Team Penske has ordered a pit crew swap between Austin Cindric’s No. 2 team and Ryan Blaney’s No. 12 entry. Cindric opened up on the change and called it a “great opportunity” to seize the remaining 10 races.
Blaney has struggled with his pit crew for a while now. They had their miscues last season, which have continued this time around, recording a net gain/loss of -129 spots over the regular season.
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Cindric’s crew, on the other hand, placed 10th overall and logged a net pit road gain/loss of -8. With Blaney entering the Chase as the No. 2 seed, Team Penske made the call to bolster their odds.
“It’s not my race team, so no,” Cindric said when asked if he’s miffed about the change.
“I don’t think it’s productive, especially having the conversation with you if I’m being honest. It’s a change and I feel like as far as the guys that we have on our car for the rest of the year, they’re obviously super capable and, for me, I think it’s a great opportunity for the whole group to go out and have a good 10 weeks,” Cindric added via Motorsport.
The Ohio native was also sympathetic to Ryan Blaney’s situation, saying,
“I completely understand the team’s perspective for why that is and obviously the opportunity for us moving forward, so I think that’s really all it boils down to.”
Austin Cindric is yet to win this season. His last triumph arrived at Talladega last year. Blaney has three wins to his name, and Joey Logano closely trails him with two.
Ryan Blaney shares thoughts on pit crew swap
Sep 2, 2026; Charlotte, NC, USA; Ryan Blaney answers questions from the media during the Chase media day at the Charlotte Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
Team Penske informed Ryan Blaney of the pit crew swap on Monday, two days after the regular season finale at Daytona. The No. 12 team lost almost 100 spots in the first two months this season.
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The team made some initial swaps to course-correct, but the recent change marks a complete overhaul. Blaney will now inherit Austin Cindric’s jackman, Jourdan Osinskie, fuelman Andrew Lackey, front tire changer Justin Armwood, rear tire changer Geoffrey Wall, and rear tire carrier Jesse Mills.
Blaney, however, remained neutral on the switch.
“I am not the decision-maker when it comes to pit road (and) road guys. Really, the only thing I can do is be in those meetings with the people who have those powers – team leaders, crew chiefs, things like that,” he said via Motorsport.
Ryan Blaney last won the NASCAR Cup Series title in 2023. He now sits 25 points behind No. 1 seed Denny Hamlin. Toyotas have largely remained dominant this season, with Fords and Chevys lagging.
Only three Fords rank inside the top 10, while four Toyotas have made the top 5. Chevrolets made the top 10 thanks to Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott and reigning champion Kyle Larson.
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