SPARTA, Ky. — Austin Cindric dominated Friday night to sweep the NASCAR Xfinity Series doubleheader at Kentucky Speedway.
A night after racing to his first career oval victory in an overtime finish, the Team Penske driver was even stronger in the No. 22 Ford Mustang in the 300-mile capper.
Cindric was third in the first stage, won the second and stretched it out in the final segment. He trailed briefly on the final restart, then sliced through two cars out of Turn 2 and rolled to victory by 2.262 seconds over points leader Chase Briscoe in the No. 98 Ford.
“What we did tonight was really impressive because we ran one setup last night and won the race and came with another setup and won the race again,” said Cindric, who started 15th. “That happens at the shop, that happens with the guys on the box. All credit to them.”
Just after Cindric celebrated his victory with a burnout, drivers Harrison Burton and Noah Gragson argued before throwing punches in a fight that lasted several moments before they were separated.
“I had a lot of people come up to me and say that was a long time coming, so I guess that was the popular move,” said Burton, alluding to previous clashes with Gragson. “I was just frustrated, and sorry for our team that that happened.”
Gragson was seventh, and Burton finished 12th.
Justin Haley was third, followed by fellow Chevy drivers Ross Chastain and Justin Allgaier, who was cleared to race earlier in the day after being taken to a hospital following Thursday night’s race for a non-racing related medical purposes.
The 21-year-old Cindric, son of Team Penske president Tim Cindric, won twice last year on road courses at Watkins Glen and Mid-Ohio. On Friday night, he led the final 43 laps and 130 of 200 overall.
Gragson again showed early strength in taking the 45-lap first stage, his third segment win in two nights on the 1.5-mile oval.
23:19ET 10-07-20
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