Team Penske is swapping the pit crews assigned to Ryan Blaney and Austin Cindric ahead of the 2026 Chase for the Championship. Blaney, the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series champion and the No. 2 seed in the reset standings, has struggled on pit road throughout the season, including during his most recent victory at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Cindric, seeded No. 15, will also receive a new pit crew as part of the adjustment.
The move comes as both drivers enter the championship reset, where performance on pit road could directly impact their title hopes. Blaney’s No. 12 team had ranked 32nd in pit crew efficiency this year, a factor the organization is addressing with the crew swap.
