Austin Cindric steamrolls to first NASCAR championship

Austin Cindric charged on fresh tires to his first NASCAR championship with a gutsy overtime drive Saturday to win Xfinity Series finale at Phoenix Raceway.

Cindric was alrey heed toward win when title-favorite Chase Briscoe spun with six laps remaining. It brought out a caution that forced Cindric and Team Penske into a bold race-deciding strategy call.

Cindric handed contender Justin Allgaier le by pitting from le for new tires. Cindric dropped to third for two-lap overtime shootout.

Allgaier h taken new tires on previous pit stop — he and Cindric were on opposite strategies — and Allgaier restarted as leer. He chose top lane and Cindric chose to start up re, too, right behind Allgaier.

Cindric h to wrestle with ah Gragson, Allgaier's JR Motorsports teammate, for position before he got his shot at Allgaier. Gragson moved to le n Cindric bounced off Allgaier as two took white flag.

Cindric cleared Allgaier and, even though he didn't have to win, he chased down Briscoe for extra measure. It was Cindric's sixth win of season but first of what h been an underwhelming playoffs.

victory gave Team Penske one championship on weekend with a shot for one more. Br Keselowski and Joey Loga race in Cup Series' final four Sunday.

Cindric was Xfinity Series regular-season champion but Briscoe took control of title race. behind a series-high nine wins this season. He h a good car early but fed and finished ninth. Briscoe is moving to Cup next season with Stewart-Haas Racing to drive Tony Stewart's . 14 Ford.

Allgaier, trying to win his first championship, fed to fifth on older tires in overtime. Justin Haley, in a Chevrolet for Kaulig Racing, finished eighth. It moved Briscoe to fourth among championship contenders.

Im credits: AP