Austin Cindric wins 2020 XFINITY championship in overtime at Phoenix: After establishing the pace most of the afternoon, 22-year old Austin Cindric ultimately relied on raw determination to claim the 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series championship. The Team Penske driver pulled off the most clutch lap-pass of his young career to take the race victory in Saturday’s Desert Diamond Casino West Valley 200 and earn his first NASCAR title. After pitting for tires just before a final overtime restart, Cindric was able to work his way forward at the final green flag and got around Noah Gragson on the last lap – driving away to a .162-second victory for his sixth win of the season, easily the most celebrated of his career. After celebratory donuts in his car, Cindric pulled himself out of the driver’s window, climbed on top of his bright yellow No. 22 Team Penske Ford and flashed No. 1 victory signs on both hands before waving a giant champion’s flag. [Read More](11-7-2020)
#22-Austin Cindric won the Desert Diamond Casino West Valley 200 NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Phoenix Raceway and the 2020 NASCAR XFINITY Series Championship. The win is his 6th win of the year, 1st at Phoenix, and 8th career win.
#9-Gragson finished 2nd followed by #19-Jones, #1-Annett, pole sitter #7-Allgaier, #20-Burton, #10-Chastain, #11-Haley, #98-Briscoe, and #51-Clements.
The race ended after the first overtime attempt. The caution came out with 3 laps to go when Briscoe spun with a tire going down. Cindric was leading Allgaier at the time. Cindric pitted for fresh tires, while Allgaier stayed out. Allgaier was the leader on the final restart with Chastain second and Cindric 3rd, just behind Allgaier. Coming to the white flag Cindric and Allgaier made contact. Cindric got the advantage over Allgaier and moved around Gragson to win the race by just over one-tenth of a second.
Stage 1 was won by #98-Briscoe. Stage 2 was won by #22-Cindric.
There were 16 lead changes among 7 drivers and 8 cautions for 47 yellow flag laps.
The average speed of the race was: 92.342mph.
See race details at: Race Results, Drivers Points Standings, Owners Points Standings, Cumulative Report, Penalty Report.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Fast Facts
Driver Champion: Austin Cindric
Team: No. 22 Team Penske Ford
- Austin Cindric has won his first NASCAR Xfinity Series championship; his previous best finish in the final series standings was sixth last year.
- Cindric is the 30th different driver to win the NASCAR Xfinity Series title.
- Cindric won the season finale at Phoenix Raceway to claim the 2020 Xfinity title.
- Cindric made 33 starts this season posting six wins, 19 top fives and 26 top 10s.
- In the Playoffs this season, Cindric has posted one win, two top fives and five top 10s.
- Austin Cindric, from Mooresville, North Carolina, has become the seventh different NASCAR Xfinity Series champion from the state of North Carolina; joining Sam Ard (Asheboro), Jack Ingram (Asheville), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Kannapolis), Brian Vickers (Thomasville), Austin Dillon (Welcome), and William Byron (Charlotte).
Owner Champion: Team Penske
- This is Team Penske’s second NASCAR Xfinity Series driver championship (Brad Keselowski, 2010 and Austin Cindric, 2020)
- This is Team Penske’s series record tying fifth NASCAR Xfinity Series owner championship (2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2020); joining Richard Childress Racing (five) and Joe Gibbs Racing (five) with the series-most owner titles.
- Team Penske is one of 17 different organizations to win a championship in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
- Team Penske has led nine different drivers to Victory Lane for a total of 76 wins in the NASCAR Xfinity Series – Ryan Newman, Kurt Busch, Justin Allgaier, Brad Keselowski, Sam Hornish Jr., AJ Allmendinger, Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano and Austin Cindric.
- Owner Roger Penske fielded the team’s first car in the series with NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace behind the wheel at Auto Club Speedway on October 19, 1997.
Crew Chief Champion: Brian Wilson
- This is Brian Wilson’s first career NASCAR Xfinity Series championship, his previous best finish in the series championship standings was sixth last season with driver Austin Cindric.
- Wilson is the 28th different crew chief to win the NASCAR Xfinity Series title.
- Wilson has won 18 NASCAR Xfinity Series races with four drivers: Brad Keselowski (four), Ryan Blaney (two), Joey Logano (four) and Austin Cindric (eight).
Race Fast Facts – Phoenix:
Austin Cindric (P) won the 22nd Annual Desert Diamond Casino West Valley 200, his eighth victory in 100 NASCAR Xfinity Series races.
This is his sixth victory and 26th top-10 finish in 2020.
This is his first victory and fifth top-10 finish in six races at Phoenix Raceway.
Noah Gragson (second) posted his third top-10 finish in four races at Phoenix Raceway. It is his 25th top-10 finish in 2020.
Brandon Jones (third) posted his fourth top-10 finish in 10 races at Phoenix Raceway.
Harrison Burton (sixth) was the highest finishing rookie.
Austin Cindric wins the 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series driver championship.
(NASCAR)(11-7-2020)
XFINITY Series Final Playoff Standings:
1) #22-Austin Cindric, [6 wins], 4040
2) #11- Justin Haley [3 win], 4032, -8
3) #98-Chase Briscoe [9 wins], 4029, -11
4) #7-Justin Allgaier [3 win], 4028, -12
See the Drivers Points Standings and Owners Points Standings.
Cars to the rear: none reported.
Pit Stall Selections
#7-Justin Allgaier will start from the pole for the Desert Diamond Casino West Valley 200 NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Phoenix Raceway.
#98-Briscoe starts second, followed by #22-Cindric, #11-Haley, #20-Burton, #9-Gragson, #10-Chastain, #19-Jones, #18-Herbst, and #1-Annett.
The lineup was set by the qualifying procedure, based on race finish, points position, and fastest race lap.
See the complete Desert Diamond Casino West Valley 200 Starting Lineup.(11-4-2020)
Crew Rosters
Goodyear Tire Notes
The Entry List for the Desert Diamond Casino West Valley 200 NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Phoenix Raceway is posted, 37 teams/drivers [for 40 spots] are listed.
Since 37 cars are entered, all drivers will race.
See the full entry list on the Entry List (pdf).
