NASCAR Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney has signed a long-term contract extension with Team Penske, the organization announced on Wednesday. Joining him with their own extension is Menards, one of the team’s most loyal sponsors.
Though the exact length of Blaney and Menards’ extensions are unknown, both entities are expected to stay with Team Penske for the foreseeable future. All three parties have enjoyed a highly successful relationship for years now, peaking with the 2023 Cup Series championship.
“Ryan Blaney has developed into one of the elite drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series, and the success he’s achieved speaks for itself,” said team owner Roger Penske in a statement. “I’m confident Ryan and the No. 12 team will continue to build momentum into the future, especially positioned alongside a committed partner like Menards who’s been instrumental to our team for more than a decade.”
Ryan Blaney: Team Penske Champion
Ryan Blaney debuted for Team Penske in 2012, competing part-time in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. He picked up his first career win in just his 15th start, piloting the No. 22 Ford to Victory Lane at Kentucky Speedway in 2013.
After running full-time in the Craftsman Truck Series through the 2014 season, Blaney switched to part-time regimens in all three of NASCAR’s national series for 2015. The following year, he went full-time in the Cup Series for Wood Brothers Racing, a close Penske affiliate.
Blaney joined the Team Penske stable in the Cup Series in 2018, driving the No. 12 Ford as it went full-time for the first time since 2010. He broke through in 2021 with a three-win season and seventh-place championship run.
Two years later, Blaney posted three more wins while earning Roger Penske his fourth NASCAR Cup Series championship. This season Blaney already has one win at Phoenix Raceway. He’s currently fourth in the standings, highest of any Ford driver.
“Roger’s commitment to me and my career has been something a race car driver could only dream of – not only getting the opportunity in the first place, but sticking with me through the highs and lows for more than a decade,” Blaney said. “To still be a part of Team Penske – the wins, the championships, the people – and continuing to grow my career with the unwavering support of Roger and the entire organization has been the opportunity of a lifetime. We’re going to keep pushing to deliver more wins and championships and to do that with the support of John Menard and the Menard family is truly an honor.”
Menards Stays Aboard
Menards first joined Team Penske as a sponsor in 2018. With family driver Paul Menard moving to Wood Brothers Racing from Richard Childress Racing, Menards supported the Penske-affiliated No. 21 Ford as well as Blaney’s No. 12 Ford on the main Penske team.
The relationship between Menards and Team Penske continued even after Paul Menard stepped away from NASCAR Cup Series competition. Menards sponsored the next Wood Brothers driver, Matt DiBenedetto, as well as Ryan Blaney in the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
Beginning in 2022 Menards moved the bulk of their Wood Brothers sponsorship to the No. 2 Team Penske Ford of Austin Cindric, who they continue to support in 2026. The company has continued to make occasional appearances on the No. 21 Ford, both for Harrison Burton and the car’s current occupant, Josh Berry.
“We’ve enjoyed a tremendous relationship with Team Penske, and we’re excited to continue that partnership for the future,” said Menards President & CEO John Menard. “Ryan and Austin Cindric have both done a tremendous amount for our brand, vendors and our customers, and they represent us with professionalism and passion. Team Penske shares our dedication to excellence, and we look forward to achieving more success together on and off the track.”
Along with Team Penske, Menards sponsors Joe Gibbs Racing’s Brandon Jones in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and ThorSport Racing’s Ty Majeski in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
