Team Penske driver Austin Cindric expressed strong approval of NASCAR’s recent adjustments to the 2026 Cup Series schedule, calling the changes significant for both drivers and fans. The new schedule was officially announced by NASCAR on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, with the season beginning on February 1, 2026, at Bowman Gray Stadium with the Clash event, followed by the traditional Daytona 500 on February 15, 2026, at Daytona International Speedway.
Among the notable modifications is the introduction of two off weeks during the regular season, designed to give drivers and teams a critical pause amidst a demanding schedule. The first break occurs after the Martinsville Speedway race on March 29, 2026, with racing resuming at Bristol Motor Speedway on April 12, 2026. A second off week follows the competition at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26, 2026. Cindric praised this move, emphasizing its importance for the overall well-being of those involved in racing.
“Number one is two off weeks. That’s, we need one in the middle of something. You think about it, we’ve been racing since easter, which I love. I love that, but god, it is a grind for everybody involved. And you know, a lot of people that I work with, all our families, and you know, those things are, you know, very important to have have a little bit that time off. So, I think that’s big for the whole industry to have that.”
—Austin Cindric, Team Penske driver
Austin Cindric’s recent performances and upcoming race details
Coming off a solid fifth-place finish last week at Richmond Raceway, Cindric is preparing to compete in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, August 23, 2025. The race is set for 160 laps and will be broadcast live starting at 7:30 pm ET on NBC Sports, MRN, HBO Max, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. This event continues to draw significant attention from fans eager to see top drivers in action under the intense pressure of a marquee race.
Austin Cindric’s reaction to Connor Zilisch’s serious Watkins Glen injury
This month, during an interview with NASCAR analyst Claire B. Lang, Austin Cindric discussed the alarming injury sustained by young Xfinity Series driver Connor Zilisch. Zilisch suffered the injury while celebrating his sixth victory of the season in victory lane, after climbing on top of his #88 Chevrolet car. Unfortunately, his left foot became trapped in the window net during the celebration, causing a hard fall onto the concrete surface. The 19-year-old sustained a fractured collarbone that required surgery involving the insertion of a metal plate. Despite the severity, Zilisch did not suffer any neck or head injuries.
Reflecting on the incident, Cindric shared his concerns and empathy about the risks drivers face both on and off the track.
“That’s a long way for a big, tall guy to fall from. So I guess the rookie mistake there was not putting the window net inside the race car. I do that because it covers up the door numbers and the pictures look bad. But yeah, it’s a scary sight, honestly. I mean, it’s kind of an upsetting thing to sit there and watch and, you know, kind of feel helpless about. I’m sure many felt the same, but I think his dad put out a tweet making fun of him, and I think that definitely calmed a lot of the nerves. Something probably very similar that my dad would have put too.”
—Austin Cindric, Team Penske driver
“So I can sympathize with that as well. Yeah, just a shame, but it’s probably not going to stop me from being overly excited when I get out of the race car. But if you’re going up on top, I guess the moral of the story is there, you might as well just stand on the roof,”
he added.
—Austin Cindric, Team Penske driver
Season standing and ongoing challenges for Austin Cindric
Currently, Austin Cindric sits 15th in the Cup Series standings with a total of 543 points. Over 25 starts this season, he has secured one victory, five top-ten finishes, and two top-five finishes, indicating a competitive yet challenging campaign. The introduction of the 2026 NASCAR schedule changes, including the critical off weeks, may offer the physical and mental relief drivers like Cindric will need to sustain performance throughout the grueling season.
The 2026 schedule adjustment represents a potentially transformative step for the sport. By inserting breathing room into an otherwise relentless racing calendar, NASCAR aims to protect the health and focus of drivers and crew, while also maintaining fan engagement during key moments of the year. As teams adapt to the new rhythm, the impact on race strategies and industry wellbeing will be closely observed in the months leading up to next season.