Ryan Blaney’s playoff performance has drawn attention in recent weeks, especially after his New Hampshire victory placed him at the head of the standings, but NASCAR analyst Kyle Petty remains hesitant to call Blaney the playoff favorite. While Team Penske is known for their postseason resolve, Petty believes a number of contenders threaten Blaney’s streak as the Cup Series heads deeper into the playoffs.
Blaney’s Consistency in the Playoffs Faces Scrutiny
Across 30 races this season, Ryan Blaney has averaged a finish position of 14.17, yet in the first four playoff races, he brought that number down dramatically to 6.75. After securing a win in New Hampshire—the Round of 12 opener—Blaney currently leads the points chart. In his last 10 starts, he has just one finish outside the top 10, marked by two victories and six finishes inside the top five. Over the previous four races, Blaney has produced a win, three top-five results, and finished inside the top 20 at Darlington. Even his qualifying has impressed; he hasn’t started a race lower than fifth in the past three weeks.
Despite these strong statistics, Kyle Petty argues the competition remains wide open. On Fast Talk presented by Toyota with GoPRNLive, Petty stated,
It’s the playoffs, and he’s won before, and he’s a Penske driver, and that’s what Ford and Penske drivers do once you get to the playoffs. So, you want to lean that way a little bit. The Gibbs racing team wins the first three with three different drivers. So, there’s, the organization is the clear favorite, but there is no clear favorite driver.
— Kyle Petty, NASCAR Analyst
Petty also emphasized the presence of other top performers. He added,
And even with Blaney here doing this, you look right behind that and you see that there’s William Byron knocking on the door. There’s other championship contenders knocking on the door. I’m not quite ready to put everything in this [Blaney’s] basket, I guess. But I could be chasing after that train. I’m not on it yet, but I could be chasing after it.
— Kyle Petty, NASCAR Analyst
Logano’s Playoff Prospects Reconsidered by Petty
Kyle Petty also addressed Joey Logano’s prospects for the title, noting that much of this season’s conversation predicted Logano might fall short due to a lack of speed. Petty pointed out, however, that Logano has a reputation for capitalizing when opportunities arise, comparing a potential surge to past playoff upsets. Last year, despite entering the final stages as an underdog, Logano secured a crucial victory in the Round of 8 and dominated at Phoenix, winning the championship with the lowest average finish—17.11—ever recorded for a Cup Series champion.
According to Petty, Logano still has the potential to eliminate a strong contender and disrupt the expected playoff narrative, as he did when Alex Bowman’s mechanical problems gave Logano a critical edge last season.
Upcoming Races to Test Team Penske’s Lineup
The Cup Series moves next to Kansas, where several non-Penske drivers present tough competition. Based on average finishes, Chase Elliott, Bell, Kyle Larson, and Denny Hamlin emerge as the weekend’s leading threats with recent averages of 10.4, 12.4, 12.4, and 12.9, respectively. Their consistency poses a direct challenge to Blaney and his Penske teammates as the playoff field narrows.
Team Penske’s third driver, Austin Cindric, could play a significant role at the Charlotte Roval—the final race of the Round of 12—which adds yet another variable to playoff scenarios. This uncertainty underpins Petty’s reluctance to declare any single favorite at this stage.
What Lies Ahead for the Playoff Field
The coming weeks promise heightened drama, as Ryan Blaney aims to maintain his playoff momentum amidst a field loaded with determined contenders, including William Byron, Chase Elliott, Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson, and Denny Hamlin. Meanwhile, Team Penske’s experience—and the resurgence potential of Joey Logano and Austin Cindric—ensures the race for the championship remains unsettled. As Petty’s commentary reflects, the unpredictability and intense competition of this year’s playoffs make it difficult to predict whether Blaney’s hot streak will carry him to the Cup, or if another driver will rise to claim the championship in Phoenix.
