Ryan Blaney’s resurgence in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series has drawn widespread attention, fueled largely by a significant turnaround involving his pit crew. After a challenging start to the season marked by mechanical failures and on-track accidents, Blaney’s performance improved dramatically following strategic changes in his team’s pit operations. This Ryan Blaney pit crew turnaround has played a crucial role in propelling him back into championship contention as the postseason approaches.
The 2023 Cup Series champion showcased this revival most memorably last weekend as he surged from 13th to 1st place within the final three laps, escaping the usual chaos of a superspeedway race to capture his second victory of the season. Blaney credited this success to collaborative teamwork, emphasizing his reliance on others beyond just his driving skills.
“A lot of things go into it, I can’t do it by myself.”
—Ryan Blaney, Driver
Details Behind the Midseason Struggles and Strategic Changes
Though Blaney began 2025 with some promise, finishing within the top ten in the opening two races, the momentum quickly faltered. He endured three consecutive DNFs (Did Not Finish), suffering an engine failure at Phoenix, a crash at Las Vegas, and another mechanical breakdown at Homestead. Further difficulties followed with wrecks at Talladega and Charlotte, dampening his early season hopes.
Despite these setbacks, Blaney still led 197 laps and earned 92 stage points before mid-April, but the inconsistency prompted Team Penske to reassess their approach. A pivotal decision came when Keiston France, formerly with Front Row Motorsports, replaced longtime pit crew leader Ryan “Skip” Flores for Blaney’s No. 12 team. Flores moved to FRM, marking a significant realignment.
This change was immediately impactful, with veteran NASCAR crew chief and commentator Todd Gordon highlighting the improved performance following the adjustment:
“The 12 team, they made that pit crew change. That brought them to the point where they got competitive there. They had 7 DNFs in the first 26 races, and then finished 2nd in points. That’s a fairly good accomplishment for the speed of the program. And they’ve executed really well in a month and a half.”
—Todd Gordon, NASCAR Crew Chief and Radio Sportscaster
How the Pit Crew Enhancement Translated into On-Track Success
The pit crew overhaul coincided with a striking turnaround in Blaney’s results. He earned his first victory of the season at Nashville Superspeedway and followed with a consistent string of six top-ten finishes including a sensational win at Daytona. These performances secured Blaney a second-place finish in the regular-season points standings, underscoring the positive impact of the changes.
Jonathan Hassler, Blaney’s crew chief, praised the team’s improvements across all areas, recognizing the accelerated pit stops and enhanced vehicle speed that contributed to their newfound competitiveness.
“We’ve made improvements in all facets of our program. I think we have probably some of the fastest and most consistent pit crews on pit road. Our cars continue to get more speed…We continue to try to improve in each and every area, and I think we’re doing a good job of that.”
—Jonathan Hassler, Crew Chief
Current Standings and the Context of Team Penske’s Championship Pursuit
Team Penske’s history in recent years has been strong, with drivers demonstrating resilience even when Ford vehicles struggled earlier in the season. Joey Logano countered early-season despair in 2024 by securing the championship, and this trend of late-season success appears to be repeating with Blaney now.
By mid-2025, all of Team Penske’s main drivers—Blaney, Logano, and Austin Cindric—have recorded wins, with Logano victorious in Texas and Cindric at Talladega. This collective success fuels confidence in the team’s ability to contend deeply in the playoffs.
Todd Gordon emphasized this pattern of seasonal performance for Team Penske, noting how the team elevates its game at critical moments:
“I think it’s just focus, everybody getting to the point. I think there is a typical low in the summer for Team Penske. It’s not intentional, but when the money comes, everybody’s game elevates. That’s when all the Ts get double-crossed, the Is get purely dotted. I think it puts them in a position where they execute very well. They’re building that execution.”
—Todd Gordon, NASCAR Crew Chief and Radio Sportscaster
Competition Landscape and Outlook for the 2025 NASCAR Season
While Hendrick Motorsports has dominated the total race wins since 2022—with drivers like Kyle Larson and William Byron frequently winning races—they have fallen short of capturing Cup Series championships in the last three seasons. This has left a championship window open for Team Penske drivers, including Blaney, who are aiming to capitalize on their steady improvements.
The Ryan Blaney pit crew turnaround has therefore not only helped stabilize his individual season but is a critical piece of Team Penske’s larger strategy to maintain championship momentum and challenge hard for the 2025 Cup.
As NASCAR moves into the postseason, all eyes will remain on Blaney and the No. 12 team to see how effectively their enhanced pit crew performance and team cohesion can translate into yet another championship victory.
