Austin Cindric’s future is already determined as he is set to stay at the Xfinity Series for the next season before moving to the Cup Series in 2022.
He will be featuring in a select number of Cup races next season while driving the No. 22 Team Penske Ford in the Xfinity Series. Then, in 2022, he will be driving the No. 21 Ford at Wood Brothers Racing.
Cindric drew similarities between his situation and that of Jimmie Johnson back in 2000. Additionally, he sees this time period as an opportunity to continue growing.
“(I’m) very grateful and appreciative of that kind of an opportunity,” Cindric said Tuesday afternoon. “By the same token, it’s kind of funny – Jimmie Johnson and Hendrick Motorsports announced in 2000 that Jimmie was going full-time with Hendrick in 2002, so a year ahead of time and a very similar situation for us. Hopefully, I can translate some of that success he’s had, but overall, giving me a year to know what to focus on, whether that’s physically, mentally, on the racetrack.
“They talk of how durable the Xfinity cars are and how they drive, but I’ve really watched and understood what things would get me in trouble in Cup races and try to prevent those things from happening in Xfinity races, whether it’s wall contact or how you race other guys and so on. Things like that I’ll continue to be able to perfect, which I think is a great opportunity. I think it’s a great opportunity for the group of guys I work with currently to be able to really refine the small details, which I think we’ve already been doing this year. Another year is a great opportunity to (continue to do so).”
[Read More: The IndyCar track that Jimmie Johnson is looking forward to the most]