The NASCAR operation of the racing team Team Penske is a unit based in Mooresville, North Carolina, US. The team fields Ford Mustangs in the NASCAR Cup Series and has won a total of five drivers' championships and over 170 races over both Cup and Xfinity series.
The team has also used the following names: Penske Racing South: formerly used to differentiate the NASCAR operation from its open-wheel and sports car racing operation that was based in Reading, Pennsylvania; the name ceased to be used when the entire operation moved to North Carolina. Penske-Kranefuss Racing: used from 1998 until 2001 when Michael Kranefuss, who had previously fielded a car with Carl Haas as a partner, merged his team with Penske's and brought Jeremy Mayfield, his driver, into the Penske fold in car No. 12. The partnership ended after 2001, but Penske continues to run car No. 12 to this day. Penske-Jasper Racing: used in 2004 and 2005. Roger Penske had been supplying Jasper Motorsports with engines for several years and bought a share of the team so he could run its No. 77 for Brendan Gaughan as part of the Penske team. The partnership dissolved after Penske gave up his stake in the team and fired Gaughan.
Background The team debuted in 1972 at Riverside International Raceway. Mark Donohue was driving a factory-sponsored red-white-blue American Motors Matador. It was dubbed the "flying brick" by many noting its squarish aerodynamics. The car finished 39th after rear-end problems. The team ran part-time for a few years, fielding cars for several drivers including Donohue (won the 1973 Western 500 in the No. 16 Matador), Dave Marcis, Donnie Allison, and Bobby Allison. The team went full-time with Bobby Allison in 1976 with a new, more aerodynamic fastback coupe, finishing 4th in the points. In 1980, the team fielded two races for Rusty Wallace, finishing 2nd in his first race at Atlanta. Penske sold his machinery to the Elliott family in 1977 and got out of NASCAR.
The team did not run for eleven years, returning in 1991 with Wallace at the wheel again, with Rusty moving his Miller beer sponsorship to the new team from the recently suspended operations of Raymond Beadle's Blue Max Racing team. Penske Racing South fielded Pontiacs from 1991 to 1993, when it switch to full-works Ford in 1994. In 2003, the team switched to full-works then-DaimlerChrysler-owned Dodge and thus earned factory support. In 2008, Penske Racing won its first Daytona 500 with Ryan Newman. By 2011, however, Penske was the only NASCAR Cup Series team running Dodges full-time as most of the former Dodge teams had either folded or switched to other manufacturers. Owner Roger Penske announced on March 1, 2012, that the team would return to full-works Ford in 2013. In addition, Penske would receive the engine package from Roush Yates Engines as well as the same treatment as Roush Fenway Racing, Wood Brothers Racing and the rest of Ford teams due to the Ford partnership. During the 2012 season, Brad Keselowski brought home Penske's first Cup Series title.
In 2014, the team changed their name branding from "Penske Racing" to "Team Penske" to match their IndyCar name.
For the 2016 season, Team Penske fielded the No. 2 for Keselowski and the No. 22 for Joey Logano. The team also started fielding cars to the historic NASCAR team Wood Brothers Racing. In 2018, Team Penske added the No. 12 for Ryan Blaney. That year, Logano won Penske its second Cup Series title.
Keselowski left Team Penske at the end of the 2021 season to become driver-owner of RFK Racing. He was replaced by Austin Cindric, who won the 2022 Daytona 500. Joey Logano kicked off the first of three straight Cup Series championships that year, with Ryan Blaney winning in 2023 and Logano again in 2024.
