Cindric replaces Barker in Ford Multimatic Mustang

NASCAR star Austin Cindric has been called up to drive the No. 64 Ford Multimatic Motorsports Mustang GT3 in the 63rd annual Rolex 24 At Daytona, replacing an injured Ben Barker. The 2022 Daytona 500 winner will share the Mustang with full-season drivers Mike Rockenfeller and Sebastian Priaulx after Barker, the Endurance Cup driver for the 2025 season, broke his collarbone during a holiday skiing trip.

"The 24 Hours of Daytona has become a very meaningful event for me and my career,” Cindric said. “This will be my sixth opportunity to run this race, and with the Ford Mustang GT3, it’s one of the best opportunities I'll have had at taking one of those watches home.

“It's important that I wish Ben all the best in his recovery as I get to keep his seat warm. I'm keen to do my part in contributing to a great result, but also representing Multimatic and Ford properly as they start their season in IMSA.”

The 26-year-old from Mooresville, N.C. has two career NASCAR Cup Series victories in 115 starts since his debut in 2021 with Team Penske, which followed his 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship. But before his stock car racing career took off, Cindric made his first Michelin Pilot Challenge start at Daytona as a 16-year-old Ford development driver in 2015. He scored his first win in the series later that year at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, driving a Multimatic Ford Mustang GT4. He also won the 2019 season finale at Road Atlanta, alongside co-driver Priaulx.

This will be Cindric's sixth different team that he's driven for in as many Rolex 24 races, having finished as high as fifth in class in 2019 with Vasser Sullivan Racing and 2022 with Proton Competition.

“In 2025, it'll be 10 years exactly since the first time I came down to Daytona to race for Multimatic and Ford in Michelin Pilot Challenge,” Cindric said. “That nervous 16-year-old would be happy to learn where things would be 10 years on. Needless to say, there are a lot of familiar faces. I'm grateful to get the nod, and I'm looking forward to getting to work soon."

“We have great momentum moving into the season opening round at Daytona,” said Mark Rushbrook, global director of Ford Performance Motorsports. “It is a difficult situation with Ben’s injury coming when it did, but we are excited to have Austin step into the Ford Mustang GT3. Austin is one of the most diverse drivers we have, a proven winner with Mustang in NASCAR and sports cars. He is a perfect fit to step in and team with Seb and Rocky at Daytona.”

“It is a real shame for Ben and for the team that he will miss Daytona, but accidents happen. He is already on the mend and will be back in action soon,” said Pascal Zurlinden, Executive Vice President, Multimatic Engineering & Special Vehicle Operations. “We’re delighted to welcome Austin back to the team and we are sure he will do an excellent job, as he has always done for us.”