Team Penske has once again established itself as a force to be reckoned with in the 2016 Sprint Cup Series. Because of the addition of Woods Brothers Racing’s Ryan Blaney, the organization has only improved it’s chances of winning.
Team Penske drivers have led their fair share of laps and found their way to the winners circle this year. The well-established group also has been improving as the season progresses forward. Skies the limit for Team Penske and their second half run in the Sprint Cup Series schedule.
Brad Keselowski:
Brad Keselowki has been off and rolling since the green flag dropped to start the season in the Daytona 500. The 2012 Sprint Cup champion has won two contests this year. He found his way to victory lane at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March. The speedy racer repeated the outcome six races later at Talladega. The two victories ensures that he will be competing for another title in the NASCAR playoffs come fall.
The #2 Miller Lite Ford Fusion racer has amassed two wins and his six top five’s in the first half of the campaign. Keselowski also has scooped up 10 top 10’s and a Coors Light Pole Position Award. He placed his car out front at the long pond in Pocono. As a result, the stock car expert sits fourth in the Sprint Cup Series points standings.
Brad Keselowski continues to be a force on the track at all different kinds of venues. Paul Wolfe, his crew chief, keeps finding different ways to place his driver up front. In one scenario it could be on track adjustments and another could be managing fuel mileage. Most noteworthy,is their ability to be on the same page for the closing laps of a contest. Keselowki will be right in the mix when the chase for the title begins.
Joey Logano:
It might have took Joey Logano 15 races to get that elusive Sprint Cup victory but as a result, he’ll be competing in the Chase in October. The #22 Pennzoil sponsored driver didn’t win in the early part of 2016 but was up front on plenty of occasions.
The aggressive driver had three top five’s and four top tens in the first six events of the 2016 season. Since then he has recorded another four top five’s with his win coming at Michigan speedway two races ago. Because of these consistent performances, Logano sits comfortably in fourth in the point standings.
One of the weapons that Joey Logano has in his arsenal is his ability to drive his Ford Fusion faster than anybody in qualifying. The one lap wonder has reeled in two Coors Light Pole Positions. Finally, the Team Penske racer has finished second in qualifying at five other venues and a series leading nine top five starts. Logano’s ability to start out in front of the field and have optimum choice of pit stalls is a huge factor in why he finishes so well.
Ryan Blaney:
The unsung Rookie of the Year candidate Ryan Blaney has had an impressive start to the Sprint Cup year. Although he raced in a fair share of events last year, it’s obvious the choice to join up with Team Penske has paid off. The greenhorn sits second in the race for the rookie of the year status and would be the leader if not for Chase Elliott’s amazing start.
Ryan Blaney has guided his #21 Ford Fusion to one top five performance so far. It came at Kansas Speedway in where he was in the mix until the closing few laps. He also has posted six other top ten’s in the first half of the track race. Most notably was his sixth place posting at Las Vegas Speedway.
The new addition to Team Penske has averaged a 15th place start to the races and is finishing with a 17.0 average. Another key factor to the success he has found in his rookie year is his ability to stay out of wreck. Blaney has managed his way to only one did not finish on the year. The valuable information he is gaining by turning laps is precious. He currently resides right outside of the Chase bubble in 17th. If Blaney can keep learning from his teammates and finding speed on the larger tracks, he could point his way into the playoffs at seasons end.
