Team Penske is swapping pit crews for Ryan Blaney and Austin Cindric as both drivers step into the 2026 Chase, a move aimed at resolving the pit‑road bottleneck that has plagued the team all season.
Pit Crew Reinventions for the 2026 Chase
Ryan Blaney, the 2023 Champion, leads the reset standings as the No. 2 seed, while Austin Cindric enters the chase as the No. 15 seed. Blaney’s No. 12 crew has historically struggled, ranking 32nd among 35 full‑time teams according to NASCAR Insights. Cindric’s new No. 2 support crew now sits tenth, a significant jump in performance potential.
The new lineup for Blaney’s pit stop will feature Jourdan Osinskie as jackman, Andrew Lackey as fuelman, Justin Armwood for front tire changes, Geoffrey Wall handling rear tires, and Jesse Mills as tire carrier.
For Cindric, the crew change brings Graham Stoddard on the jack, Chris Conklin into the fuel station, Keiston France front tire changer, Justin Fox for the rear, and Trevor Aspey holding the tire carrier.
Historical Pit‑Road Struggles and Early‑Season Adjustments
In the first two months of the season, Blaney’s pit crew slipped nearly one‑hundred positions, prompting a jackman swap in April. A month later, the No. 12 team replaced the rear tire changer, yet pit‑road performance remained inconsistent. Despite these changes, the crew’s ranking remained low, pointing to systemic issues beyond individual roles.
No Changes on Joey Logano’s Ford
Team Penske has not announced adjustments for Joey Logano’s No. 22 Ford, which enters the chase as the No. 9 seed chasing a fourth NASCAR Cup title. The focus remains on stabilizing the No. 12 and No. 2 squads without disturbing Logano’s crew.
Looking Ahead
With the renewed crews now in place, Team Penske aims to deliver a pit stop that matches the on‑track speed of its drivers, a critical factor as they vie for the championship title in 2026. The next race will test whether the revamped pit strategy can finally convert race positions into victories.
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