The No. 2 Team Penske Ford that propelled Austin Cindric to victory at the 2022 Daytona 500 has found a new home. On Tuesday, the NASCAR Hall of Fame revealed Cindric’s car as the latest addition to its “Glory Road: 75 Years” exhibit, which showcases historical machines that celebrate the moments, cars, and people that have shaped NASCAR racing since its inception in 1948.
The Ford Mustang driven by Cindric marks the first car from the Next Gen era to be included in the Hall of Fame exhibit. The addition of this car is a testament to Cindric’s achievement, as he became the first rookie-of-the-year contender to win the Daytona 500 in just his eighth Cup series start.
According to Cindric, seeing a car with his name on it at the NASCAR Hall of Fame is surreal. Winning the Daytona 500 is an incredible accomplishment for him, his team, and their partners, making it an understatement to say that the car holds great importance for them.
Cindric expressed pride in having his car on display as part of the NASCAR Hall of Fame experience, acknowledging the facility’s rich history. The fact that his car is the first Next Gen model to be featured in the exhibit is another reason for his satisfaction, given the significance of this new generation of cars to the sport.
Cindric further stated that he had not imagined having one of his cars in the Hall of Fame after just one full-time season in the Cup. He had thought it might have been a car that crashed or flipped. Still, the presence of a Daytona 500-winning car from the Next Gen era at the Hall of Fame is proof of what’s possible when driving for a team owner like Roger Penske and having a top-notch team.
The NASCAR Hall of Fame, which is owned by the City of Charlotte and licensed by NASCAR, has been in operation since May 11, 2010. With Cindric’s Ford Mustang now among the exhibits, racing fans have one more reason to visit and explore the facility’s rich history.