Penske Stands Firm: No Changes to Ryan Blaney's Pit Crew After Strong Performance at Martinsville!
In a stunning twist of fate, Team Penske's No. 12 pit crew clawed their way back into the spotlight during a fiercely competitive race at Martinsville this past Sunday. While a typical uneventful race might pass without a second thought, the stakes were sky-high this time, as Ryan Blaney’s crew has faced a turbulent journey this season. After a challenging month and a half, the crew finally demonstrated their prowess, clinching a commendable sixth-place finish, thanks to a series of meticulously executed pit stops that kept them in contention throughout the race.
The question on everyone's lips: Will there be a shake-up in the pit crew? Speculation ran rampant after Bozi Tatarevic of Motorsport.com questioned Blaney about the performance of jackman Landon Honeycutt. However, the driver’s response was clear and defiant: “I’m not going to call out Landon,” Blaney asserted. He acknowledged the challenges Honeycutt has faced, attributing them not solely to the rookie's inexperience but also to other factors that have contributed to the crew’s struggles. “He is green and he is a little new, so there are some things he’s got to clean up,” Blaney added, emphasizing the need for improvement in equipment and choreography as well.
Echoing Blaney's commitment to growth, Team Penske’s vice president of competition, Travis Geisler, also weighed in during a SiriusXM NASCAR Radio appearance. He praised the No. 12 crew for their overall performance this season. “We've always continued to tweak things and try to make things better,” Geisler stated, hinting at the complexities that have plagued the team. “I think we just kind of ran into a spot where we got bit by something a couple of times and needed to take a step back and look at all the pieces involved.”
Geisler passionately defended the crew’s capabilities, stating, “The personnel that we have involved there are awesome. I mean, that group is lights out when they're on.” However, he acknowledged that improvements are necessary for smoother operations on race day. “There are obviously some things they need to work on too. You know, the pit road dance… very few teams have perfect days week-in and week-out. It’s super difficult,” he remarked.
Interestingly, Geisler pointed out that the crew's missteps have garnered more attention than those of other teams because they consistently aim for the top five. But for now, the message from Team Penske is clear: no imminent changes are on the horizon. “The way the pit world is going these days, you have to develop your people,” Geisler explained, highlighting the challenges of integrating new hires into the team culture.
With a commitment to nurturing talent and refining their strategies, Team Penske is poised to continue developing this promising pit crew, which has already shown flashes of brilliance. “We have a great group of guys going over the wall, and we’ve had success with them,” Geisler concluded. As the racing season unfolds, the resilience and adaptability of Blaney’s crew will be put to the test, and fans will be watching closely to see how they respond to the challenges ahead.








