Austin Cindric heads into Bristol Motor Speedway on the hottest of red-hot streaks. After going winless through his first 53 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, Cindric has now won two straight at Watkins Glen and Mid-Ohio.
In the process, Cindric achieved what only six other drivers have been able to accomplish over the 37-year history of the Xfinity Series — winning his first two races in consecutive events.
Only Rick Mast (1987 Dover and Martinsville), Steve Grissom (1990 Dublin and IRP), Chad Little (1995 Daytona and Rockingham), Jamie McMurray (2002 Atlanta and Rockingham), Chase Elliott (2014 Texas and Darlington) and William Byron (2017 Iowa and Darlington) have also matched this impressive feat.
Cindric is the only driver in the group to win one of those two races — let alone both — at a road course.
Now, if Cindric can outlast the field during a 300-lap slug-fest at the half-mile in Tennessee he will stand alone as the only driver to get his first three victories in the series in consecutive starts.
Obviously, Bristol is a whole different beast than a road course, but if the spring race at Bristol is any indication Cindric has a chance to battle for a win. Cindric started from the fourth position that day and stayed inside the top-10 during both of the opening Stages before ultimately finishing sixth.
With a little extra confidence on his side entering the night race, anything is possible.
Keep an eye on that No. 22 Ford Mustang on Friday night as he chases NASCAR history.
