Penske’s $2M Crisis Deepens After Blaney Slammed by NASCAR

Brickyard Blunder Puts Blaney’s Playoff Hopes at Risk

NASCAR veteran Ryan Blaney found himself at the center of controversy during the 2025 Brickyard 400 after a costly pit road penalty derailed what had been a promising run. In a pivotal moment at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Blaney entered pit road while it was still closed, triggering an immediate penalty from NASCAR race control.

The violation — which was confirmed through race footage and on-board cameras — clearly showed Blaney veering toward pit entry while the pit road light panel displayed red. The timing couldn’t have been worse, as Blaney had just won Stage 2 and was gaining critical momentum in the playoff chase.

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A Costly Mistake at the Worst Time

The penalty forced Blaney to restart at the tail end of the longest line. A brutal strategic blow in a race where positioning is everything. Entering the Brickyard weekend, Blaney was ranked 9th in the standings. A strong finish could’ve given Team Penske a much-needed boost.

Instead, the penalty erased his stage win advantage and forced the No. 12 car to claw back positions under green-flag conditions. Despite the setback, Blaney was running 4th in Stage 3 as of the latest updates, with teammate Joey Logano in 6th.

Penske Under Pressure to Deliver

With the playoffs looming, Penske’s $2 million-per-car operation is under intense pressure. The team can’t afford costly errors if they hope to remain championship-relevant in the final stretch.

For Blaney, who’s had an up-and-down season, the focus must now shift to clean execution. One wrong move, like today’s penalty can mean the difference between title contention and an early exit.

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