Daytona Motor Mouths, Nov. 12: NASCAR officially names Joey Logano as the 2024 champion, marking another significant victory in his career.
Well, that’s a wrap for the excitement-packed 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season, as Ken Willis and Chris Vinel elegantly tie a bow on the exhilarating year, highlighting the remarkable achievements of Joey Logano, who has claimed the coveted champion title, and transition their focus toward the upcoming 2025 season filled with anticipation.
Since the groundbreaking partnership in 1968 between racing legend Roger Penske and driver Mark Donohue, who created what some called an “unfair advantage,” Penske’s impressive roster of drivers has consistently featured names that echo through the halls of motorsport’s Hall of Fame.
Among the luminaries in Penske’s list are Mario Andretti, multiple-time champion Rick Mears, two Al Unsers, the indomitable Helio Castroneves, and the talented Juan Pablo Montoya in IndyCar, alongside another impressive lineup in sports-car and endurance racing, showcasing Penske’s versatility and dominance in various racing disciplines.
Penske’s all-time NASCAR roster is equally distinguished, featuring a mix of current stars and future Hall of Famers, notably highlighting the two drivers who have both won the past three Cup Series championships, signifying Penske’s stronghold in the sport.
Penske’s first foray into NASCAR came in 1972 at Riverside, where a determined Donnie Allison drove an American Motors Matador to a commendable third-place finish. Through 1980, Penske’s cars participated sporadically in NASCAR, although Bobby Allison’s full-time commitment in 1976 yielded no wins, yet saw him finish an impressive fourth in points due to his numerous top-10 finishes.
Having remained absent from NASCAR for the entirety of the 1980s, Penske made a triumphant return in 1991 and has since become a stalwart in the sport. His cars have notched up an impressive 147 Cup victories across 2,526 starts, and as of two Sundays ago at Phoenix, where Joey Logano clinched a pivotal win, Team Penske celebrated securing its fourth Cup championship, further solidifying its legacy.
Given that Logano has now claimed three of those championships, the debate intensifies around whether he truly stands as Penske’s finest NASCAR racer of all time.
Nine different racers have bolstered their careers by winning NASCAR Cup Series races in Penske equipment, leading us to rank them from 9 through 1 in terms of their contributions and achievements.
9. Mark Donohue
Years: 1972-73
Races: 6
Wins: 1
FYI: Donohue’s unique combination of engineering prowess and driving excellence made him a formidable competitor. His partnership with Penske was nearly unbeatable in the late-’60s Trans Am Series, as they also competed in Formula One, sports cars, and IndyCar, where he clinched victory at the 1972 Indy 500. His singular NASCAR win took place at Riverside, dominating the competition and finishing a whole lap ahead of the esteemed Bobby Allison.
8. Austin Cindric
Years: 2021-24
Races: 115
Wins: 2
FYI: Cindric’s time with Penske is still in its early stages, yet promising, having achieved significant success in the 2020 Xfinity Series championship while driving a Penske car. His two Cup victories are headlined by the remarkable triumph at the 2022 Daytona 500, marking an exhilarating start to his first full-time Cup season.
7. Bobby Allison
Years: 1974-76
Races: 56
Wins: 4
FYI: Among his celebrated four wins while racing for Penske, the highlight remains the thrilling 1975 Southern 500 victory. Ironically, none of these victories occurred during 1976, the first year that Penske fielded a full-time Cup car, although Allison excelled with an impressive 19 top-10 finishes that year, ultimately securing a commendable fourth place in the championship standings.
6. Kurt Busch
Years: 2006-11
Races: 216
Wins: 10
FYI: Penske was one of five different team owners for whom Busch celebrated victory in at least one Cup Series race. His best season with Penske came in 2009, a standout year with two wins, 21 top-10 finishes, and a solid fourth-place finish in the playoffs.
5. Ryan Newman
Years: 2002-08
Races: 296
Wins: 13
FYI: Newman burst onto the scene with remarkable speed. His first full-time season in 2002 was marked by immediate victory, winning races in each of his first four seasons while achieving numerous pole positions. His standout performance in 2003 is noted as one of the greatest seasons of this century, capturing eight wins and 11 poles during that year alone.
4. Ryan Blaney
Years: 2014 (2 races), 2018-24
Races: 254
Wins: 12
FYI: Blaney narrowly missed achieving back-to-back Cup championships when he finished a close second at the pivotal race in Phoenix. His journey began with his first career win in 2017, scoring with the Wood Brothers, and his impressive performances there earned him the sought-after seat at Team Penske.
3. Rusty Wallace
Years: 1980 (2 races), 1991-2005
Races: 494
Wins: 37
FYI: The majority of Wallace’s illustrious 55 career wins were secured under owner Raymond Beadle from 1986-90. During this time, he clinched the 1989 Cup title with Beadle and faced several near-title opportunities under Penske in 1992-93, racking up 18 victories in that span and finishing second and third in the championship standings.
2. Brad Keselowski
Years: 2009-21
Races: 435
Wins: 34
FYI: Keselowski began his Penske journey with three races at the end of the 2009 season, paving the way for a full-time 12-year tenure. The ultimate highlight of his career came when he secured the 2012 Cup Series championship, solidifying his status among NASCAR’s elite.
1. Joey Logano
Years: 2013-24
Races: 432
Wins: 34
FYI: Logano’s racing career initially appeared to face hurdles during his four seasons at Joe Gibbs Racing, as results did not meet lofty expectations. However, his fortunes turned around dramatically upon joining the Penske team, where he quickly emerged as a consistent contender for the championship, ultimately claiming the title three times, including his most recent championship victory in 2024.
