DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. — DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Austin Cindric launched his bid for a second consecutive Xfinity Series title with a victory in Saturday night’s season opener at Daytona International Speedway.
“What a way to start the season,” Cindric said. “Coming off a lot of momentum winning that championship last year, but nothing is guaranteed. Try to do it again tomorrow, I guess.”
He's the first reigning Xfinity champion to win the next year's season-opening race since 1996 champion Randy LaJoie won the 1997 opener. The win was Cindric's first on Daytona's oval, and first at the famed track in NASCAR's second-tier series for Team Penske.