It’s been a banner year for the powerhouse Team Penske. From NASCAR to IndyCar, IMSA to the World Endurance Championship (WEC), Roger Penske’s racing empire has been racking up wins like it’s going out of style. But even in a year packed with trophies, the 87-year-old racing magnate isn’t fully satisfied. And he raises a meek finger, one that hilariously points at NASCAR!

After clinching a NASCAR three-peat thanks to stars Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano—Blaney securing his first Cup Series title in 2023 and Logano picking up his third championship after 2022 just last weekend in Phoenix—Penske has set his sights on a new challenge. Or rather, he’s looking to revive an old one.

In an interview following the Cup Series championship finale, Penske couldn’t resist taking a playful jab at NASCAR, albeit indirectly while calling on his sparring rival…
One that lasted over three decades,
One that has taken a turn toward mutual respect that saw him immediately come to Penske’s rescue when one of his peers, Michael Andretti, was taking a public swipe at The Captain’s viability as IndyCar’s owner as recently as in March this year.
One that acknowledges the 87-year-old’s working principle. “Anybody that can run the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with no fans in the stands? He’s got my vote. He coughed up the money to buy the place, and he coughed it up during COVID and kept the series running.”

He is Chip Ganassi. For decades, the rivalry between Roger Penske and Chip Ganassi has been one of motorsport’s most celebrated feuds, especially in IndyCar. These two titans of racing went wheel-to-wheel, fighting for championships and bragging rights across multiple series. For instance, the Ganassi-Penske stronghold on IndyCar that fans saw for over a decade. In the last 15 years of the sport, only once has a team managed to break their dominance in the sport. That was Andretti Global back in 2012!

At the press conference on Sunday, Roger Penske longed for his favorite rival to return to the Cup fold, “Well, I guess you’d have to say, [Team Penske] is probably if not the best, one of the best,” Penske said. “And I think that, you know, obviously not to win the IndyCar Championship—which of course, it’s where we all started and built our first racing team—was disappointing.

“But you know, it’s one of those things that, you know, you try, and you don’t. Ganassi, you’ll have to give him credit. He continues to put up great numbers with his guys. But I told him, ‘Come on back! NASCAR’s gotten easier [laughing],” he admitted, acknowledging Ganassi’s dominance in other series.

Chip Ganassi Racing ended its NASCAR career back in 2021, a year after its star driver Kyle Larson was fired after his use of a racial slur. Larson joined Hendrick Motorsports in the next season. With the difficulties in the sponsorship market, Chip Ganassi found an out when Justin Marks came looking to buy a team. It was simple business.

Two of the past four IndyCar titles have gone to Ganassi courtesy of their star driver Alex Palou who won it in 2021 and 2023, bringing the team’s tally of Indy championships to a grand total of 14.

Trebles all around for Penske

If Penske feels like NASCAR is too easy, it’s not without reason. The past three years have been nothing short of dominant for his team. It all started with Joey Logano’s 2022 Cup Series championship, which was a masterclass in consistency and clutch performances. Logano’s victory that year marked his second Cup title, adding to his impressive resume.

Then came Ryan Blaney’s breakthrough 2023 season, where he captured his first-ever Cup Series championship after a thrilling playoff run. Blaney’s triumph was a testament to the team’s strategic brilliance and his own growth as a driver under the Penske banner. And if that wasn’t enough, Logano doubled down, claiming his third career Cup Series championship just days ago in Phoenix. With seven wins and 31 top 10 finishes between the pair this season, their performances further solidified Team Penske’s position as the dominant force in NASCAR.

It’s been a three-year stretch of excellence that most teams can only dream of, but for Penske, it’s just another chapter in a storied career filled with championships and accolades across the globe. The iconic team owner has never been one to rest on his laurels, always pushing for more—and now, he wants Ganassi back in the NASCAR fold to keep things interesting.

With Penske calling the shots and his drivers delivering on the track, the future looks bright for the team in 2024. But if Ganassi takes the bait and returns to NASCAR, fans might be treated to a revival of one of racing’s greatest rivalries. As for Penske, he’s ready for the challenge. After all, winning is fun, but winning against the best? That’s the Penske way.