Austin Cindric Wins NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Continues Martin-McClure Racing Streak

Austin Cindric places a sticker on his car after winning the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race at Virginia International Raceway

Austin Cindric won the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race at Virginia International Raceway and added to his family's legacy in motorsports. He is the 17-year-old son of Tim Cindric, the president of Team Penske, winner of 16 Indianapolis 500 races and 13 IndyCar Series championships. The younger Cindric is making a name for himself in sports car racing. Now he can add NASCAR race winner to his resume.

Austin Cindric leads the field at the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race at Virginia International Raceway. Cindric led for 29 laps, the most of any driver in the race

Austin Cindric led the last three laps of the Biscuitville 125, a 55-lap road course race, to capture his first NASCAR K&N Pro Series East win in his debut. He passed Justin Haley after the final restart on lap 51. It took a couple laps for Cindric, who won the pole and led the first 26 laps of the race, to maneuver around Haley.

"My whole goal as a driver is to set myself apart from other drivers," Cindric said after winning the race on Saturday. "For me it's about being a race car driver. To be able to continue to show how diverse I am, not only how diverse I am, how I can be successful, it's a great experience to be able to do that. I am very lucky I am able to do that."

Austin Cindric raises the trophy after winning the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race at Virginia International Raceway

It was the second NASCAR K&N Pro Series East win in a row for Martin-McClure Racing. Chad Finchum won the previous K&N Pro Series East race at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee for the team owned by NASCAR XFINITY Series drivers Hal Martin and Eric McClure. McClure has been adjusting well to his new role as team owner. He had to step out of the race car in the XFINITY Series in 2013 because of injuries and has run partial race schedules since then.

"I always felt like ownership was the next logical step," McClure said. "I feel like I am a competitive person. I thought that was the way to satisfy the drive to compete. I will be honest with you, my accidents and medical struggles have been well-documented over the last few years. My body was telling me it was time to do something different."

McClure started one NASCAR XFINITY Series race in 2016, the season opener at Daytona International Speedway in Florida in February. Since then, he has concentrated on running the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East team with some unanticipated success.

Austin Cindric won the pole and the race in his NASCAR K&N Pro Series East debut at Virginia International Raceway

"This has given me great purpose and excitement and fun," McClure said. "Honestly, I started racing late in my life. My family made me go to college. I moved up really fast and had a really nice career. But none of that has ever felt like this. I really sit here and feel like this is the most amazing thing and the transition has been made so much easier. I am enjoying the transition."

Haley was the runner-up and posted his fourth top-five finish in five K&N Pro Series East races. He moved into a tie with Kyle Benjamin for the lead in the K&N Pro Series East standings.

"I believe all racing has the same fundamentals," Haley said. "We're doing something right. It can only get better from here. I'm only going to get better from here. I am happy about that."

Austin Theriault was third, followed by Benjamin in fourth and Ronnie Bassett Jr. in fifth. Benjamin has four top-five finishes in five K&N Pro Series East races.

The next race in the K&N Pro Series East is the ComServe Memorial Day Classic at Dominion Raceway, in Woodford, Virginia on May 30.