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Bristol, TN – March 11, 2024 – The recurring issue of slow pit stops is casting a shadow over Ryan Blaney’s promising NASCAR Cup Series season, prompting a former key member of his pit crew to voice urgent concerns. Ryan Flores, who previously served as the tire changer for Blaney’s No. 12 Team Penske Ford, has stated unequivocally that significant changes are necessary to address the persistent pit road deficiencies plaguing the team.
The latest instance of this recurring problem occurred at Bristol Motor Speedway on Sunday, where Blaney, despite demonstrating championship-caliber speed for much of the race, lost valuable track position on nearly every pit stop. While these stops ultimately did not directly cost him the victory – a late caution and a strategic decision by crew chief Jonathan Hassler led to a different outcome – the cumulative effect of these delays has become a significant talking point. Prior to Sunday’s event, Blaney had already surrendered a combined 86 positions on pit road throughout the season.
The race at Bristol presented a classic "no-win" scenario for Blaney and Hassler. Leading the field late in the event, a caution flag forced a critical decision: pit for fresh tires and allow Ty Gibbs, who opted to stay out, to inherit the lead, or remain on track and risk facing a full field of competitors with older tires. The team chose to pit, a decision that, while strategically sound for tire management, ultimately handed the lead to Gibbs. Gibbs went on to hold off Blaney and Kyle Larson to secure his maiden Cup Series victory.
Blaney’s ability to consistently fight his way back to the front after each pit stop underscores the exceptional performance of his No. 12 Ford Mustang. The team has been among the fastest in the Cup Series this season, demonstrating the potential for race wins. However, this speed is being consistently undermined by the over-the-wall crew’s performance on pit road.
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Following the race, crew chief Jonathan Hassler acknowledged the team’s challenges while offering a degree of support for his pit crew. "I think they did a great job," Hassler told NASCAR.com. "We had a couple mistakes again, but they stuck with it. All of those guys are capable and we’ve stuck with them, and when everything was on the line the most, they followed through. The guys have a lot of potential. They have the ability. We’ve had some bumps in the road, some of which isn’t necessarily those guys or any one person; just kind of getting the whole group and the car and the team kind of in sync."
Despite Hassler’s measured response, the sentiment from former crew members paints a starkly different picture. Ryan Flores, speaking on the "Stacking Pennies" podcast with co-host Corey Lajoie, expressed grave concerns about the crew’s current state of confidence. "Now look, they have zero confidence. They’re gonna have zero confidence," Flores stated. "The one thing they did this week – yes, they lost a bunch of spots – but they kept them in the race. Look, it’s gotta get better. We can’t hide from it anymore, we can’t fluff it, it’s gotta get better. You cannot be continually 20th, 25th on speed on the day, especially in the first pit stall. They did everything they had to do to win the race, which at the end of the day, is what it’s about."
Flores elaborated on the positive aspects of the crew’s performance at Bristol, highlighting their ability to avoid critical errors that could have been more detrimental. "You didn’t have loose wheels, you didn’t have penalties, you didn’t stick him 30th like a lot of teams did with, we saw a bunch of equipment interference calls, which is when there’s a car parked in front of you, and you roll your right front into their pit stall. We saw a lot of speeding penalties. If you bury yourself in 30th at Bristol, your day is done, you’re a lap down. They didn’t do that to him; they kept him in the top-10."
However, Flores remained adamant that the current trajectory is unsustainable for a team with championship aspirations. "But when you’re pitting from the lead, and you’re going out sixth, there’s got to be something that changes," Flores asserted. "When I got pulled off of that car last year, we were way better than they are right now. At this race last year – this is the race I got replaced in last year – we were sixth overall on the day. … There comes a point where it’s ‘OK, we’ve given you guys enough runway. Something’s got to change.’"
The statistics surrounding Blaney’s pit stops this season are a cause for concern for Team Penske. While specific data on average pit stop times is proprietary, the consistent loss of track position on virtually every stop suggests a significant deficit compared to front-running teams. In a sport where fractions of a second on pit road can determine race outcomes, these recurring delays represent a substantial competitive disadvantage.
Team Penske, a powerhouse organization with a storied history of success across multiple motorsport disciplines, has typically fielded some of the most efficient pit crews in NASCAR. However, the No. 12 team’s struggles this season have raised questions about the composition and execution of Blaney’s current pit crew. Last season, the team reportedly made changes to the pit crew lineup midway through the year, with Flores being one of the individuals moved.
The pressure on Blaney and his team will continue to mount as the NASCAR Cup Series season progresses. With the playoff system placing a premium on consistent performance and race wins, the No. 12 team cannot afford to continue ceding track position on pit road. The urgency expressed by Flores, a former insider with intimate knowledge of the team’s dynamics, suggests that internal discussions regarding potential changes are likely ongoing. Whether Team Penske will heed these calls for significant adjustments remains to be seen, but the persistent nature of these pit road issues demands a decisive response if Blaney is to contend for a championship. The upcoming races will serve as a critical barometer for whether the team can rectify these deficiencies and unlock Blaney’s full potential.
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