Team Penske is on the verge of making history. Ever since the Next-Gen car was introduced in 2022, Roger Penske’s side has dominated NASCAR’s highest level, winning back-to-back trophies in the last two years. With Joey Logano already locked in the Championship 4, the focus will now be on getting defending Cup Series winner Ryan Blaney to Phoenix Raceway as well. If they do succeed, the team will have a 50% chance of winning their third consecutive championship, an achievement that would surpass all expectations.

However, with two races remaining, Blaney has his work cut out for him at Homestead-Miami and Martinsville. With Joey Logano’s place assured, will the No. 22 driver’s helping hand make a difference in the business end of the season?

Joey Logano is hoping to repay Blaney for Las Vegas assistance

The partnership between Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano has received plenty of plaudits, and rightfully so. Both drivers share a close relationship and have helped each other on the racetrack on several occasions, truly defining what ‘teamwork’ means. At Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the defending NASCAR champion was seen helping Logano conserve fuel, even if that came at the expense of his result.

When the checkered flag was waved at the 2024 South Point 400, both the Team Penske drivers had vastly different fortunes, with Blaney being forced to settle for a 32nd-place result while his teammate secured his third victory of the season. When asked if Joey Logano will return the favor should the need arise in the upcoming races, the 34-year-old said during the pre-race press conference in Miami, “Yes, within reason obviously of what we can do. You know if there’s anything that they want to try and practice, setup-wise or anything like that, we’re open to it. What do you guys need to make sure you have the fastest 12 Mustang out there, right? What can we do to help you from that perspective? We’ll do what we can do to be good teammates for sure, yep.”

As things stand, Ryan Blaney is seventh in the driver standings, 47 points below the elimination cutline going into the penultimate Round of Eight playoff race. Last year, the No. 12 Ford Mustang driver finished runner-up at Homestead-Miami, a result that won’t be enough to maintain his title hopes this time around. Having qualified for the 2024 Straight Talk Wireless 400 in 20th place, Ryan Blaney will need all the help he can get, particularly from Joey Logano to secure this third victory of the season.

Giving a rare insight into their camaraderie, Logano said, “I think Blaney and I work really well together off the racetrack and on the racetrack. That relationship has only grown, even more so after his championship, which I think is great.”

With three Cup Series titles between them, both the drivers know what it takes to progress into the Championship 4. However, with the competition heating up and the stakes higher than ever, the only way the duo can fend off heavyweights such as Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, and Tyler Reddick is by working together.

Ryan Blaney opens up about his bond with Logano

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Ryan Blaney’s arrival at Team Penske in 2018 was quite a lucky omen for Joey Logano. The Connecticut native secured his first Cup Series championship that year, and it also marked the beginning of a strong friendship. The duo’s camaraderie has withstood the test of time, despite the demands and the competitive nature of a sport like NASCAR. With both drivers willing to look at the bigger picture and prioritize the team’s goals above themselves, it’s not surprising that the duo has dominated NASCAR’s highest level in the last two years.

Reflecting on their partnership, Blaney said, “Joey and I, we work really well together. We always have and that’s just gotten better, year after year. As you get older, he and I became the two veteran guys on the Penske side over there. We have to really rely on each other. How do we take the reigns and try to understand and bounce off each other?” 

There is a sense of mutual respect between the two, with Blaney expressing that he doesn’t miss an opportunity to learn from Joey Logano, given his vast experience. The 30-year-old said, “It’s been fun to work with Joey. Learned from him, and vice versa. Obviously one of the greats, Hall of Famer. So it’s been fun to pick his brain, and even him take some stuff from me too. That’s always nice, it is a good little co-op deal that we’ve got.”

Even though Blaney will be more optimistic about his chances at Martinsville, having won last year’s iteration of the Xfinity 500, he won’t be writing off his chances at Homestead-Miami just yet. The Team Penske driver is more than capable of securing a clutch result at the 1.5-mile speedway, and with Joey Logano available for assistance, he will go into the 2024 Straight Talk Wireless 400 with more confidence. Fighting to defend his championship crown, the No. 12 Ford Mustang driver has all the motivation he needs going into the penultimate playoff race.