NASCAR Insider Suggests Penske Pit Crew Changes After Blaney's Darlington Woes

Repeated pit road issues for Ryan Blaney's team prompt calls for personnel changes.

Mar. 23, 2026 at 3:27am

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A NASCAR insider has suggested that Ryan Blaney's Penske Racing team should consider making changes to its pit crew after a series of mistakes at recent races, including two issues during Sunday's event at Darlington Raceway. The insider believes unemployed pit crew members should reach out to Penske this week, as the team appears to be struggling with Blaney's pit stops compared to its other cars.

Why it matters

Pit crew performance is crucial in NASCAR, as quick stops can make the difference between winning and losing. Blaney's pit road troubles have been an ongoing issue, and addressing the problem could help him and Penske Racing be more competitive going forward.

The details

During Sunday's race at Darlington, Blaney's crew had an issue with a loose lug nut on a pit stop, forcing him to pull into a teammate's pit box to get it fixed. This came after similar problems in previous races at Phoenix. Blaney expressed frustration with the mistakes, saying the team "cannot afford to make mistakes like this." The NASCAR insider believes the adjustments Penske has made to Blaney's pit crew are not working and that changes need to be made.

  • On Sunday, March 23, 2026, Blaney experienced pit road issues at Darlington Raceway.
  • In previous races at Phoenix, Blaney's team also had pit stop problems.

The players

Ryan Blaney

NASCAR driver competing for Penske Racing.

Team Penske

NASCAR team that fields cars for Blaney and other drivers.

Jordan Bianchi

NASCAR insider and reporter for The Athletic.

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What they’re saying

“If you are a pit crew member looking for a job, reach out to Team Penske this week. They may have some openings; they might need some people.”

— Jordan Bianchi, NASCAR Insider

“Come on, guys. We gotta be cleaner than that. We just cannot do this. We've got to clean it up. We cannot afford to make mistakes like this.”

— Ryan Blaney

What’s next

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