Ryan Blaney continues to stay near the top of the NASCAR Cup Series standings in 2026, sitting second behind Tyler Reddick. The No. 12 Team Penske driver pointed to his pit crew as a key part of that strong start.
Earlier in the season, the team faced issues on pit road, including loose wheel problems. Those moments affected results and brought attention to the crew’s performance. Instead of making changes, the team stayed together and focused on improving timing and communication. After a clean race at Martinsville Speedway, Blaney said the group showed clear progress and delivered one of its most complete efforts so far.
NASCAR Cup Series Driver Ryan Blaney Explains Martinsville Performance and Crew Progress
Blaney said in an interview that the team put together a strong race without the mistakes seen earlier in the season.
“I thought those guys put together a really good day at Martinsville. You know, I really didn’t have any mistakes. So they bonded together.”
He said the team has been working through pit road issues over the past few races.
“It’s kind of been a big talk of our loose wheel problems and stuff like that,” he said. “We have a new jackman, and it takes a little bit of time to create that bond with everybody and create that rhythm and timing.”
Blaney pointed to the new crew member’s effort as part of that improvement.
“Landon’s done a good job of trying to get where he needs to be,” he said.
Pit Road Work Requires Speed and Precision
Blaney said pit stops require the same level of focus as racing on track, as teams must balance speed and control to avoid mistakes.
“That stuff’s so tricky because you want to be fast, right? So you’re pushing it all the time,” he said. “When you’re on the edge, like racing, sometimes you make mistakes.”
He compared pit road work to driving at full speed during a race.
“I could go out there and run half a second off the pace and never make a mistake all day. But if I’m trying to push it to the edge and the limit, then I might make a mistake.”
Blaney said pit crews face the same decision during every stop.
“They could slow down half a second, but now you’re losing time on pit road,” he said. “They’re working on the brink of perfection.”
He added that occasional mistakes can happen when teams push for speed.
“They might just make a mistake every now and then,” he said.
Team Keeps Focus on Improvement and Consistency
Blaney said the team chose to stay with the same group and continue improving rather than making changes.
“We didn’t want to make any changes,” he said. “We wanted those guys to just keep working on it and keep doing what they’re doing.”
He said the goal is to refine performance over time and build consistency.
“Let’s just try to refine it because I think they have potential to be one of the best crews on pit road,” Blaney said.
Blaney also pointed to the timing of the strong result.
“It was a great weekend for them to have going into the off week,” he said. “Let’s use this momentum and continue to work.”
He closed by recognizing the group’s effort.
“I’m proud of them for keeping their head down and working through it together,” Blaney said.
The performance at Martinsville showed improvement on pit road and added to Blaney’s consistent start. The No. 12 team remains near the top of the standings as the season continues.
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