Ryan Blaney’s Talladega race results have ignited debate inside the NASCAR world, as the Team Penske pair of Blaney and Joey Logano fell well short of expectations in Sunday’s crucial Round of 8 playoff at Talladega Superspeedway. Despite dominating late, decisions on the track and lack of support from other Ford drivers left both Blaney and Logano in disappointing positions, raising questions about Penske’s playoff hopes and team dynamics going into Martinsville.
Penske’s Missed Opportunity at Talladega
The Team Penske duo, Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney, entered the final 17 laps at Talladega Superspeedway leading the front row, with control of the race and high hopes for a strong finish in this critical playoff event. Surrounding them were fellow Ford drivers Todd Gilliland, Ryan Preece, and Brad Keselowski—one of the sport’s best at superspeedway racing—providing what seemed like an ideal setup for victory.
Yet, as the restart unfolded, the anticipated push for the Penske leaders never materialized. According to Jeff Gluck of The Athletic, Penske’s shot faltered when help from Keselowski and the other Ford drivers failed to come through at a pivotal moment. Gluck explained on The Teardown podcast,
They had a chance late, they were up front, exactly where they want to be. … When the restart happened, Brad Keselowski, as Blaney put it, was soft on Logano. And so, they didn’t get the push they needed. Now, Logano said after the race it was his understanding that they were short on fuel and in fuel savings mode, so maybe that’s why he didn’t push as much.
— Jeff Gluck, The Athletic.
The Team Penske dream faded quickly when the field split apart after the lack of a coordinated push on the restart, sending both Logano and Blaney down the order, ultimately finishing 16th and 23rd. This abrupt collapse sparked immediate speculation among fans and analysts about internal strategy and communication during high-stakes moments.
Questions Around Ford Support and Team Tactics
Uncertainty over why Team Penske’s Ford partners didn’t offer the expected assistance dominated post-race discussions. Jordan Bianchi, also of The Athletic, shared insights after speaking with Jeremy Bullins, crew chief for Brad Keselowski. Despite Logano’s remarks about possible fuel conservation, Bullins refuted this, stating that fuel wasn’t an issue for their car.
They did not get a great restart, it broke apart quick,
— Jordan Bianchi, The Athletic. Bianchi continued,
“I talked to Jeremy Bullins, the crew chief for Brad Keselowski. He said, ‘No, fuel was not an issue.’ They had no issues, they just did not get a good run. They did not want to bump aggressively there and crash one of the Ford drivers. Wanted to be smart in how they approached the race. They wanted to do everything they could to help the Penske drivers, but they were also mindful of the fact that they didn’t want to take them out. But he is adamant that there was enough fuel in the car and they did not do anything deliberate or have any fuel issues whatsoever.”
This caution may have cost Penske dearly. Gluck noted that, given Keselowski’s reputation for aggressive push-drafting, such restraint was surprising.
… Many times, Brad has always been accused of being too aggressive as a push. So, knowing that, if he is concerned about that in race where bump drafts are really aggressive, it would make sense theoretically. He said, ‘Listen, I want to get on top of these guys, I wanna push them, but I don’t wanna be aggressive here.’ That could be a thing but for whatever reason, it didn’t happen. He did not push, there was no push, they fell apart, they fell back, and from that moment on from 17 laps to go, the Penske dream was dead.
— Jeff Gluck, The Athletic.
Blaney and Logano Reflect on Disappointing Finish
The aftermath left Blaney and Logano frustrated as their team’s best chance at playoff advancement slipped away. Blaney specifically voiced his surprise at not receiving more assistance when it mattered.
I thought we did a good job. Got control of the race after the last pit stop and just faded. Had some guys saving or something. I don’t know,
— Ryan Blaney, Team Penske.
“They wouldn’t push. It was pretty surprising a couple of guys weren’t pushing. I figured we’d have a little more help than that from some people.”
He added his view of the Penske effort and the reality they now face:
But I thought we did a great job, me and Joey getting ourselves in the position we needed. And then it just fell apart and finished terrible. Try to go have a big day next week. That’s all we can do.
— Ryan Blaney, Team Penske.
Playoff Picture Tightens Ahead of Martinsville
With both Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano finishing outside the top 15 at Talladega, their hopes for advancing to the Championship 4 have become much dimmer. Penske now faces a must-win scenario at Martinsville Speedway, with team strategy and inter-driver cooperation likely under intense scrutiny following the events in Alabama.
The focus keyword “Ryan Blaney Talladega race results” will continue to resonate throughout the NASCAR community, as analysts debate if team tactics, miscommunication, or an overly cautious approach from fellow Ford drivers doomed Penske’s day. With the next and final chance to make the Championship 4 looming at Martinsville, all eyes will remain on the team’s ability to bounce back from a turbulent and emotional Talladega experience.
