There’s a wide range of views on what happened last night…
Ben Rhodes and Austin Cindric crashed while racing for the final position available in next week’s Championship 4. Just ahead of a restart, these two were tied. Even, for the 4th and final transfer position to Homestead.
If you haven’t seen the Ben Rhodes and Austin Cindric crash video, it’s posted below.
Read the statement below as the NASCAR world comments.
The exited the pits and restarted nose to tail on the inside lane. The green flag dropped and it all went wrong. They checked up in front of Rhodes, he chose not to go around them, avoiding a 3 wide situation. At the same time, Cindric got a run, thus he pulled to the inside. That’s already a difference in racing style and opinion.
As Cindric pulled out of line, he had a fender on Rhodes. Yet, Rhodes decided to try and block the move anyway. Thus, he was spun into the infield wall and back across the track, directly into his teammate. Both ThorSport Racing trucks were totaled and Ben Rhodes handed the final position in the Championship 4 to Cindric.
Related: Ben Rhodes and Austin Cindric comment on Phoenix Raceway crash
Those two drivers disagreed, on most things. The most interesting part is the differences in opinion regarding the unwritten rules of racing etiquette. However, what I found interesting is that it’s not just limited to those two racing drivers involved.
The disagreement is across the board. As shown below:
NASCAR community comments on Cindric / Rhodes crash
Todd Bodine
“There is no fault.”
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
“Insidddddeeeee”
Regan Smith
“Gonna be some interesting words exchanged after that incident. To me if the hole is there you take it.”
Brad Keselowski
“Tough deal. I’m not sure either driver could or should have done anything different.”
“Sometimes things happen when you go fast for a living.”
Ryan Reed
“This truck race just got so much more interesting”
Harrison Burton
“Wow… that was large. What is y’alls take on the wreck with the 19 and 27”
Ryan Ellis
“Just saw the truck incident: Looked like the 19 clearly showed he was pulling out to pass and Ben went to block either: thinking he was clear OR Thinking the 19 would lift.”
“I wouldn’t blame the 19 for that one. Stayed in it and held his ground.”
“If someone blocks you (late in a very impoartant race) and they’re not clear… you have a few choices: Lift and forever be blocked because you don’t hold your ground. Or: Stay in it, hold your ground, and not get blocked again.”
Austin Cindric and Ben Rhodes
Phoenix Raceway
Links
Austin Cindric | Ben Rhodes | Phoenix Raceway | NASCAR | Shane Walters