The Round of 12 in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs opened at New Hampshire with a strong showcase for Team Penske. Ryan Blaney powered to his first victory at Loudon, while Joey Logano held steady to keep his postseason run alive, finishing 4th after starting from the pole. For Austin Cindric, however, the day told a different story. Finishing midpack, the 2022 Daytona 500 winner slipped further down in the standings. With Kansas and the Charlotte looming, the margin for error has shrunk to nearly nothing.

Cindric’s position and the earlier playoff races have fueled scrutiny of Roger Penske’s program. Though Blaney’s win and Logano’s steadiness reaffirmed Penske’s strength for the first time, Cindric’s inconsistency has raised questions about whether the No. 2 car is maximizing its potenti

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