Ryan Blaney delivered a much-needed victory for Team Penske with his Nashville win after IndyCar controversy put the entire organization under strain, offering a timely morale boost for both the driver and legendary owner Roger Penske. Just a week after the fallout from the Indy 500 attenuator scandal led to the dismissal of three top-level employees, Blaney’s triumph provided relief and cause for celebration within the embattled team.
Blaney’s Victory Arrives at a Pivotal Moment
Blaney’s recent performance had been marked by both promise and disappointment, entering the Nashville race with five top-five finishes and an equal number of races ended by DNFs. The season’s first half had been a mix of near-misses and setbacks, intensifying the pressure not only on Blaney but on the entire Team Penske operation, especially after the dramatic shake-up in management that included the departure of Tim Cindric. Teammates like Josh Berry from the Wood Brothers organization had already secured wins, leaving Blaney eager to make his own mark in 2024.
As scrutiny mounted in the wake of the Indy 500 incident, Team Penske found itself fighting both external criticism and internal upheaval. Blaney noted the challenge of watching prominent team members leave and the impact on morale, but also emphasized how the focus shifted toward recovery and regrouping for future races.
“You know, I hated it for those folks over there, you know, last week in Indy, and you know, for those guys [that] have to go through that. The people who got let go were really prominent figures in the company, and it definitely stunk. But on our side, we just focused on kind of what we were doing, and RP told us all, ‘Things happen and we’ve done things about them and we’re going to move forward. What’s the next step, and how do we move on from this?’”
—Blaney, Driver
Responding to Doubts and Reversing the Narrative
The mood around Team Penske had been darkened further by speculation tying the IndyCar troubles to the NASCAR side, especially after a lackluster performance at Charlotte. Critics saw both teams struggling and drew parallels between the two series’ fortunes. Blaney and his crew, led by Jonathan Hassler, ignored the noise and trusted their strategies, making key pit decisions—particularly favoring two-tire stops—to stay ahead. Both Blaney and Austin Cindric made their moves count in the first stage by running longer than many of their competitors before pitting.
Blaney’s efforts paid off handsomely. He racked up 54 points during the Nashville event, secured a stage win, and managed to outpace much of the field, particularly in a decisive late-race stretch where track position was critical. Teammate Joey Logano also delivered a strong showing with a fourth-place finish, providing additional validation for Team Penske.
Amid the celebrations, Blaney highlighted the team’s ability to weather ups and downs and the satisfaction in proving doubters wrong:
“Yeah, I mean, it was, we had to hear all week that Penske cars are bad because the IndyCar guys got caught and that’s why we were bad at Charlotte, and then we come here tonight and kick everyone’s ass. So, the ebbs and flows of this sport, it’s crazy. But it’s nice to, I’m excited to talk to Roger, because it’s been a tough couple of weeks for him. I’m really excited to talk to him on the phone tonight and share some joy with him.”
—Blaney, Driver
The Significance for Roger Penske and the Team
The magnitude of this win extends beyond one night in Nashville. For Roger Penske, the upheaval from the “Indianapolis 500 stuff” had cast a shadow over both the IndyCar and NASCAR efforts, keeping the organization on the defensive. Blaney’s decisive victory offered a critical emotional lift and symbolized the team’s resilience in tough circumstances. Even in the closing laps, as late-race traffic made overtaking difficult and rivals like Carson Hocevar narrowly missed a chance at a clean pass, Blaney did what was needed to secure the flag.
The battle for the lead included memorable moments, such as a fierce Stage 2 showdown with Denny Hamlin and William Byron. Yet, it was Blaney and the No. 12 crew who controlled the finish, taking momentum into the next event in Michigan and reinforcing Team Penske’s stature after weeks of turbulence. The organization, so often in the spotlight for triumphs and trials alike, can now focus on building from this performance and setting a positive course for the remainder of the season.
