AUSTIN CINDRIC took the chequered flag at the 2022 Daytona 500 after a dramatic race in Florida.
It was another thrilling edition of the Great American Race, with 25 of the 40 cars in the field caught up in accidents.
But Cindric held firm to win his maiden Daytona title, driving his Mustang for Team Penske.
Who is Austin Cindric?
For many casual fans who don't follow NASCAR closely, Cindric might have been an unlikely winner of the Daytona.
But the 23-year-old from Columbus, Ohio has been hugely impressive in his rookie season and won the Xfinity Series in 2020.
From a proud racing family, he is the son of Team Penske president Tim Cindric and grandson of IndyCar legend Jim Trueman.
Standing at an imposing 6ft4, he is one of the taller drivers in NASCAR and currently drives the No2 Ford Mustang.
Prior to his success on stock cars, Cindric raced sports cars, rallycross and IndyCar, making his ARCA Racing Series debut in 2015.
'I DON'T THINK OF ANYTHING BUT RACING'
He won a bronze medal in the GRC Lites category at the 2014 X Games and has been regarded as one of the most promising drivers on the circuit for a number of years.
Cindric initially struggled with the transition onto the ovals, but things have clicked in the last couple of years and culminated in his stunning win on Daytona Beach.
After fending off three different challengers on the final lap, Cindric sealed not only his first Daytona, but his first NASCAR Cup Series win.
He was prolific in his time during the Xfinity Series, finishing in the top-ten 89 times from 133 races and winning thirteen of those.
At the age of 23, Cindric has become the second-youngest driver in NASCAR history to win the Daytona 500.
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Cindric might be from a famous racing family, but he's determined to carve out his own destiny.
He said following his Daytona win: "I'm not an externally motivated person or externally intimidated person
"My head's in the game pretty much 24/7. I don't think about anything else but racing.
"I don't have much of a social life. I just go the race shop.
"If there's anything left to prove, I'm not sure what it is."
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Daytona 500 2022 result
Top ten
- 1 - #2 - Austin Cindric
- 2 - #23 - Bubba Wallace
- 3 - #14 - Chase Briscoe
- 4 - #12 - Ryan Blaney
- 5 - #10 - Aric Almirola
- 6 - #18 - Kyle Busch
- 7 - #34 - Michael McDowell
- 8 - #15 - David Ragan
- 9 - #6 - Brad Keselowski
- 10 - #9 - Chase Elliott
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