Ryan Blaney’s job is supporting Penske pit crew; not selecting them
A pit crew that has lost almost 100 spots has a new jack man at Kansas
Bristol pit stops
Photo by: Chris Graythen - Getty Images
Ultimately, at the end of the day, Ryan Blaney said his role regarding pit crew changes at Team Penske is just to support and welcome those who put on the No. 12 uniform each week.
This is regarding the change made this week with the demotion of jack man Landon Honeycutt from the Blaney team to the Wood Brother No. 21 driven by Josh Berry. This follows a slow start by the Penske No. 12 pit crew, which has lost Blaney over 100 spots on pit road this season, mostly due to a byproduct team choreography and a young jack man.
Originally, the Penske 12 was going to promote Patrick Gray, but another change was made prior to the race weekend at Kansas Speedway, with veteran Graham Stoddard rejoining a team he has worked with in prior seasons.
Blaney, who has been supportive of Honeycutt this year amidst his development, also said he doesn’t interject himself in those executive level decisions.
“It’s not my role, right,” Blaney said during a media scrum on Saturday at Kansas Speedway. “Jonathan (Hassler, crew chief) and I talk, we talk to upper management, Travis (Geisler, competition director) and guys like that to figure out how we can all be better, collectively and as a group.
“My role, really, whoever is with us, is to make them feel part of the team, no matter who it is, you’re one of the 12 guys. That’s my main role. It’s not decision making and things of those regards. So all I can do is sit in on the meetings and see what they think and wherever it ends up, is welcome whoever joins the group and make them feel like part of the boys, that’s where my role ends.”
It’s easier for Blaney to welcome Stoddard, who he considers a friend, and as a longtime Penske over-the-wall athlete.
“Yeah, I’ve worked with Graham for a long time,” Blaney said. “He and I were on a team together for a while and he’s kind of bounced around our organization. He’s a great person. It was a lot of fun to work with him for a while and with him still in the building, get to see him on a day-to-day basis is fun, and I consider him a friend of mine. He’s a friend of mine and a championship caliber guy so we’re excited to have Graham with us and excited to see what he brings.”
Photos from Kansas - Saturday
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Kansas - Saturday, in photos
Share Or Save This Story
NASCAR O'Reilly Series Chase wide open after Las Vegas
What now for Brad Keselowski and RFK Racing with impending split?
Is it time for NASCAR to look at the intermediate track rules package?
Carson Hocevar, Ryan Blaney trade niceties a week after Bristol fight
The wildest fights in modern NASCAR Cup history
NASCAR to meet with Ty Gibbs for throwing water bottle into Bristol fight
The most unexpected driver and team breakups in modern NASCAR Cup history
Joey Logano basks in boos after stealing NASCAR Cup win at Bristol
You Ask The Questions: David Malukas
Oliver Solberg has no regrets after WRC title near-miss: “It hurts a lot”
NASCAR O'Reilly Series Chase wide open after Las Vegas
Emerson Fittipaldi on Jochen Rindt’s death and how he became Team Lotus’ F1 leader
Winward Racing wins Petit Le Mans to seal third straight IMSA GTD title
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments