Group Penske has the perfect odds of the NASCAR Cup Collection championship contenders on this Sunday’s race, with half of the Championship 4 discipline from its secure. However these aren’t the one numbers Penske can concentrate on. Not solely is the group chasing its third consecutive Cup Collection championship however what could be a fourth in seven years.
“I didn’t even notice that,” stated Walt Czarnecki, Group Penske government vp. “I admire you reminding me. I did have a look at some stats that I believe underneath this new format, we’ve been within the last 4, I believe, eight out of the 11 years. Which, to me, is fairly superb. However I had no concept that we had that type of efficiency dealing with us.
“However… one race at a time — that’s how we’re taking a look at Phoenix. If we accomplish it, that may be nice. It’s a sworn statement to the individuals who make it occur.”
The elimination format started in 2014 with NASCAR deciding its champion in a one-race winner-take-all state of affairs with 4 drivers. There was a minimum of one Penske driver in eight of the 11 years, which incorporates this Sunday with each Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney within the hunt. The one years in that span a Penske driver didn’t compete for the championship have been 2015, ’19 and ’21.
Logano clinched his spot in Sunday’s race with a win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway initially of the Spherical of 8. The 2-time sequence champion from 2018 and ’22 has been within the championship race in every even 12 months since 2014.
Blaney’s win final weekend at Martinsville Speedway provides him the prospect to defend his 2023 championship. Nonetheless, there has not been a repeat champion within the elimination period.
“It has been a reasonably thrilling time,” Czarnecki stated. “Since Joey received that race at Las Vegas a few weeks in the past, locking him in, the joy degree and preparation degree have actually amped up at our store in Mooresville, that’s for certain. After which, after all, with Ryan’s win (Sunday), that’s compounded it. We can be ready, I promise you.”
Logano has three wins this season, two of which have come within the postseason. Blaney additionally has three wins. Don’t be stunned to see the 2 tenacious veterans going at it, as Group Penske is comfy letting its drivers battle each other with out giving an inch.
“No crew orders,” Czarnecki stated. “I do know that Joey and Ryan are going to be 110%. They each need it. I noticed Joey when he came visiting to victory lane to congratulate Ryan; they’re nice pals off the observe, and it’s going to be enjoyable to look at. We’re going to provide them the absolute best gear, every of them, and it’s going to be as much as them to do the remainder.”
Roger Penske fielded his first automobile within the Cup Collection in 1972. He didn’t win a championship till the 2012 season, when Brad Keselowski introduced house the title.
Rick Hendrick is the final crew proprietor to win three or extra consecutive Cup Collection championships. Hendrick Motorsports most lately received 5 straight from 2006 via 2010, which topped its earlier 4 straight from 1995 via ’98.
