Team Penske has two shots at rare feat of three straight Cup Series crowns
Today at 01:22 PM
Team Penske has the best odds of the NASCAR Cup Series championship contenders in this Sunday's race, with half of the Championship 4 field from its stable. But those aren't the only numbers Penske can focus on. Not only is the organization chasing its third consecutive Cup Series championship but what would be a fourth in seven years.
"I didn't even realize that," said Walt Czarnecki, Team Penske executive vice president. "I appreciate you reminding me. I did look at some stats that I think under this new format, we've been in the final four, I think, eight out of the 11 years. Which, to me, is pretty amazing. But I had no idea that we had that kind of performance facing us.
"But… one race at a time — that's how we're looking at Phoenix. If we accomplish it, that would be great. It’s a testimony to the people who make it happen."
The elimination format began in 2014 with NASCAR deciding its champion in a one-race winner-take-all scenario with four drivers. There has been at least one Penske driver in eight of the 11 years, which includes this Sunday with both Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney in the hunt. The only years in that span a Penske driver did not compete for the championship were 2015, '19 and '21.
Logano clinched his spot in Sunday's race with a win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway at the start of the Round of 8. The two-time series champion from 2018 and '22 has been in the championship race in each even year since 2014.
Blaney's win last weekend at Martinsville Speedway gives him the chance to defend his 2023 championship. However, there has not been a repeat champion in the elimination era.
"It has been a pretty exciting time," Czarnecki said. "Since Joey won that race at Las Vegas a couple of weeks ago, locking him in, the excitement level and preparation level have really amped up at our shop in Mooresville, that's for sure. And then, of course, with Ryan's win (Sunday), that's compounded it. We will be prepared, I promise you."
Logano has three wins this season, two of which have come in the postseason. Blaney also has three wins. Don't be surprised to see the two tenacious veterans going at it, as Team Penske is comfortable letting its drivers battle one another without giving an inch.
"No team orders," Czarnecki said. "I know that Joey and Ryan are going to be 110%. They both want it. I saw Joey when he came over to victory lane to congratulate Ryan; they're great friends off the track, and it's going to be fun to watch. We're going to give them the best possible equipment, each of them, and it's going to be up to them to do the rest."
Roger Penske fielded his first car in the Cup Series in 1972. He did not win a championship until the 2012 season, when Brad Keselowski brought home the title.
Rick Hendrick is the last team owner to win three or more consecutive Cup Series championships. Hendrick Motorsports most recently won five straight from 2006 through 2010, which topped its previous four straight from 1995 through '98.
