Roger Penske Reveals Joey Logano Has “Taken Over” Brad Keselowski as He Shares Bromance Story Among Teammates

In 2023, while the spotlight initially shone on the powerhouses of Hendrick and Joe Gibbs Racing, Team Penske seemed to be stuck in the shadows. Fords, it appeared, were destined for a forgettable year, as Chevys and Toyotas took center stage. But then, amidst the chaos and fierce competition, emerged a true underdog story. Ryan Blaney, with a decade of experience in NASCAR’s top tier series, had his sights set on that elusive championship. The season-ending at Phoenix saw Blaney standing proudly atop the No. 12 Ford, bathed in the glory of his maiden championship. Ten grueling months of intense racing and championship battles had finally paid off, marking his name in the annals of NASCAR history.

For Ryan Blaney, his six seasons under the guidance of Roger Penske were also seasons alongside championship-winning teammates like Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski, both hailed as future Hall of Famers. Post-race at Phoenix, Roger Penske emphasized that there is no “number one” driver in their team, underlining the importance of collective effort. Roger Penske himself opened up about the teammate dynamics and the absence of a designated No. 1 driver.

Joey Logano took over the reins as a ‘senior’ after Keselowski’s departure

Although Penske may not boast the historic championship pedigree of Hendrick Motorsports, Team Penske has a storied history of triumphs and a trophy case filled with championships across motorsports.

It all began in NASCAR back in 2012 when Brad Keselowski, driving the No. 02, secured their first-ever championship. In 2018, Joey Logano brought them to championship glory in the No. 22, repeating the feat in 2022 as a two-time champion. Just a year later, it was Ryan Blaney’s turn, granting Roger Penske his first back-to-back championship.

Reflecting on Blaney’s journey, Roger Penske said, “I think when you go back, came onboard, he came up running in Xfinity for some races, won championships. He was the third driver. When you look at Brad and you look at Joey, they were very complimentary to him and supported him.”

Behind the scenes in the garage, Penske revealed, “They’re all champions. We try to run our business very flat. You follow me? Might be number three coming through the door, but on race day we’re all the same. I think that’s where he is today.”

Although Keselowski had a storied career at Team Penske, 2022 saw him in different colors as a driver and co-owner for RFK Racing. Penske also shared how dynamics and camaraderie shifted with Brad’s departure, saying, “Joey has taken over when Brad moved on as the senior guy. I think you’ve seen that. We’re working with Harrison [Burton], working with [Austin] Cindric. I think this is all part of it. I don’t want to have a 1-2-3-4, quite honestly. I want to have all 1s. I think he’s one of those.”

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Penske champs show support over Ryan Blaney joining champion’s circle

The actions of champions indeed echoed Roger Penske’s words. Keselowski, though racing for a different team, was brimming with happiness for Blaney’s remarkable achievement. During Blaney’s championship celebration, Keselowski entered the stage to share a hug.

Their history dates back to 2012 when Blaney drove for Brad Keselowski Racing in the truck series, a stint that continued until 2015. These years were pivotal in shaping Blaney’s career and introducing him to the ethos of Team Penske. Speaking at Phoenix, Blaney expressed his gratitude, saying, “Honestly, I haven’t said it, I’m ashamed of not saying it. Brad Keselowski was a huge piece of me getting in there. Was a massive piece of driving their Xfinity program. I drove his trucks for a couple of years. Brad was a huge connecting piece with me being a part of the Penske group. I can’t thank him enough.”

Teammate Joey Logano, also shared his support, saying, “Ryan deserves it, man. He’s done a tremendous job this year battling through the early part of the season and even the early part of the playoffs, and keeping himself alive to where he had a ton of speed here at the end of the year. He’s a tremendous driver. I mean, he’s so freaking fast and he’s figured out how to finish races and that’s why he won. We all knew he had the speed to do it. He just had to learn how to finish races and I believe he figured it out.”

With this, the 2023 season comes to an end, and as we transition to the next season, all eyes will be fixed on the newly crowned champion, eager to see what his next steps entail.

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