Austin Cindric has 1-letter response to final-lap crash thwarting Daytona 500 chances
Cindric later explained he felt like Corey LaJoie was trying to push through him
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Austin Cindric finished 22nd at the Daytona 500 on Monday night but was in contention to win the race until the last lap when he spun out across the infield.
As the pack came down the front stretch, William Byron had a slight advantage. Corey LaJoie was racing behind Cindric when the No. 2 car spun out and collected Ross Chastain with him. The race ended there with Byron declared the winner of the Daytona 500 for the first time in his career.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Austin Cindric, #2, crashes during the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race on Monday, Feb. 19, 2024 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Cindric spun out and came back up the racetrack. His night went from fighting for the win or at least the top five turned out to be falling all the way into the back of the field.
"K," he wrote on X after the race.
Cindric, who won the Daytona 500 in 2022, explained to reporters his feelings after he was released from the infield care center.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Ross Chastain. #1, and Austin Cindric, #2, slide through the ti-oval after crashing during the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race on Monday, Feb. 19, 2024 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
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"Really unfortunate end," Cindric told FOX Sports. "Shot to win the Daytona 500. Really in great position with the outside lane breaking up. Had a 1-on-1 with the 24 (Byron) with the whole pack behind. Can’t really ask for anything else other than that out of myself and the team. Yeah, just sucks a little bit."
Cindric said LaJoie tried to "fit a car where there wasn’t a car and continued to push through my left rear until I wrecked."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}LaJoie ended up finishing fourth and did not seem to be too bothered with Cindric’s remarks.
Austin Cindric, #2 Team Penske Discount Tire Ford, waves to the crowd prior to the running of the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 on Feb. 19, 2024 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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"It’s the last lap," LaJoie told FOX Sports. "I’ve seen him do a lot of dumb things too and we’re not friends."