Ryan Blaney Leads Team Penske’s Charge at Atlanta Despite Joey Logano’s Costly Mistake

Ryan Blaney is back in the spotlight, and this time, he is bringing Team Penske with him. The Ohio native secured pole position ahead of the 2025 Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, reaffirming his team’s dominance in the NASCAR Cup Series.

Joining him at the front row is Austin Cindric in second place, while Joey Logano starts from fourth place, further proving that Roger Penske’s powerhouse remains a dominant force in the Next-Gen era.

Since 2022, Team Penske has won all three championships, a staggering feat in the highly competitive NASCAR world. But despite their overall supremacy, their 2025 season opener at Daytona was anything but smooth.

Joey Logano’s Costly Daytona Blunder

The Daytona 500 turned into a nightmare for Team Penske when Joey Logano made a bold but ill-advised three-wide pass attempt. The result was chaos on the track.

Logano’s number twenty-two Ford made contact with Ricky Stenhouse Junior’s number forty-seven Chevrolet, triggering a multi-car wreck that caught Ryan Blaney in the crossfire.

Blaney salvaged a seventh-place finish, while Logano’s car was too damaged to continue. It was a gut-wrenching moment for Team Penske, but Blaney is not dwelling on the past. Instead, he is focused on Atlanta and the unstoppable formula behind Penske’s recent success.

Ryan Blaney Reveals Team Penske’s Secret to Success

There is a saying that teamwork makes the dream work. For Team Penske, this is not just a cliché; it is their winning formula.

Blaney explained their dominance by saying that they bring really fast cars, which is a huge part of it, but also that they make it a priority to find each other and be committed to each other on the track. He personally feels that they do it better than other teams, and that is what makes them really successful.

The statistics back this up. Joey Logano is a two-time Cup Series champion since 2022. Ryan Blaney has won three races in 2023 and secured the Bill France Cup championship. Team Penske has achieved a three-peat in the Next-Gen era.

However, even the best teams are not immune to setbacks, and Logano’s Daytona mishap raised some concerns about trust within the team.

Team Penske’s Superspeedway Dominance

Since 2022, Team Penske has been unmatched on drafting tracks.

The team has led the most laps at Daytona, Talladega, and Atlanta. Joey Logano has led four hundred and fifty laps, Austin Cindric has led three hundred and twenty-seven laps, and Ryan Blaney has led two hundred and ninety-seven laps.

At Atlanta Motor Speedway, Blaney has an average finish of 7.2, which is slightly better than Daniel Suarez’s average finish of 7.3. Last year, Blaney lost to Suarez by just three thousandths of a second. Now he is looking for redemption.

Blaney Addresses Trust Issues with Logano After Daytona Disaster

While fans speculated about tension within the Penske camp after Daytona’s disastrous wreck, Blaney insists there is no bad blood.

Logano himself addressed the situation by using a marriage analogy to explain their teamwork dynamics. He stated that it is just like any other conflict someone has with their spouse. He emphasized that the intention was never to wreck his teammate and that his move did not go against any of the team’s rules for how they work together on superspeedways. He admitted that the situation was unfortunate, but he was clear that there was no malice behind it.

This statement highlights an important point. Accidents happen, Penske drivers trust each other even when things go wrong, and they are focused on moving forward with their eyes locked on victory at Atlanta.

Can Blaney Deliver at Atlanta or Will Suarez Play Spoiler Again?

There are several key storylines heading into Atlanta.

Blaney is in prime position for a win, but can he hold off Suarez? Team Penske’s three-car dominance could be unstoppable, but will they avoid another collision? Logano’s aggressive style is a double-edged sword, so will he make or break Penske’s chances?

Breaking Down Team Penske’s Next Challenge

The Ambetter Health 400 is not just another race. It is a crucial moment for Team Penske to prove that they can bounce back from adversity.

Track conditions will play a major role. Atlanta Motor Speedway has been one of the trickiest superspeedways on the circuit since its reconfiguration in 2022. The high-banked, high-speed layout creates Daytona and Talladega-style pack racing, but tire wear is a much bigger factor. Managing long runs will be critical.

Pit strategy will also be a deciding factor. Penske’s pit crew excellence has been a game-changer in the past, but with fuel mileage and tire degradation becoming major issues, the timing of pit stops could decide this race. A poorly timed caution could shake up the field entirely.

Toyota and Chevrolet teams are also emerging as threats. While Penske’s Fords have been dominant on drafting tracks, Toyota’s twenty-three eleven Racing duo of Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace have been gaining momentum. Meanwhile, Chevrolet’s Ross Chastain and Kyle Larson are also strong contenders who could spoil Penske’s plans.

The Final Verdict Can Blaney Take It All

Looking at the predictions for the race, Blaney is the man to beat. His pole position and consistency make him a strong frontrunner. Logano will be aggressive, but the big question is whether he can keep it clean this time. Suarez is hungry for another Atlanta win and will not go down without a fight. Team Penske’s teamwork is their biggest weapon, but they must avoid another self-inflicted disaster.

Blaney and Team Penske are still the team to beat in 2025. But in a sport where one wrong move can cost everything, the margin for error is razor-thin.

The Pressure is On for Team Penske at Atlanta

With expectations at an all-time high, Team Penske faces immense pressure to deliver a dominant performance at Atlanta. Ryan Blaney, starting from pole, carries the weight of proving his Daytona setback was just a minor hiccup. Joey Logano must balance his aggressive racing style with smart decision-making to avoid another costly mistake. Meanwhile, Austin Cindric has a golden opportunity to establish himself as a true contender. The stakes are massive, and with Penske’s teamwork under the microscope, every move on the track will be scrutinized. Can they execute flawlessly, or will another twist shake up the championship battle?