DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 19: Ross Chastain, driver of the #1 Busch Light Chevrolet, and Austin Cindric, driver of the #2 Discount Tire Ford, spin after an on-track incident during the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 19, 2024 in Daytona Beach, Florida.
(Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

Austin Cindric Sounds Off About Daytona 500 Finish

The 2024 Daytona 500 had plenty of excitement, and Team Penske certainly had its chance to win in the closing laps with Austin Cindric.

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Cindric found himself the team's last chance to win coming to the line for the white flag, and for the slightest of moments he had a chance to duel eventual winner William Byron for the win.

His hopes vanished in a heartbeat, as he got tangled up in a wreck across the tri-oval and infield grass.

Cindric's No. 2 Ford Mustang got tapped from behind and spun out, collecting the No. 1 Chevy of Ross Chastain, as Byron's No. 24 and Alex Bowman in the No. 48 raced on to the yellow flag after taking the white flag.

Cindric's night ended with him spinning up the racetrack for 22nd place finish. Cindric wasn't too thrilled after the race and posted a one one-word tweet on X.

"K," Cindric said on X following the race.

Cindric, the 2022 Daytona 500 winner, then went on to explain his feelings to FOX Sports after being released from the infield care center.

"Really unfortunate end," Cindric said. "Shot to win the Daytona 500. Really in a 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 pointed the blame towards Corey Lajoie, who ended up finishing fourth, after tagging Cindric's car.

"He (Lajoie) tried to fit a car where there wasn't a car and continued to push through my left rear until I wrecked," Cindric said.

His comments certainly didn't seem to bother Lajoie, who later offered his thoughts with Fox Sports' Bob Pockrass.

"It's the last lap," Lajoie said. "I've seen him do a lot of dumb things too and we're not friends. So that's that."

It seems Cindric and Lajoie aren't too fond of each other. For once an incident that also involved Chastain doesn't have anyone mad at him.

More: The Big One Takes Out Half the Field Late in Daytona 500