Randle backs Cindric to surprise amid 'baptism of fire'
Thomas Randle backs Austin Cindric to surprise amid "baptism of fire"
NASCAR star Cindric to steer Tickford wildcard at Adelaide Grand Final
Cindric currently vying for maiden Cup title in NASCAR Playoffs
Tickford Racing driver Thomas Randle believes NASCAR Cup Series ace Austin Cindric could raise eyebrows in his Supercars wildcard appearance in Adelaide.
The 2022 Daytona 500 champion is currently contesting the NASCAR Playoffs, with Penske aiming for his fourth consecutive Cup Series championship.
Cindric won the 2020 Xfinity Series and has three Cup Series race wins to his name, including major 500-mile race wins at Daytona and Talladega.
Adelaide offers one of the American's biggest racing challenges yet, with Cindric the first fully fledged international wildcard to contest a Supercars race since IndyCar stars Alexander Rossi and James Hinchcliffe paired up at the 2019 Bathurst 1000.
Cindric previously tested Supercar machinery as a teenager with DJR Team Penske, and given the 27-year-old's pedigree, Randle is confident his new stablemate can make a splash.
“He could he surprise a lot of people, he's a good driver,” Randle told Supercars.com.
“He's won plenty of races, he won Daytona and Xfinity. But he has tested Supercars out here before, so it's not like he's just gonna turn up and be off the pace.
“Obviously their season will be done, and clearly he follows Supercars enough that he wants to get his bum in a seat.
“Doing it with our team at Tickford is cool too. I'm looking forward to working with him.”
Supercars stars have taken their skills to NASCAR in recent years, namely champions Shane van Gisbergen, Brodie Kostecki and Will Brown, as well as Randle's teammate Cam Waters.
Now, the tables have turned for Cindric, and his cameo will come at one of Supercars' most feared and revered battlegrounds: the Adelaide Parklands Circuit.
"I think it's going to be challenging for him because he's being thrown in the deep end,” Randle said.
“Adelaide is far from the easiest track on the calendar. It's got some pretty brutal corners, obviously Turn 8. He's gonna love it, I think it's gonna be great for him and great exposure for Supercars and NASCAR. It shows the crossover is getting even stronger.
“For sure, it's gonna be probably a baptism of fire for him, but it's cool that he's coming to do it. I know teams have been trying to get drivers here for a while.
“We've obviously had IndyCar guys on the Gold Coast before, and Rossi and Hinch did Bathurst in ’19. For all of them, it was a baptism of fire. I’m keen to see how Austin goes. Bring it on."
Tickets for all remaining Supercars events are on sale. International fans can stream the action via SuperView.
