Ryan Blaney has encountered a difficult start to his 2025 NASCAR season with Team Penske, marked by five Did Not Finishes (DNFs), despite entering the year with high expectations after his 2023 championship win. Issues such as engine failures, crashes, and mechanical problems have hampered his progress, even as competitors have pulled ahead. However, the upcoming Great American Getaway 400 at Pocono Raceway offers Blaney a promising opportunity for mid-season redemption given his strong track record there.
Known for his speed, Blaney’s struggles have not diminished his potential. Team Penske continues working to find solutions to the reliability problems, and the Pocono race, a track well-suited to Blaney’s driving style, could serve as a crucial turning point in his season.
Blaney Maintains Confidence Amid Setbacks
Despite the string of DNFs and only one win so far, the No. 12 car driven by Blaney has consistently shown speed throughout the season. Blaney embraces the difficulties and maintains a resolute attitude about his team’s performance as they head into the summer stretch. He acknowledges the challenges but remains optimistic about overcoming them.
Discussing the season’s ups and downs in a SiriusXM Radio interview, Blaney reflected on his standing and the team’s efforts:
7th in points with 5 DNFs shows how good we’ve been running through the races and things like that, and just haven’t really been able to get some finishes out of them. So hopefully all that’s out of the way. We’ll see, but I’ve been happy with where our program is at with all of Team Penske and especially my 12 group.
—Ryan Blaney, NASCAR driver
The problems for Blaney began early in the season, with a late-race crash at Las Vegas sidelining him. Then came a dominant run at Homestead where, after leading 124 laps and sitting third with just 60 laps remaining, an engine failure abruptly ended his day. This marked the second engine failure in three races and started an unprecedented streak of three consecutive DNFs for Blaney.
Mechanical failures further impacted his season at Phoenix with another engine issue, and a suspension failure at Darlington also cut a promising day short. These setbacks appeared costly until Blaney broke free at Nashville, leading 139 laps and earning his first win of 2025, signaling potential momentum for the summer.
Looking ahead, Blaney remains focused:
I’ve been really happy with the work we’ve done through the offseason to be fast at the beginning of the year and starting this summer, hopefully the stretch of summer races, kind of some oddball races, not oddball races, but some different tracks in there. Hopefully, we show speed there as well. So I’ve been happy with it and hopefully we can just have a good summer and try to rack up a couple more wins before we get going in the playoffs.
—Ryan Blaney, NASCAR driver
He also expressed satisfaction with the overall program:
I’ve been very happy with where our program is at with all of Team Penske.
—Ryan Blaney, NASCAR driver
Pocono Raceway: A Track of Success and Hope for Blaney
Pocono Raceway, known as the Tricky Triangle, holds special significance for Blaney and his campaign. It is a place where he has historically performed well, including his maiden Cup Series victory in 2017. Blaney’s record at Pocono comprises two wins, one pole position, and several top-ten finishes across 15 Cup Series starts, reinforcing his strong affinity for the track.
He also won a Truck Series race at Pocono in 2013, further evidence of his comfort at this unique circuit. Blaney has openly shared how much the track means to him, telling the Times Tribune,
I love the area; I love the racetrack. That place means a lot to me. Places where you have your first win, success, stuff like that, they always mean a little more. So I look forward to getting back there.
—Ryan Blaney, NASCAR driver
Blaney’s proven speed at Pocono, combined with Team Penske’s reputation for peaking late in the season, suggests that this race could be pivotal for the No. 12 Ford as they seek to regain a competitive edge and build momentum going into the playoff stretch.
Upcoming Summer Races Present Opportunities for Turnaround
Following Pocono, Blaney will head to Atlanta, another track where he has consistently posted fast laps and strong finishes. He is currently on a streak of six straight top-10 finishes at Atlanta, with the last three in the top five. Having won there in 2021, Blaney’s confidence remains high that he can continue this success and add to his 2025 win tally.
These upcoming events funnel into a crucial stretch where performance across varied tracks could define Blaney’s season. With his team working to resolve lingering issues, Ryan Blaney’s love for challenging circuits may spark a needed resurgence.
Recent Rivalry Highlights Tensions Within Cup Series
Adding to the drama of the season, Blaney clashed with fellow driver Erik Jones during the Viva Mexico 250 at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. The confrontation occurred after Blaney nudged Jones exiting turn 4, prompting a retaliatory move where Jones deliberately collided with Blaney’s car. This aggressive exchange, broadcast live on Prime Video, underscores the intense rivalries present in the Cup Series.
Dale Earnhardt Jr., the race announcer, commented on the incident during his Dale Junior Download podcast:
Ryan Blaney got used up by Erik Jones coming out of Turn 4. I guess Blaney might have doored him or something, and Erik didn’t like it. Erik just turns right and tries to drive into Blaney. It was awesome, even though it was Blaney. [Blaney got back to him,] and Erik didn’t do anything. I wanted him [Jones] to ship him [Blaney]. … I said, ‘Guys, stay on that 12 or just kind of be mindful on that 12 if he gets to the 43, let’s get that back on the screen.’
—Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR commentator
This was not the first clash between the two drivers. Their rivalry dates back to the 2022 Clash at the Coliseum, where Blaney famously tossed his HANS device at Jones in frustration following contact. Their ongoing tensions add an extra dimension to the season’s narrative.
After the Mexico race, both drivers finished outside the top ten, with Blaney placing 14th and Jones 17th. Blaney’s solid points position guarantees him entry into the playoffs as he sits within the top 16, while Jones continues to fight for a postseason spot from 22nd in the standings.
Pocono Could Hold the Key to Blaney’s Season Revival
As the Great American Getaway 400 approaches, Ryan Blaney’s affection for Pocono and his previous strong performances fuel hope for a turnaround. Although the race will not immediately crown a champion, it provides the chance for Blaney to harness his skills and Team Penske’s speed, potentially returning his No. 12 Ford to Victory Lane and rekindling his championship defense.
The team‘s ability to overcome mechanical setbacks and the driver’s determination will be tested, but with the summer races ahead, the window remains open for a revival. For now, the spotlight shines on Pocono as Blaney aims to transform his season with a mix of experience, talent, and a deep connection to the racetrack.