CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Austin Cindric received a 50-point penalty and a $50,000 fine from NASCAR on Wednesday following his deliberate act of spinning Ty Dillon during the Cup Series race at Circuit of the Americas last weekend. The incident occurred after Dillon moved Cindric up the track early in the race, prompting Cindric to retaliate by hooking Dillon’s car in the rear, resulting in a spin.
NASCAR has emphasized a strict policy against drivers intentionally hooking competitors in the right rear because of the severe safety risks involved. Previous incidents this season have seen drivers Bubba Wallace and Chase Elliott face suspensions for comparable actions.
The penalty has substantial implications for Cindric and his team, Team Penske, as it drops him from 11th to 35th in the championship standings ahead of the upcoming race at Phoenix Raceway.
Last year, NASCAR also penalized Carson Hocevar with a $50,000 fine and a 25-point penalty for colliding with Harrison Burton under caution at Nashville Superspeedway by similarly hooking Burton’s car in the right rear.
According to a NASCAR official, Cindric avoided suspension this time because the incident occurred on a road course, characterized by lower speeds and confined spaces, and notably, the action did not lead to a caution flag. On the other hand, Wallace and Elliott’s infractions took place on oval tracks known for higher speeds and resulting in caution flags.
Additionally, NASCAR announced further penalties on Wednesday. Two crew members from Kyle Larson’s pit team have been suspended for two races due to a tire detaching from Larson’s car during the COTA race. The suspended crew members are Brandon Johnson, the jackman, and Blaine Anderson, the front tire changer.
