Ryan Blaney has shed light on the intense and disciplined teammate dynamic within Team Penske, explaining how Roger Penske’s strict code shapes their approach to racing. Amid recent on-track conflicts involving other NASCAR teams, Blaney’s insights reveal why Penske’s philosophy emphasizes united competition over individual rivalries, aiming to protect both team success and morale.
This focus on “Ryan Blaney Penske teammate code” highlights the tension between fierce racing and internal respect, a balance that is not always managed well in the sport, as recent incidents have demonstrated.
Inside Team Penske’s Approach to Handling Teammates
Ryan Blaney described Team Penske’s unique balance of aggressive racing paired with strict limits to avoid costly collisions. Speaking about Roger Penske’s guidance, Blaney explained,
“Really the one thing Roger has ever told us is like, ‘I don’t care who wins, doesn’t matter to me which car wins as long as one of you wins,’”
conveying the owner’s focus on the team’s collective success rather than individual victories.
Blaney further elaborated on this mindset, expressing the expectation to race hard but also maintain discipline to avoid hurting each other. He said,
“Yeah, I mean, I feel like we’ve always had an understanding in our building of like, you know, race hard. Roger’s always put it into this perspective of, he doesn’t care who wins, he doesn’t care which car runs first or second, but as long as we run first or second, you know, and that’s just what we’ve always kind of had in our heads and what he expects of us,”
emphasizing that internal respect is key to Penske’s success.
This philosophy grew stronger following the infamous 2021 Daytona 500 finish when teammates Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski collided on the final lap, dashing a near-certain Penske victory. Blaney recalled watching from home, noting how such incidents weigh heavily on the entire team. He remarked that it
“killed morale among the shop managers for a week,”
highlighting how self-inflicted setbacks damage the broader team atmosphere and contradict Penske’s values.
Blaney’s viewpoint aligns perfectly with Penske’s insistence on pushing the limits without crossing destructive lines. He added,
“He never wants one of us to roll over and give the win or hold back and give the win to another guy, another teammate, but make sure you run, you know, where you are,”
underscoring the mutual respect shared by himself, Logano, and Austin Cindric.
Contrasting Teammate Tensions at Joe Gibbs Racing and Other Teams
While Penske’s rules aim to prevent internal strife, other top teams have recently faced explosive rivalry moments on the track. Denny Hamlin and Ty Gibbs of Joe Gibbs Racing clashed at New Hampshire, with Hamlin aggressively spinning Gibbs, which sparked demands for clearer team guidelines. Hamlin expressed frustration, stating,
“He has had this conversation multiple times with everyone in the room, but I think it probably needs to be said again. And so what I’ve heard is that if you’re a non-playoff car, any break that you can cut your teammates, please do.”
This plea followed a heated drivers’ meeting where Joe Gibbs himself voiced disappointment over the incident, since it cost both drivers crucial points in a playoff battle.
Such public disagreements sharply contrast with Penske’s controlled environment, where competitive spirit is balanced against team unity. Blaney acknowledged the difficulty of teammate rivalry within NASCAR, noting that unlike other sports, wins are always zero-sum:
“Well, I definitely feel like we in our building don’t want to ever give up an opportunity of one of us winning the race. Yeah, I see you want to. I want to bring my 12 team and win, just like the other guys want to bring their respective teams to win,”
he said, reflecting the high stakes of individual and collective ambition.
Penske’s firm stance appears to have contributed to the team’s exceptional performance, including three consecutive Cup Championships. Their approach to hard racing without costly wrecks contrasts directly with the disruptive fallout seen in other teams, like the Kansas incident where Hamlin’s last-lap move caused Bubba Wallace to crash, creating significant tension within 23XI Racing.
The Unique Demands and Challenges of the Charlotte Roval
Beyond teammate dynamics, this season’s Charlotte Roval symbolizes the high-pressure environment drivers face in the playoffs. This 2.28-mile circuit, located inside Charlotte Motor Speedway, is known for its narrow turns and lack of runoff areas, making errors especially costly. Chase Elliott, a two-time Roval winner, described the course’s difficulty, stating,
“It’s a different place, for sure. Doesn’t have a lot of outs. Most road courses we go to have grassy areas or access roads, once you commit to a corner you can get out and bail yourself out. If you make mistakes there, it makes it pretty tough at times to push,”
capturing the unforgiving nature of the track.
The Roval, introduced in 2018, demands precision and measured aggression, often punishing those who overcommit. Elliott’s wins in 2019 and 2020 came after intense battles, and the track blends the technical demands of a road course with the speed elements of an oval. Mistakes on this circuit during playoffs can end championship hopes quickly.
Kyle Larson, also with multiple Roval victories, highlighted the aggressive racing style the track encourages. He remarked,
“It’s not unpredictable which teams are in front, but the racing is really aggressive. There are more crashes these days. It’s hard to be consistent and get consistent finishes because the competition is just really tight and competitive. But it’s fun—a lot of people have a good shot to win, and you never know who’s going to have a good or better week,”
emphasizing the intense fight for positioning on this challenging venue.
Hendrick Motorsports has dominated the Roval more than any other track, collecting several wins due to their consistency in managing this demanding layout. The track’s mix of sharp corners and narrow lanes encourages constant battling and strategy shifts, demonstrated by Tyler Reddick’s recent pole position and Christopher Bell’s dramatic 2022 playoff-clinching victory.
How Penske’s Philosophy Shapes Team Success Amid High-Stakes Competition
In the midst of these playoff pressures and tight competition, Blaney’s revelations outline how Team Penske strategically navigates teammate rivalries to maintain strength rather than fracture under aggressive pressures. The team’s insistence on racing hard but avoiding wrecks has kept them competitive and cohesive, contrasting with other teams that suffer from internal conflicts.
This balance between urgency and control not only fosters a supportive environment but ensures Penske drivers can push for wins without risking catastrophic consequences that ripple through their championship campaigns.
As the season continues, the Penske teammate code will be tested again on tracks like the Charlotte Roval, where precision and restraint are critical. Blaney’s insights give a rare glimpse into the internal protocols that may decide the fates of championship contenders amid NASCAR’s intense playoff battles.
.@Blaney gave some insight into @Team_Penske's philosophy on how teammates race each other. #NASCAR
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— Frontstretch (@Frontstretch) October 4, 2025
