NASCAR: Team Penske, Ryan Blaney agree to contract extension
By Asher Fair
Team Penske and Ryan Blaney have agreed to a multi-year contract extension to keep the latter behind the wheel of the #12 Ford in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Ryan Blaney signed a multi-year contract with Team Penske back in July of 2017 for the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series season and beyond when he was still with the Team Penske-affiliated Wood Brothers Racing, and the 2020 season was slated to be a contract year for him.
Three races into the 36-race season, the driver of the #12 Ford has signed another multi-year contract extension to continue driving for Roger Penske’s team.
Here is what Blaney had to say about signing this extension, according to a team release.
"“I’ve always said, it’s been a lifelong dream to be able to drive a racecar for Roger Penske. I am proud of what we have accomplished with the No. 12 Team Penske Ford and our ability to represent great brands like Menards, Advance Auto Parts, DEX Imaging and BODYARMOR. It’s really exciting to know I will continue to drive for this organization in 2021 and beyond. I am fortunate to be surrounded by extremely talented people throughout the organization and have no doubt we will continue to compete for wins and championships well into the future.”"
Here is what Penske had to add.
"“Ryan is a true talent with a long runway ahead of him and we are excited to have him as a part of the future of Team Penske. Since joining our team, Ryan has developed into a championship caliber driver and his personality and engagement with fans has made him a terrific ambassador for NASCAR. In addition, Ryan has done a great job of working with our partners to support their activation and investment throughout each year. I am looking forward to even more success together.”"
Through the first three races of the 2020 season, Blaney leads the championship standings and has been a contender for the win in all three events. Unfortunately, he has only been able to secure one top 10 finish due to unfavorable circumstances late in each of these three races, but his series-leading stage point total has allowed him to maintain his lead in the standings.
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The 26-year-old has been with Team Penske since 2013 when he drove for the team in select Xfinity Series races. He never competed full-time for the team in the Xfinity Series, but all of his starts since 2013 have been with the Captain’s organization.
He made his Cup Series debut with the team in 2014 before landing a part-time ride with Wood Brothers Racing for the 2015 season. He then drove the iconic #21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford full-time in 2016 and 2017 before he was promoted to Team Penske in a third car alongside Cup Series champions Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano.
Blaney secured his first victory back in June of 2017 at Pocono Raceway, and he has won one race each year since then. He won the playoff race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway roval in September of 2018 to secure his first Cup Series victory with Penske’s team, and he added a win at Talladega Superspeedway in October of 2019.
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Ryan Blaney has finished in the top 10 in the championship standings in each of the last three NASCAR Cup Series seasons. He finished in a career-high seventh place last year after advancing to the round of 8 for the second time in those three seasons.