Cindric appreciates Ford veterans event and getting to race new car

Austin Cindric sees a few reasons why Ford creating the Proud to Honor Veterans Day Classic is a great thing.

You can take that it gives race car drivers another chance to do what they love: race. Only this time in similar cars and in a more fun atmosphere alongside Ford teammates. Another take is that Cindric believes it reflects Ford’s values as an American company: honoring veterans and making sure they are recognized on Veterans Day.

Above all else, though, the NASCAR Cup Series driver for Team Penske is also a competitor, and as someone who will be participating in the Nov. 11 event, Cindric’s mind goes there.

“I want to know what the car is? Whose car am I driving? How many times has it been crashed? Do I fit? All of those things, and you’re already thinking about how to make the thing go fast and do better than everyone else. Who am I racing?” Cindric said. “Then understanding what my role is and why we’re getting to do this in the first place. It kind of goes back to why we get to do anything in the first place, which is because we live in a free country, a safe country, with the best military on the planet, and we get to do fun things like that.

“To be able to do that and show that off and have Ford Racing and Ford be able to support and showcase that is ultimately what it’s all about.”

The exhibition event will be held at Daytona International Speedway to honor the branches of the military. Each branch will be represented by 12 drivers, split into teams of two. They will compete in Ford Mustang Dark Horse Rs.

Cindric will be paired with Frankie Muniz. The two will represent the Air Force.

“The closest thing I have to perspective, and it’s cool it’s happening in Daytona, is that I got to ride with the Thunderbirds in 2022,” Cindric said. “It was one of the coolest experiences of a lifetime, and obviously very cool that I kind of have probably more than any other military branch that understanding, at least, of some of what goes into that.

“I feel it’s a very related branch as well because, well, speed. We all like speed and machines and things that go fast. Obviously doing that, but doing it with a critical mission in mind. Their missions are a lot more important than mine when going fast, but still all very cool. It’s also cool to be teamed with Frankie as well; he’s had a great end of the year, winning the GT4 championship there. So, we’ll see what we can do and make some noise.”

The other teams will be Joey Hand and Brad Keselowski (Army); Ryan Blaney and Ben Hobson (Marines); Ryan Preece and Logano Sargeant (Navy); Noah Gragson and Layne Riggs (Space Force); and Joey Logano and Ty Majeski (Coast Guard).

Cindric is not unfamiliar with adapting to new race cars and enjoys that part of being a driver, although he doesn’t get to do it much anymore. At one time, it was what Cindric felt set him apart as a younger driver before it became more common.

“But it’s something that I love doing and something that our schedule is not very favorable to,” said Cindric. “Then getting the opportunities to do it at a high level is also difficult to do. It’s where I always really envy the guys that race on dirt short tracks that they can pull up on a weekday and go race; not that it doesn’t require a lot of planning and effort, but it definitely requires less planning and foresight than the Rolex 24 or going to Adelaide in a Supercar. Those things take months and the right opportunity to line up. So, I wish I got to do it more, but at the same time, it’s cool that we get to do it.”