Team Penske is looking to make NASCAR Cup Series history this weekend at Phoenix Raceway with two of its drivers, Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney, in the Championship 4.
For Team Penske, a championship-winning drive by either Blaney or Logano means three straight Cup Series titles for the team, a feat that hasn't been accomplished since Jimmie Johnson won five straight titles for Hendrick Motorsports from 2006 through 2010.
If Blaney comes out on top, that is a back-to-back championship, something not seen since Johnson's aforementioned five-straight championships. If Logano comes out on top for his third title he would lead active Cup Series drivers in championships.
"It is so hard to win at this level, even one race," Team Penske vice chairman Walt Czarnecki said. "So, to put yourself in a position and have a team that's in a position to be back-to-back champion—and in our case, three championships in a row—is quite extraordinary. But again, it's a testimony to the people. It would mean a lot to us personally, and it would mean a lot to the sport."
That's a lot of history on the line for Team Penske and the team is riding high after consecutive race wins (Logano at Las Vegas and Blaney at Martinsville).
"Since Joey won that race at Las Vegas a couple of weeks ago, locking him in, the excitement level and preparation level has really amped up at our shop in Mooresville, that's for sure," Czarnecki said via a press release sent to Newsweek. "Of course, Ryan's win (Sunday) has compounded it. Everybody was back at the shop (Monday) morning, hard at work... We will be prepared, I promise you."
Logano has had a lot of success at Phoenix Raceway. In 31 career starts at the one-mile oval he has three wins, including the Championship Race in 2022, eight Top 5 and 16 top-10 finishes.
Blaney has never won at Phoenix Raceway in 18 career starts but has had some success with three poles and six-straight finishes fifth or better. Blaney finished second a year ago when he won his first NASCAR Cup Series championship at Phoenix Raceway. Another championship-winning drive and Blaney becomes the 18th driver in NASCAR Cup Series history with two or more titles.
Team Penske Mustangs are in a position to give Ford three straight NASCAR Cup Series titles for the first time in its history and Logano can become the first Ford driver to win three NASCAR Cup Series championships.
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