Austin Cindric earns first Xfinity Series title

AVONDALE, Ariz. — Austin Cindric is the 2020 Xfinity Series champion.

Cindric won the Desert Diamond Casino West Valley 200 on Saturday (Nov. 7th) at Phoenix Raceway.

Cindric, who was leading before a late-race caution that sent the race into NASCAR Overtime, restarted behind race leader and championship contender Justin Allgaier, ultimately passing him to earn his first NASCAR national series title

“I watched Sheldon Creed do it last night, so why couldn’t we,” Cindric said.

Cindric is now the 31st different driver to win a championship in the Xfinity Series.

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Justin Allgaier led the most laps among the competition (77) after starting from first.

Electing not to pit during a late-race caution, Allgaier held the lead in Overtime, but Cindric ultimately made the race-winning and championship-winning pass.

“So close, but so far away, hats off to Austin,” Allgaier said of finishing fifth place and second overall in the championship standings. “They were the best car, they deserved to win.”

Justin Haley was the only Championship 4 contender who did not lead during the race. Haley finished the race eighth.

“We were not too good there at the start,” Haley said. “This is an awesome P3, this is the farthest Kaulig Racing has ever gone… still proud of my guys.”

Chase Briscoe, who led 41 laps, spun with three laps to go, sending the race into overtime.

The winner of nine Xfinity Series races bottomed out the Championship 4 ninth place.

“This is by far not my best racetrack,” Briscoe said. “I’ve got to do a lot better job… Overall, to win nine races, it’s been a phenomenal year.”

SOURCES
Racing-Reference.info