Team Penske swaps pit crews for Ryan Blaney and Austin Cindric
Yahoo Sports • 2 min read • Latest: Sep 1, 2026, 10:29 PM
Last updated Sep 1, 2026
Team Penske is reorganizing its pit crews for Ryan Blaney and Austin Cindric ahead of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. The shift moves the personnel currently assigned to Cindric’s No. 2 car over to Blaney’s No. 12 machine. Blaney enters the postseason as the No. 2 seed, while Cindric is seeded 15th. The change follows a season of recurring mechanical and speed issues for the No. 12 crew, which ranked 32nd among full-time teams according to NASCAR Insights. Conversely, the crew moving to Blaney’s car is ranked tenth overall. Penske previously attempted to address the No. 12 team’s performance by replacing the jackman in April and the rear tire changer in May. No personnel adjustments were announced for the No. 22 Ford driven by Joey Logano, who enters the playoffs as the No. 9 seed.
- •Team Penske is swapping the entire pit crews for the No. 2 and No. 12 teams.
- •Blaney enters the playoffs as the No. 2 seed and Cindric as the No. 15 seed.
- •The No. 12 crew previously ranked 32nd, while the No. 2 crew ranked tenth among full-time teams.
- •No changes were made to the No. 22 team driven by Joey Logano.
- 10:29 PMYahoo Sports — Penske makes major change, swapping entire pit crews for Austin Cindric and Ryan Blaney
- 10:29 PMMotorsport.com — Penske makes major change, swapping entire pit crews for Austin Cindric and Ryan Blaney
"Team Penske is swapping the pit crews for Ryan Blaney and Austin Cindric, as both drivers begin the 2026 Chase for the championship. Blaney, the 2023 NASCAR Cup champion, is the No. 2 seed in the reset standings, while Cindric is the No. 15 seed. Blaney has had issues on pit road all year, even in his most recent win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The No. 12 pit crew was ranked 32nd ...Keep reading
"Team Penske is swapping around the pit crews on the No. 2 and No. 12 NASCAR Cup teams before the 2026 battle for the title
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsSep 1, 2026, 10:29 PMPenske makes major change, swapping entire pit crews for Austin Cindric and Ryan Blaney
Team Penske is swapping around the pit crews on the No. 2 and No. 12 NASCAR Cup teams before the 2026 battle for the title
- Motorsport.comSep 1, 2026, 10:29 PMPenske makes major change, swapping entire pit crews for Austin Cindric and Ryan Blaney
Team Penske is swapping the pit crews for Ryan Blaney and Austin Cindric, as both drivers begin the 2026 Chase for the championship. Blaney, the 2023 NASCAR Cup champion, is the No. 2 seed in the reset standings, while Cindric is the No. 15 seed. Blaney has had issues on pit road all year, even in his most recent win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The No. 12 pit crew was ranked 32nd ...Keep reading
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