
Ryan Blaney has officially re-signed with Team Penske, solidifying his place in the organization. This long-term deal comes after Blaney's successful tenure, including a Cup Series championship in 2023.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 21: Ryan Blaney poses for a photo during NASCAR Production Days at Charlotte Convention Center on January 21, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
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It was nearly a forgone conclusion, a sure bet in a world of uncertainty. In Fact, the news of Ryan Blaney re-signing with Team Penske Wednesday felt less like breaking news and more like the confirmation of gravity. Had it gone the other way, that wouldâve been news as big as the second coming of Jesus; locusts, thunder, the works.
After all, hereâs a driver who has been in the Penske ecosystem since 2012, graduating to the top tier NASCAR Cup series full-time in 2016 first with the Wood Brothers, a Penske satellite team, then to Team Penskeâs No 12 starting in 2018. Since then, he has done what drivers in the Cup series are supposed to do: win races (18 of them), contend regularly, and in 2023, he delivered a Cup Series championship to Roger Penske, a man known simply, and quite fittingly, as âThe Captain.â
âRyan Blaney has developed into one of the elite drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series, and the success heâs achieved speaks for itself,â said Roger Penske. âIâm confident Ryan and the No. 12 team will continue to build momentum into the future, especially positioned alongside a committed partner like Menards who's been instrumental to our team for more than a decade.â
When The Captain speaks like that, people tend to listen and, more importantly, follow. Menards, the Midwest hardware giant thatâs been plastered across Penske cars since 2016, didnât just nod politely. They doubled down, in the same announcement, Menards said they are extending their own deal alongside Blaneyâs and reaffirming a partnership that has also included teammate Austin Cindric.
Ryan Blaney's contract extension ensures his continued presence in Team Penske, which could strengthen the team's competitiveness in upcoming seasons.
Ryan Blaney has won 18 races in his NASCAR career, showcasing his skill and consistency as a driver.
Ryan Blaney began racing full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2016.
In 2023, Ryan Blaney delivered a Cup Series championship to Team Penske, marking a major milestone in his career.

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NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 30: 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Champion, Ryan Blaney, and team owner, Roger Penske of Team Penske pose for photos with the Bill France NASCAR Cup Series Championship trophy prior to the NASCAR Awards and Champion Celebration at the Music City Center on November 30, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
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âWeâve enjoyed a tremendous relationship with Team Penske, and weâre excited to continue that partnership for the future,â said John Menard, President and CEO of Menards. âRyan and Austin Cindric have both done a tremendous amount for our brand, vendors and our customers, and they represent us with professionalism and passion. Team Penske shares our dedication to excellence, and we look forward to achieving more success together on and off the track.â
For his part, Blaney has become exactly what Penske hoped he would beâand perhaps a bit more. Like his father, Dave Blaney, heâs carved out a reputation as both a fan favorite and a legitimate title threat. Though, if weâre being honest, the mustache has probably done as much for his popularity as the trophy cabinet recently. It is, depending on who you ask, either âgloriousâ or something that looks like it should come with a sheriffâs badge.
âRogerâs commitment to me and my career has been something a race car driver could only dream of,â Blaney said. âNot only getting the opportunity in the first place but sticking with me through the highs and lows for more than a decade. To still be a part of Team Penskeâthe wins, the championships, the peopleâand continuing to grow my career with the unwavering support of Roger and the entire organization has been the opportunity of a lifetime. Weâre going to keep pushing to deliver more wins and championships, and to do that with the support of John Menard and the Menard family is truly an honor.â
So yes, the speculation can now be put to bed. Blaney isnât going anywhere.
Which means, naturally, the spotlight swivels to the rest of Penskeâs garage.
Joey Logano, the elder statesman of the trio, has been with the team since 2013. In that time, heâs amassed 35 wins, captured the 2015 Daytona 500, and delivered three Cup Series championships, the most recent in 2024. His own contract extension, signed in 2022, keeps him in place through 2028.
Ryan Blaney's mustache is either âgloriousâ or something that looks like it should come with a sheriffâs badge. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
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But lately, things have been⊠less imperial. Logano is winless so far this season, and while there have been flashesâtwo top fives, a pole at Phoenixâthereâs also been frustration. His last victory came at Texas early last year, and his most recent trip there ended not with a trophy, but with a wrecked race car and a long walk back to the hauler.
Which brings us to Cindric.
Cindricâs path has been similarly intertwined with Penske, joining the organization in what was then the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2018 and delivering a championship in 2020. His Cup resume, however, is still a work in progress: three wins, though one of them, the 2022 Daytona 500, carries the sort of weight that makes up for a lot of quiet Sundays.
He revealed in 2023 that he had signed a contract extension earlier that year, though the length remains something of a mystery. And while his father, Tim Cindric, holds a senior role within the Penske organization, NASCAR has never been a place where family ties alone guarantee job security. Results still matter. They always have.
That said, Penskeâs empire has long been built on stability rather than knee-jerk reactions. Itâs one of the reasons itâs lasted this long and won this much. So the idea of a sudden change, particularly with Cindric, would raise more than a few eyebrows.
DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 20: (L-R) Team owner Roger Penske, Austin Cindric, driver of the #2 Discount Tire Ford, and crew chief Jeremy Bullins celebrates in the Ruoff Mortgage victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series 64th Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 20, 2022 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
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For now, though, everything remains neatly in place.
Blaney, and his increasingly legendary mustache, sits comfortably at the center of it all, looking every bit the franchise cornerstone, seemingly walking on water. Logano is searching for a return to form. Cindric is searching for consistency.
You do get the sense that if Cindric suddenly showed up next weekend with a mustache of his own, it might not hurt his chances though.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com