Team Penske delivered a memorable performance at the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season finale, with Ryan Blaney charging to a thrilling overtime victory at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday. The Team Penske NASCAR race report highlights Blaney’s fourth victory of the season and strong finishes by Joey Logano and Austin Cindric, closing an intense year with passion and resilience across the roster.
Austin Cindric’s Early Promise Fades After Late Race Incident
Austin Cindric, driving the No. 2 Discount Tire Ford Mustang Dark Horse, put forth a fast start at Phoenix, rolling off in fourth and holding steady among the leaders during the initial stage. By the close of Stage 1, Cindric crossed the line in fourth, reflecting the team’s early pace and strategic execution. However, Stage 2 unfolded less favorably. Amid a string of cautions and a problematic pit stop, Cindric dropped back to 28th but managed to reclaim ground before finishing the segment in 20th place.
Intent on salvaging the day, Cindric and his team continued their push in the final run, climbing back inside the top 15. But with just over forty laps remaining, disaster struck. Spinning on Lap 259, Cindric’s Mustang suffered serious right-rear damage after a collision with the wall. Despite efforts in the garage to get the car back on track, Cindric ultimately nursed a wounded racecar home, crossing the finish in 34th position—ending the season on a note far removed from its promising outset.
“We had really strong pace early and put ourselves in a good position to start the day. Unfortunately, things didn’t go our way there at the end. I’m proud of this No. 2 team for the effort they’ve put in all season — everyone has continued to fight week in and week out. Thank you to all our partners and everyone at Team Penske for their support. We’ll reset, get to work this offseason, and come back ready to hit the ground running in 2026.”
– Austin Cindric, Driver
Ryan Blaney Fights Through Late-Race Drama for Career-Best Fourth Win
Ryan Blaney, behind the wheel of the No. 12 Menards/Dutch Boy Ford Mustang Dark Horse, entered the Phoenix finale aiming to cap off a strong championship defense. Starting fifth, Blaney displayed consistent top-tier form, claiming second in both Stage 1 and Stage 2—a signal of his and the team’s readiness to contend for victory one last time in 2025. His 15th top-five run of the year set a personal best, further amplifying the stakes.
After Stage 2, Blaney’s pit crew delivered a crucial fast stop, vaulting him to the lead. While he initially lost the top spot on the following green flag run, a sequence of late cautions, including a critical one with 34 laps remaining, shuffled the field and opened opportunities. Blaney surged to third on the restart and, following a final chaotic three-lap sprint, his crew chief Jonathan Hassler made the audacious choice to take only right-side tires, maximizing track position.
The decision paid off handsomely. Blaney lined up inside row two for a green-white-checkered finish. Navigating an aggressive three-wide battle through the final set of corners, he emerged in second, just two car lengths behind the leader as the white flag waved. Charging into the last corner behind the No. 6 car, Blaney dove to the inside and powered ahead at the exit, seizing the checkered flag for his fourth win of 2025—a new single-season benchmark.
“It’s just cool to end it on a good note. It’s just cool and obviously we had a fast car all day. Those other guys were just kind of faster getting going and I could never retain the lead. Those guys were just really good and it took my car a while to come in, but it was a really good call for two there and keeping track position. I got a decent restart and I was able to kind of roll the bottom in three and four and eek [Brad Keselowski] out at the line. I’m just really proud of the whole group and cool to end it in victory lane. It’s a shame we weren’t in the Championship 4. Congrats to Kyle [Larson] and that whole team. I’m happy for this team that we could end it the best way we could.”
– Ryan Blaney, Driver
Joey Logano Wraps Up Season with Gritty Fourth-Place Run
Joey Logano steered the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford Mustang Dark Horse to a stout fourth-place finish in the season’s closing event. After starting 10th, Logano maintained a solid presence in the top 10 through the early phases, finishing eighth in both Stage 1 and Stage 2. As the pace intensified in the final segment, Logano’s crew used a timely four-tire stop to their advantage, letting Logano restart from the inside of row three and push into the top five.
Several late-race cautions continued to alter the dynamic, and with three laps to go, crew chief Paul Wolfe opted for right-side tires only, aiming to maintain track position for one last charge. Logano restarted from the inside of row three in the green-white-checkered session, made headway using the bottom groove, and surged into fourth place as the white flag flew. He gained momentum out of the final corner, crossing the line close behind the leaders, ultimately finishing fourth but leaving the impression that with just one more lap, a stronger result was within reach.
“Yeah, we were close. We needed one more lap, to be honest with you. I was underneath them all at the line and had momentum on the short cut. I think I would have cleared them all into one if we had one more, but ifs and buts don’t really matter. Overall, we had a shot at it, but didn’t position ourselves far enough forward for the last green-white-checkered there. We just had a little hiccup on pit road leaving. It was close. You see the leaders right there in front of you and you think you’ve got a shot at it, but just couldn’t quite pull it off. It’s a good way to finish the season – solid. Dang it. I saw the win.”
– Joey Logano, Driver
Strategic Decisions and Key Personnel Shape Penske’s Phoenix Performance
The Phoenix finale underscored the importance of pit strategy, tire management, and team coordination. Jonathan Hassler’s calculated pit call for Blaney enabled a pivotal leap forward during the last restart, while Paul Wolfe’s choice for Logano also put his driver in the thick of the fight as the race reached its peak. Throughout, Team Penske mechanics and strategists, from the pit crew attending to Cindric’s battered car to those executing precise stops for Blaney and Logano, showcased the teamwork and intensity characteristic of top-tier NASCAR teams.
The star-studded field saw stiff competition from the likes of Brad Keselowski, who factored into Blaney’s dramatic late-race pass, and Kyle Larson, the season’s champion recognized by Blaney in his post-race remarks. The Phoenix oval, notorious for producing action-packed finishes, again delivered with multiple lead changes and strategic gambles that rewarded those able to adapt quickly to evolving race conditions.
Looking Ahead to the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Season
With the 2025 season in the books, Team Penske’s drivers and crews shift their focus to what lies ahead. The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series calendar launches with the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium on February 1, followed by the coveted DAYTONA 500 on February 15. Both events will be broadcast by FOX, MRN Radio, and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio, with anticipation already building for new rivalries and continuing sagas. Team Penske’s resilience and firepower through the highs and lows at Phoenix serve as a foundation for their efforts in the upcoming campaign, as Austin Cindric, Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, and their dedicated teams zero in on fresh goals and renewed championship ambitions.
