Team Penske has swapped the pit crews of drivers Ryan Blaney and Austin Cindric for the final ten races of the season, a move justified by pit‑road performance data.
The Strategic Rationale
Blaney starts the Chase as the No.2 seed, 25 points behind champion Denny Hamlin, while Cindric sits in No.15, 95 points adrift. By transferring Blaney’s 10th‑place crew, which netted a +8 on pit road, to the 12th‑car, Penske aims to give its title‑bound driver the best chance to finish the year. Cindric’s 32nd‑place crew, which lost 129 spots over the regular season, will now feed into the No.2 car.
The decision was explained during Monday’s post‑Daytona meeting. Blaney said he was unaware of the change, noting, “I didn’t ask for a change. That came from above me. I wasn’t in there going into meetings wanting a change.” Cindric echoed that there were no rebuttals, saying, “I completely understand the team’s perspective for why that is and obviously the opportunity for us moving forward.”
Driver Reactions
Blaney, who has won three races this season, has kept his focus on driving, adding, “I am not the decision‑maker when it comes to pit road. At the end of the day, it’s not my call to say, ‘I want a change.’” He kept his comments short, emphasizing that pit‑coaches hold that authority. Cindric admitted a sense of loss, “I’m pretty close with the guys I work with and I can’t finish the season with the crew I feel responsible for, but it’s not completely unprecedented to make changes.” He expressed readiness to work with veteran crew members on the 12th team.
Implications for the Chase
With the redesigned crew structure, Blaney remains optimistic: “I still feel very strongly about going into the Chase even before this because our team has done a good job of finding speed, figure out pit‑road improvement, and overcoming adversity.” This confidence aligns with Penske’s long‑term objective, as Blaney said, “There’s a business side to it… to win a Penske championship.”
The swap places the championship‑leaning No.12 in the best position to capitalize on the remaining races, while Cindric must now depend on seasoned crew members to sustain his pursuit of the title.
"