Ryan Blaney has signed a long-term contract extension with Team Penske to remain with the organization in the NASCAR Cup Series.
MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Ryan Blaney has signed a long-term contract extension with Team Penske to remain with the organization in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Penske announced Wednesday that they reached a long-term extension with the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series champion. They also signed a "multiyear renewal" with partner Menards that will keep the iconic driver-partner pairing together for the foreseeable future.
“Ryan Blaney has developed into one of the elite drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series, and the success he’s achieved speaks for itself,” said Roger Penske. “I’m confident Ryan and the No. 12 team will continue to build momentum into the future, especially positioned alongside a committed partner like Menards who's been instrumental to our team for more than a decade.”
Penske first signed Blaney in 2013 as part of a development deal. He made the foray into the Cup Series with Wood Brothers Racing in 2016 and 2017, driving cars prepared in the Penske shop, before joining Penske proper in 2018.
Now 11 seasons into his Cup career, Blaney has 18 wins, 99 top-five finishes, 175 top-10 finishes, 13 poles and the 2023 championship. Excluding 2016, he has also never finished outside of the top-10 in the points standings.
“Roger’s commitment to me and my career has been something a race car driver could only dream of – not only getting the opportunity in the first place, but sticking with me through the highs and lows for more than a decade,” said Blaney. “To still be a part of Team Penske – the wins, the championships, the people – and continuing to grow my career with the unwavering support of Roger and the entire organization has been the opportunity of a lifetime. We’re going to keep pushing to deliver more wins and championships and to do that with the support of John Menard and the Menard family is truly an honor.”
Blaney has won seven times with Menards as his primary sponsor but the highlighter yellow scheme with the black No. 12 has become an icon, bonafide with the 2023 title that could be the first of many.
“We’ve enjoyed a tremendous relationship with Team Penske, and we’re excited to continue that partnership for the future,” said John Menard, President and CEO of Menards. “Ryan and Austin Cindric have both done a tremendous amount for our brand, vendors and our customers, and they represent us with professionalism and passion. Team Penske shares our dedication to excellence and we look forward to achieving more success together on and off the track.”
Blaney sits fourth in the NASCAR Cup Series points standings, 155 points behind leader Tyler Reddick, as the series heads to Watkins Glen. He finished sixth last year.