A Bold Move Before the Chase
Team Penske isn’t waiting for disaster to strike again. Before the 2026 title fight starts, the group is replacing the full pit crews for Ryan Blaney and Austin Cindric. This decision comes right after a frustrating race where Blaney finished 33rd due to on-track chaos and pit road struggles. Nick DeGroot reported the news on September 1, 2026, highlighting how drastic this shakeup really is. The team knows that pit road performance can make or break a championship run, and they’re done letting a slow stop cost them a shot at the trophy.
Blaney enters the Chase as the No. 2 seed, yet his crew has been a major liability all year. In contrast, Cindric sits at No. 15 but brings a crew that ranks tenth among all teams. Penske is betting that the speed of the new No. 2 crew will save Blaney’s season. They won’t accept a slow stop when every second counts on the final lap, so they’re bringing in fresh blood to tighten up the rhythm.
The Numbers Behind the Swap
The data behind this decision is stark and impossible to ignore. According to reports, the No. 12 pit crew placed 32nd out of 35 full-time teams. That is a massive hole for a championship contender to fill. Pit road troubles plagued Blaney throughout the year, including during his latest victory at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The team tried to fix it with smaller tweaks before, but nothing worked. Those half-measures failed, so now they are going all in.
This year, Penske adjusted the Blaney pit crew multiple times, starting in April after they lost almost 100 spots on pit road in the initial two months. They swapped out the jackman then. Slightly more than a month later, another adjustment occurred for the rear tire changer as the No. 12 team attempted to fix their pit road problems. Jourdan Osinskie serves as jackman, Andrew Lackey as fuelman, Justin Armwood as front tire changer, Geoffrey Wall as rear tire changer, and Jesse Mills as tire carrier on the new No. 12 Team Penske pit crew for Blaney. Graham Stoddard acts as jackman, Chris Conklin as fuelman, Keiston France as front tire changer, Justin Fox as rear tire changer, and Trevor Aspey as tire carrier on the new No. 2 Team Penske pit crew for Cindric. This is a complete overhaul, not a simple rotation.
While the crew change addresses the pit road issues, the on-track drama at Daytona still looms large. Denny Hamlin offered a nuanced take on the wreck that sent Blaney into the wall. Speaking on his podcast Actions Detrimental, Hamlin noted that viewers might not see the full picture. He stated, “While Hamlin conceded that it was Stenhouse’s move that caused the incident, he was far more understanding of the move than Blaney was over the radio.” Blaney’s reaction was pure frustration. He spoke to his crew chief without restraint on the radio. He said, “F* No. 47. What the f*? What the f* are we doing?He added, “Right down the backstretch and he f*ing hooks me.Hamlin noted that because track moves happen so quickly, particularly during the final lap at Daytona, Stenhouse’s focus was probably straight ahead. The new pit crew can’t fix a wreck, but they can ensure the car is ready for the next restart.
Why This Shakeup Matters Now
Team Penske must make this move because the status quo is costing them wins. A 32nd ranked pit crew cannot compete with the top teams in a tight Chase. Swapping the crews is the only logical step to save Blaney’s title hopes. The No. 2 crew ranks tenth, which is a massive upgrade over the current No. 12 unit. Consistency under pressure matters just as much as raw speed when you’re fighting for a championship.
Blaney needs every advantage he can get to defend his 2023 crown. The 2026 Chase is going to be brutal, and one bad pit stop can end a season instantly. Penske knows that Joey Logano’s No. 22 team is entering as the No. 9 seed, so the internal competition is fierce. They can’t afford to let pit road errors drag Blaney down while Logano climbs the ladder. The team must trust the new personnel to deliver faster stops.
This move sends a clear message to the rest of the garage. Team Penske will not tolerate mediocrity on pit road, even for a champion. If the new crew doesn’t perform, the consequences will be severe. But if they do, Blaney has a real shot at a second title. The data supports the change, and the timing is perfect before the championship reset.
What Comes Next
The focus now shifts to how the new crews perform in the upcoming races. The 2026 Chase for the championship is set to begin immediately following this announcement. Both drivers will test their new crews in high-pressure situations right away. There are no more excuses for slow stops or errors on pit road. The new personnel must prove they can handle the intensity of the Chase.
