Ryan Blaney celebrated his victory at Pocono Raceway by spraying champagne on fans. Team Penske has been performing well, with Blaney winning his second Cup Series race in five weeks.
Soon after his win, he found out that Will Power won an IndyCar race for Penske at Iowa Speedway. Scott McLaughlin also won there the day before, giving Roger Penske three wins in two days covering 990 miles. This success has everyone thinking about championship runs.
Blaney called it a “Penske sweep,” which was quite impressive. Now, the team faces pressure as NASCAR heads to Indianapolis for the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, owned by Penske.
With all three NASCAR drivers in the playoffs and Power and McLaughlin chasing IndyCar’s points leader, Alex Palou, Penske is aiming high. For Penske drivers, winning at Indy holds special significance.
“The big race is coming up next week,” Blaney said. “How do we celebrate with the captain by kissing the bricks? That would be a dream come true for me.”
Penske drivers Blaney, Austin Cindric, and Joey Logano have been dominating in NASCAR since the June 2 race at World Wide Technology Raceway in Illinois.
Blaney looked set to win his first race of the season in that event until he ran out of fuel just as he was about to take the white flag. But Cindric surged ahead and secured his first victory since the 2022 Daytona 500. Logano followed with a win four races later at Nashville Superspeedway, and Blaney triumphed in the inaugural Cup race last month at Iowa Speedway.
Penske drivers have claimed victory in four of the last seven Cup races.
Why does this make any of them a contender for the Cup championship? Because Logano won it in 2022, and Blaney followed last season, creating a solid championship path to follow.
“We’ve won the championship with Joey and Ryan in the last two years, and it’s all about using that strategy to advance to the next round each time,” Cindric said. “Whether that means winning races late in the playoffs or securing enough points, our team has consistently performed well in the round of eight, positioning themselves for the championship four.”
Blaney understands the importance of heating up late in the season. Last season, he elevated his performance in the No. 12 Ford during the playoffs. Over the final six weeks, Blaney scored two wins, two second-place finishes, and never finished lower than 12th.
At Pocono, he made it clear that another win could be on the way. “We’re in a better position this year than we were at this time last year,” Blaney said. “It’s the results that matter in the end.”
Penske — along with NASCAR — is marking a fresh start of sorts at Indianapolis. NASCAR will return to the 2.5-mile oval for the traditional Brickyard 400 this weekend, moving away from the 2.439-mile road course used in the last three seasons.
The last NASCAR driver to win on Indy’s oval was Kevin Harvick in 2020, who retired at the end of last season. The first Brickyard 400 took place on August 6, 1994, and NASCAR raced on the oval through 2020.
“I’m really excited. I think this was a decision a lot of drivers wanted,” said William Byron of Hendrick Motorsports. “The track is enjoyable to drive on. It might be tricky with the Next Gen car. Probably a bit challenging. But I think it will fulfill what we as drivers want, being back on the oval with its rich history.”
Penske driver Josef Newgarden won the Indianapolis 500 in May, giving the team owner a chance for his trio of NASCAR drivers to complete a season sweep.
Blaney, 30, felt a sense of completion at Pocono, returning to the tri-oval track where he earned his first Cup win in 2017. While he appreciates victories at any track, there’s a special allure to Indy.
“We’ll savor this, appreciate it, and celebrate,” Blaney said. “But Indy is the one we’re focused on. It’s a major event for RP. Full speed ahead for Indy.”
