Austin Cindric secures NASCAR playoff spot with sixth-place finish at Daytona

Austin Cindric finished sixth in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway, securing his fourth playoff appearance in five seasons. Cindric entered the race with a 44-point cushion over the cut line, bolstered by multiple top-10 finishes this season. The race witnessed a late caution when Carson Hocevar lost control, nearly impacting Cindric. Despite the chaos, Cindric's finish solidified his position in the 16-driver postseason field, while fellow competitors Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano clinched their spots earlier. Shane van Gisbergen missed the Chase despite winning two races earlier in the season.

• 4:04 AMYahoo Sports — Austin Cindric slips late wreck at Daytona, earns spot in NASCAR Chase