1972–1980 results NASCAR Winston Cup Series results Year Driver No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Pts Ref 1972 Mark Donohue 16 AMC RSD DAY RCH ONT44 CAR ATL BRI DAR NWS MAR TAL – – – Dave Marcis CLT31 DOV MCH DAR7 RCH DOV37 MAR29 NWS CLT26 CAR7 TWS 2 MCH9 NSV Donnie Allison 16 RSD3 TWS DAY BRI TRN ATL TAL – – 1973 Mark Donohue RSD ATL NWS DAR – – – Dave Marcis 2 DAY27 RCH CAR37 BRI MAR26 TAL NSV CLT28 DOV8 TWS33 RSD MCH DAY BRI28 ATL TAL NSV DAR RCH DOV NWS MAR CLT CAR5 1974 Gary Bettenhausen 16 RSD7 DAY12 RCH CAR BRI ATL9 TAL37 NSV DOV CLT MCH4 – – – Dave Marcis DAR6 NWS MAR George Follmer RSD Bobby Allison DAY5* BRI NSV ATL POC TAL 12 MCH5 DAR30 RCH DOV13 NWS MAR CLT5 CAR4 ONT1 1975 16 RSD1* DAY2 RCH CAR BRI ATL30 NWS DAR1 MAR4 TAL35 NSV DOV CLT RSD2* MCH22 DAY35 NSV POC31 TAL29 MCH4 DAR1 DOV28 NWS MAR3 CLT31 RCH CAR2 BRI ATL26 ONT5 24th 2181 1976 2 RSD15 4th 4097 Mercury DAY25 CAR21 RCH3 BRI5 ATL29 NWS3 DAR18 MAR6 TAL3 NSV5 DOV4 CLT4 RSD2 MCH3 DAY3 NSV7 POC24 TAL23 MCH4 BRI6 DAR9 RCH2 DOV4 MAR27 NWS29 CLT3 CAR4 ATL26 ONT33 1977 Dave Marcis Chevy RSD4 RCH4 CAR24 ATL6 NWS DAR6 BRI MAR NSV4 DOV MCH4 DAY NSV POC TAL MCH22 BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT23 CAR ATL ONT – – – Mercury DAY28 TAL5 CLT36 RSD 1980 Rusty Wallace 16 Chevy RSD DAY RCH CAR ATL2 BRI DAR NWS MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT TWS RSD MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV NWS MAR CLT14 CAR ATL ONT 57th 291
Cup Series Car No. 02 history Ryan Newman (2000–2001) Penske's No. 02 team originally began running in the ARCA RE/MAX Series in 2000 as the No. 27 Ford sponsored by Alltel and driven by Ryan Newman. Later in the year, the team made its NASCAR Cup Series debut with Newman at Phoenix as the No. 02 Alltel Ford, finishing 41st due to engine failure. In 2001, Newman split time between ARCA, the NASCAR Busch Series, and the NASCAR Cup Series. He drove in 15 Busch races and won at Michigan. In the Cup Series, he participated in seven events, and almost won The Winston Open before his engine expired in the closing laps. He put together two top-five finishes, which included a second-place finish at Kansas, and a pole in his abbreviated schedule.
Car No. 02 results Year Driver No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Pts 2000 Ryan Newman 02 Ford DAY CAR LVS ATL DAR BRI TEX MAR TAL CAL RCH CLT DOV MCH POC SON DAY NHA POC IND GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH NHA DOV MAR CLT TAL CAR PHO41 HOM ATL 70th 40 2001 DAY CAR LVS33 ATL DAR BRI TEX MAR TAL CAL RCH CLT43 DOV MCH5 POC SON DAY CHI NHA POC IND31 GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV KAN2 CLT19 MAR TAL PHO40 CAR HOM ATL NHA 49th 497
Car No. 06 history
Part-time (2004, 2007) In 2004, Penske occasionally ran a fourth car numbered 06, sponsored by Mobil 1. Craftsman Truck Series driver Travis Kvapil attempted four races, failing to qualify at Darlington, with a best finish of 21st at Martinsville. He would replace Brendan Gaughan in the 77 in 2005. Chad Blount also ran the car at Talladega, finishing 41st.
The No. 06 returned in 2007 with Sam Hornish Jr. in preparation for moving full-time in the 77 the next year. The No. 06 was sponsored by Penske Truck Rental and Mobil 1 Hornish Jr. attempted eight races, but only qualified for the final two races of the season, with a best finish of 30th at Phoenix.
