Who would have thought that in just his second season of full-time competition in the NASCAR Cup Series, Austin Cindric would have a vehicle featured as part of an exhibit in the NASCAR Hall of Fame?
Cindric, who captured the victory in the 2022 Daytona 500, was the first driver to visit victory lane with the NextGen car in a points-paying event, marking an important first in NASCAR’s modernization and beginning the road to the future.
On Tuesday, Team Penske and The NASCAR Hall of Fame jointly announced that Cindric’s Daytona 500-winning vehicle, the No. 2 Discount Tire Ford Mustang, will join the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s ‘Glory Road: 75 Years’ exhibit.
Proudly positioned at the front of the popular display inside the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Cindric’s car is the 19th and final car to join the fifth generation of the exhibit. With 33 degrees of banking and featuring some of the most significant vehicles in NASCAR history displayed on the Glory Road “track,” the exhibit expands to 19 cars in 2023 for the first time in its history.
Austin Cindric, the driver of the No. 2 Ford Mustang for Team Penske, joined Winston Kelley, Executive Director of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Michael Nelson, President of NASCAR Operations for Team Penske, and Tom Williams, and Tom Williams, Executive Vice President, and Chief Experience Officer for Discount Tire, to reveal the newest addition to the exhibit.
“It’s surreal to see a car with my name on it in the NASCAR Hall of Fame,” said Cindric. “Winning the DAYTONA 500 is an amazing achievement for me, our team, and our partners. So, to say this car is important to us is an understatement. I know it will be in great hands. There’s a lot of history in that place. I’m proud to have it on display as part of the experience.”
The exhibit, which celebrates 75 years of the NASCAR Cup Series, features a diverse display of historical cars that pay tribute to the people, vehicles, and moments that have helped shape NASCAR from its formative years to its current era.
With the addition of Cindric’s Ford Mustang from the Daytona 500, the exhibit now officially featured another generation of car, marking the first time that NASCAR’s new NextGen car, which debuted in 2022, is featured in the display.
“As the league celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, our team is proud to play a part in that history,” said Michael Nelson, President of NASCAR Operations for Team Penske. “When I look at all the cars on ‘Glory Road’ and I see the No. 2 Discount Tire Ford Mustang, it’s a reminder of our team’s hard work and the success that comes from their effort and dedication.”
Cindric’s historic victory in the Daytona 500 last year – the first-ever by a rookie racer in the Daytona 500 – came in just his eighth start at NASCAR’s top level. Now, the victory serves as a key highlight of the successes between Team Penske and Discount Tire, as the two organizations celebrate their 14th year together.
“It’s exciting to be here with Austin (Cindric) and the No. 2 Team Penske crew as we’re reunited with the DAYTONA 500-winning Discount Tire Ford Mustang to see it become a true part of NASCAR history,” said Tom Williams, Executive Vice President, and Chief Experience Officer at Discount Tire. “We’ve enjoyed 36 wins and five Championships with Team Penske, and we look forward to achieving more milestones together in the seasons to come.”
Fans will be able to view the Discount Tire Ford Mustang and the other 18 vehicles on display in the ‘Glory Road: 75 Years’ exhibit during regular business hours at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
