NASCAR Cup Series driver Austin Cindric (2) is tapped on the bumper by Daniel Suarez (99) after winning Sunday's Daytona 500. Matt Stamey-USA TODAY Sports

Photo finish shows how close Austin Cindric's Daytona 500 victory was

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Larry Brown | Last updated 2/20/22

Rookie Austin Cindric won the Daytona 500 on Sunday in Fla., and the photos show just how close of a finish the race was.

Cindric’s No. 2 Ford Mustang came in a half-length ahead of Bubba Wallace to win the race.

RIGHT DOWN TO THE WIRE

Austin Cindric edges out Bubba Wallace to win the #Daytona500 pic.twitter.com/yBrhcYvuO9

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 21, 2022

Here is the video of the finish:

A PHOTO FINISH IN THE #DAYTONA500!

AUSTIN CINDRIC WINS! pic.twitter.com/abobUxgbRa

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 20, 2022

Cindric did a masterful job drifting high to block Ryan Blaney and then coming right back down to cut in front of Wallace and make sure he was not passed for the win.

Chase Briscoe finished third and Blaney was fourth in the unofficial results.

This is Cindric’s first full season racing in the Cup Series for Team Penske, and he celebrates it with a win to kick off the season. He is its replacement for Brad Keselowski, who went to Roush Fenway Racing, and is sure making the squad look good already.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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