In a stunning shift from tradition, Team Penske asserted its presence early in the 2025 NASCAR season, delivering strong performances and multiple victories within just the first few races. With Joey Logano and Austin Cindric already securing wins, and Ryan Blaney narrowly missing out on a victory himself, the powerhouse team has signaled a clear warning to competitors. Speaking ahead of the Kansas City race, Blaney, the 2023 Cup Series champion, shared that the team’s new level of familiarity with their cars has fueled this early dominance, creating a sense of urgency for rivals aiming to keep pace.
Blaney explained to the press that the Ford Mustangs, which debuted a new nose in 2024, required an adjustment period last year. Without any major changes to the car for 2025, Team Penske found themselves better prepared, leveraging the knowledge gained during the previous season’s summer stretch.
“This year, we didn’t really have any changes to the car, so we were just kind of ahead of the game. We’re just up to speed faster, with what we figured out during the summer last year that led to the end, and we’ve really just kind of refined that, what was working,”
Blaney said, highlighting the advantage carried into this season.
During the Kansas race, Blaney showcased his capability against the best. With 20 laps left, he was running in fifth, trailing Kyle Larson by over five seconds. In a determined effort, Blaney climbed steadily, finishing third and mere fractions of a second behind Larson. The impressive charge demonstrated that, given just a few more laps, a Team Penske victory was entirely possible. This result kept Blaney’s momentum alive, granting him a fourth top-five finish in five recent races and strengthening his role as a key factor in Team Penske’s early momentum.
However, it is not just Blaney who lifted Team Penske in Kansas. Had he captured the win on Sunday, the team would have marked its third consecutive NASCAR triumph. Instead, Austin Cindric, who opened the streak at Talladega, and Joey Logano, who clinched victory at Texas, both delivered solid efforts. Logano finished ninth, while Cindric followed close behind in 11th, adding valuable points to their Championship pursuits and proving the consistent strength of Team Penske’s roster.
As the standings currently reflect, Blaney holds fifth position, Logano sits ninth, and Cindric has climbed to fourteenth. With this level of early dominance and all three drivers performing at a high standard, Team Penske’s potential to shape the remainder of the 2025 NASCAR season is unmistakable. The consistent rise in results not only bumps expectations but leaves fans and competitors alike anticipating how high this team’s trajectory could extend as the season intensifies.