Car No. 06 results Year Driver No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Pts 2004 Chad Blount 06 Dodge DAY CAR LVS ATL DAR BRI TEX MAR TAL CAL RCH CLT DOV POC MCH SON DAY CHI NHA POC IND GLN MCH BRI CAL RCH NHA DOV TAL41 KAN CLT 63rd 213 Travis Kvapil MAR21 ATL32 PHO DARDNQ HOM39 2007 Sam Hornish Jr. DAY CAL LVS ATL BRI MAR TEX PHO TAL RCH DAR CLT DOV POC MCH SON NHA DAY CHI IND POC GLN MCH BRI CAL RCH NHADNQ DOVDNQ KAN TALDNQ CLTDNQ MARDNQ ATLDNQ TEX PHO30 HOM37 62nd 125
Car No. 2 history
Origins with Blue Max Racing (1983–1990) The No. 2 car's history can be traced back to the late 1970s with M. C. Anderson and Benny Parsons. Bobby Allison drove two and a half seasons for Penske, winning four races for the team with a best standing of 4th. Cale Yarborough drove the 27 Valvoline car in 1981 and 1982 respectively. In 1983, the team switched hands to Raymond Beadle and Blue Max Racing with Tim Richmond driving. The team picked up Rusty Wallace in 1986 and won a Championship in 1989. In 1990, the team barely made it through the season with the help of Roger Penske funding the team to keep going. By late-1990, the team was purchased as a base for Roger's new team. During the offseason, the team changed numbers from 27 to 2 (Wallace's old racing number) and kept the Miller Sponsorship.
Rusty Wallace (1991–2005) The No. 2 team has not seen many changes since its debut under the Penske banner at the 1991 Daytona 500, where it finished 27th after a crash late in the race. Wallace drove the car from 1991 to 2005, with some form of Miller Beer as the primary sponsor of the team. Wallace moved to Penske from Blue Max Racing, which suspended operations after 1990. The team in its first year won two races and finished 10th in points. In 1992, Wallace won one race and finished 13th in points. Things then turned around for him and Penske, winning 25 races over the next four years, despite never winning the championship.
The team switched from Pontiac to Ford in 1994. The season finale at Atlanta Motor Speedway and the entire 1996 season saw a small change when the popular Miller Genuine Draft paint scheme was replaced with a red, blue and yellow splashed scheme that advertised the Miller brand. After winning five races that season, Wallace donned the blue and white colors of Miller Lite in 1997, quickly being nicknamed "The Blue Deuce" by fans. After winning one race a piece over the next three years, he put together four wins and won nine Bud poles in 2000, the highest total of his career. In 2002, he failed to win races, marking the first year since 1985 that he was winless throughout a season. After that year, the team switched manufacturers from Ford to Dodge. In 2004, Wallace announced the 2005 season would be his last in the Cup Series, citing his son's racing career and wanting to concentrate on his Busch Series team, Rusty Wallace Racing, for the departure. During that season, Wallace returned to victory lane for the first time since 2001 at Martinsville, one of his historically strong racetracks. Although he would not win a race during his final season, Wallace qualified for the Chase for the Nextel Cup and finished eighth in series points.
Kurt Busch (2006–2010)
To replace the retiring Wallace, Penske tabbed 2004 Nextel Cup Champion Kurt Busch. However, this caused a problem with Busch's then-current team, Roush Racing, as he was still under contract for the 2006 season. The situation was resolved thanks in part to the resolution of another disputed contract with Roush. Roush Racing signed Jamie McMurray to drive their No. 6 car for the 2006 season but his previous team owner, Chip Ganassi, would not let him drive for Roush. Eventually, an agreement was struck where McMurray was released from his team to replace Busch in the No. 97 car (which was then renumbered to 26), therefore freeing up Busch to drive the No. 2 car. He quickly brought the team back to victory lane by winning in his fifth start with the team at Bristol, his only win of 2006. The No. 2 team finished 16th in the season points. Busch won six additional races with the No. 2 car, his last being the 2010 Coca-Cola 600. He qualified for the Chase three times, with a best finish of fourth in the final standings in 2009.
Brad Keselowski (2011–2021)