https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaoNPhIM6fY
Jeff Gordon seems to have started a new trend among NASCAR drivers.
Following his retirement from full-time competition in 2015, the four-time champion entered the Rolex 24 at Daytona and won the prestigious endurance race in 2017.
Now, another NASCAR driver will try his hand in the prominent event. JDC-Miller Motorsports recently announced that 19-year-old Austin Cindric will drive the No. 85 Lexus prototype in the upcoming Rolex 24 at Daytona. He will be joined by three co-drivers -- Devlin Defrancesco, Simon Trummer, and Robert Alon.
.@AustinCindric @DevlinDeFran completes @JDCMotorSports for @Rolex24Hours https://t.co/0cCmCM2NDS pic.twitter.com/7jeq5inV6K
— Endurance Info (@EnduranceInfo) December 29, 2017
Despite being a teenager, Cindric is very experienced, having already made starts in the NASCAR XFINITY Series, Red Bull Global Rallycross, Pirelli World Challenge, and IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship.
In 2017, Cindric raced full time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. In 23 starts, he managed 16 top-10 finishes, scored one victory, and finished 3rd in points while driving the No. 19 Ford for Wood Brothers/JTG Racing.
"It is no secret JDC-Miller Motorsports surprised a lot of people this year, showing that this group is more than capable of fighting with the big dogs," Cindric said, according to RACER. "It will be my first race in a prototype, so I have plenty to learn and absorb from my teammates. It is an exciting time in IMSA to be in a prototype, racing for an overall win, and I'm grateful to be part of it."
The 2018 Rolex 24 at Daytona is scheduled to begin on Saturday Jan. 27th and concludes the following day. That gives Cindric plenty of time to prepare for the 2018 NASCAR season.