Team Penske consistently ranks close to the top of the list when considering NASCAR dynasties. Roger Penske’s team has made consistency its defining characteristic since entering the Cup Series full-time in 1991, amassing more than 170 victories and five titles in the process. From Joey Logano’s three championship seasons to Brad Keselowski’s 2012 Cup series win, Penske has demonstrated that their method creates more than simply winners; it creates a legacy.

Their Ford Mustangs consistently place at the top of the field thanks to astute engineering, astute judgment, and drivers who perform well under duress. Dominance at that level is not something that just happens. It’s a cultural thing. But behind all the polished execution and trophies sits a mandate that defines everything Penske stands for, as revealed recently by Team Penske’s star driver, Ryan Blaney.

Ryan Blaney explains Roger Penske’s mindset

Ryan Blaney praised the exceptional teamwork at Team Penske, saying, “I think our team, all the Team Penske and the Wood Brothers, we work better than anybody else together.” A vivid example of this was during the tense 2024 NASCAR playoffs, specifically at Atlanta. Blaney provided a crucial push to help Logano secure the win over Trackhouse Racing driver Daniel Suarez. Moreover, their partnership highlighted just how far Penske teammates are willing to go to ensure the organization stays in victory lane, even when the stakes are sky-high.

Blaney also revealed Roger Penske’s hands-off but ruthless championship directive. “Roger doesn’t care who runs first or second. He just wants to run first and second.” The legendary owner’s focus has always been on team dominance, expecting whoever drives for Penske to aim for the top positions collectively, regardless of individual rivalry. This has helped Team Penske win the Championship in 2022 and 2024 with Joey Logano and with Ryan Blaney in 2023. Blaney was also the runner-up in the 2024 edition.

On the crucial boundary between competitive racing and team cohesion, Blaney quoted Roger Penske’s one clear rule. “The only thing that Roger has ever said is just don’t wreck each other like trying to win the race, right?” A recent example came at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, when Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Denny Hamlin and Ty Gibbs fiercely battled for position. Hamlin spun Gibbs into the outside wall, sharply fracturing team unity. Luckily, the incident didn’t affect Hamlin to a great extent!

Blaney’s candidness about Penske’s championship focus offers fans an inside look at the balance between fierce competition and strategic discipline mandated by one of NASCAR’s most successful owners. Roger Penske’s leadership demands excellence. However, the man tempers ambition with wisdom, ensuring that the quest for championships is a collective team effort.

Blaney eyes Kansas and Charlotte with flexibility

Ryan Blaney can finally take a breath. His win at New Hampshire not only kicked off the Round of 12 in style but also locked him into the Round of 8. With two races still left in this round, the 2023 Cup champ now has the freedom to plan.

“It is comforting [to have won at Loudon], right?” Blaney admitted. “The dream deal is winning the first race of the round. So, to already know that you can focus on the first race of the next round a little bit earlier and maybe can experiment with something in the other two races…”

Next up is Kansas, followed by the Charlotte Roval. Blaney knows Kansas could double as a testing ground for Las Vegas, the opening race of the Round of 8. “We’re still going to give max effort at Kansas and the Roval,” he said. “The goal is to win every single week.”

The Roval, though, adds its own wrinkle. With drivers scrapping for every point near the cutoff line, chaos is almost guaranteed. But for Blaney, already safe, it’s a chance to chase the win outright. “I think we’re maybe in a unique spot to flip the stages and go try to win the race,” he explained.

Meanwhile, his Penske teammates still have work to do. Joey Logano sits sixth in the standings, 24 points above the cutline. He’s in decent shape but not relaxing just yet. “I’d rather win,” Logano laughed after banking a pile of stage points at Loudon.

Austin Cindric, on the other hand, is in tougher territory. Sitting 19 points below the cutline in 10th, he knows consistency is key. “If we have a repeat of this weekend, it’s not gonna be enough,” Cindric admitted. “We’re capable of it and I believe in that. I feel good about Kansas.”