2020 NASCAR Preview: Team Penske
Photo Credit: Team Penske
Then there were 2…with our NASCAR preview nearing an end, we have saved the best teams for last. 2020 is going to be an exciting year for Roger Penske…he just purchased the IndyCar Series and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Not only that…he has a great NASCAR stable with Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, and Ryan Blaney. All three drivers made the NASCAR playoffs and they also all won at least 1 race. The flagship Ford program has Roush Yates engines under the hood and some of the best crews NASCAR has to offer. Matt DiBenedetto (Wood Brothers #21 driver) is “considered” a member of the team…but I will focus mainly on the core guys. I do have DiBenedetto getting 3 top-5’s and 9 top-10’s by the way. One thing to note about the 3 main teams is that all of the crews were completely swapped. With new faces in the garage, it may affect driver performance…but I cannot see it being a negative thing. Roger Penske clearly wanted his guys to be on their toes and not to stay stagnant. Team Penske’s key partners include Shell/Pennzoil, Discount Tire, Menards, AAA, Miller Lite and PPG.
Photo Credit: NBC Sports
#2 Brad Keselowski: You would have to look back to 2010 to see the last time Brad Keselowski did not get a victory in the NASCAR Cup Series. 2020 will be Brad’s 11th full-time season at the top level and he is without a doubt a top contender for the championship. Keselowski had 3 wins, 13 top-10’s and 19 top-10’s in 2019. New Crew Chief Jeremy Bullins comes over from the #12 team and will get acclimated with Brad for this season. The winning culture is present with Team Penske, so I do not think this is a bad move for the 2 team. Brad’s most impressive win in 2019 was at the 1st Martinsville race where he led 446 out of the 500 laps. Chicagoland is by far Brad’s best track with an average finishing position of 8.8. I look for Brad to have 3 wins 11 top-5’s and 17 top-10’s in 2020.
Photo Credit: Frontstretch
#12 Ryan Blaney: 2019 was the best season that Ryan Blaney has had in the NASCAR Cup Series. He managed to get a win for the 3rd straight season and he also finished a career best 7th in the point standings. It is very possible that he is coming into his own among the best in the Cup Series. With the Penske Crew swap…Blaney gets Todd Gordon as his Crew Chief. The lone victory came at Talladega at a clutch time for Blaney, as it advanced him into the Round of 8. His best tracks statistically consist of the Charlotte Roval, Chicagoland and Las Vegas. My predictions have Blaney breaking out this season with 3 wins, 12 top-5’s and 19 top-10’s.
Photo Credit: Forbes
#22 Joey Logano: I’ll just go ahead and say it…this is my 2020 champion pick. The 2018 NASCAR Cup Series champion is going to be coming for revenge after not making the final 4 in 2019. Joey still had a pretty good season and there is a lot of positive things to look forward to in 2020. Paul Wolfe will be his new Crew Chief. He also had an average finish of 10.8. As every NASCAR fan knows…Mark Martin deemed Joey Logano as “Sliced Bread” and I believe he was right. He is not exactly the most beloved driver out on the track…he kind of has a “Rusty Wallace like” quality to him, but I think that is what gives him an edge. Logano’s best track is Las Vegas as he has 9 top-10’s in 13 starts at the track for an average finish of 8.5. I have your 2020 NASCAR Champ getting 7 wins, 16 top-5’s and 25 top-10’s.
AustYn
References: Jayski, Racing Reference, Team Penske