, is presently placed 21st in the Cup Series standings. Cindric, who participated in the last 5 regular races of the season, managed to start three races in the top 10. He started from 6th in the Daytona 500, 8th in the Ambetter race, and even initiated from pole position 3rd in the Vegas race. However, Cindric has showcased only one top-5 finish at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, where he came in 4th.

On the other hand, the sole representative of JTG Daugherty Racing, No. 47 driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr from Chevrolet’s Clan, sits in the 23rd position in the standings. Ricky is 9 points behind Cindric, whereas Stenhouse’s qualifying stints haven’t been as pleasing as Cindric’s.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr’s average starting position in the 2024 Cup series races till now is 24.4. Whereas his average finish stays at 21.60, Displaying his feats, Stenhouse Jr has managed to garner just one P10 finish at the Ambetter Health 400 race, where he finished in 6th place, starting from pole position 27th.

Read More: William Byron Calls Out ‘Casual’ NASCAR Fans With a Clever Talladega Nights Dig

In the wake of the incident at Bristol, NASCAR fans empathize with Austin Cindric’s guilt over his role in Ricky Stenhouse Jr’s spin. Cindric’s candid acknowledgment of his mistake and his efforts to communicate with No. 47 demonstrate his accountability and commitment to sportsmanship. Fans hope for improved performances from both drivers as they navigate the ups and downs of the Cup Series season.