Ryan Blaney faces a do-or-die situation entering the final stretch at Martinsville, relying on his recent record for hope. As the defending Xfinity 500 champion and a key part of the Ryan Blaney Team Penske success story, he sits perilously second-to-last in the NASCAR Playoffs Round of 8, trailing the cutoff by 47 points. The spotlight is firmly on Blaney, driving the #12 car for Team Penske, and his crew chief Jonathan Hassler as they attempt to secure a vital win and keep their championship dreams alive.
The Growth of Blaney and Hassler’s Partnership
Jonathan Hassler’s arrival as crew chief in 2022 marked a new phase for the #12 car, succeeding Todd Gordon, who had retired. Despite developing a solid working relationship with his driver, the duo’s first season together did not yield a win. Even so, their consistent efforts were enough to reach the postseason through points accumulation alone, reflecting the early signs of what could develop into a successful pairing.
Breakthrough Success and Intense Competition
Blaney and Hassler’s persistence paid off the following year, achieving victory at the 2023 Coca-Cola 600. Their momentum continued into the playoffs with hard-fought wins at Talladega and Martinsville, capping off the season with a Cup Series championship—an extraordinary feat in Hassler’s second full year at the helm. The next season, success continued with triumphs at Iowa, Pocono, and again at Martinsville, although the championship ultimately slipped from their grasp as Joey Logano, another standout Team Penske driver, clinched the title, relegating Blaney and Hassler to second place.
Chemistry and Strategy: The Core of Consistent Performance
Years spent working together have created a solid foundation between Blaney and Hassler, a point the crew chief highlights as critical to their ongoing competitiveness within Team Penske. Hassler explained,
“I think Ryan and I have obviously had a few years together now. I think a lot of times you’re just trying to find any advantage that you can have, and I think over the last couple of years that’s something that has come to us, the area that we’ve been able to make consistent performance is on the long run. I think it’s a combination of my philosophies with how he drives the car.”
— Jonathan Hassler, Crew Chief
Hassler also acknowledged the team’s ongoing pursuit of greater short-run speed, emphasizing their constant drive for improvement:
“I think I’ll be frank and tell you that there are a lot of tracks that we wish we could flip that switch and have a little bit more short run speed, and, honestly, that’s been a project of ours over the year, is how do we get a little bit more front side speed. I think it’s something that we’re trying to figure out. It’s something that we’re trying to understand and utilize to our advantage,”
— Jonathan Hassler, Crew Chief
The Task Ahead at Martinsville
With the next challenge looming at Martinsville, Blaney and Hassler know their path is daunting but not unfamiliar, having already conquered the track more than once. Their shared determination and evolving strategy will be essential as they attempt to repeat their previous victory and ultimately punch their ticket to Phoenix, keeping their Cup Series hopes intact. In a season marked by fierce racing, close finishes, and the pursuit of elusive speed, the Ryan Blaney Team Penske success story will hinge on what they can achieve in the pivotal days ahead.
