AVONDALE, Ariz.: Ryan Blaney is employed for a long time.
One of the expected free agents at the end of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series is no longer available after Team Penske announced Friday that they have signed him to a multi-year contract extension to drive the No. 12 Ford Mustang “for years to come.”
With an average finish of 6.3 in the opening three races of the 2020 season, Blaney is the current points leader entering Sunday’s FanShield 500 at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway. He has qualified for the series’ Playoffs in each of his three previous fulltime seasons.
In 165 starts, Blaney has captured three victories, one with the famed Wood Bros. Racing and two with Team Penske, including the Playoff race at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway last fall.
“Ryan is a true talent with a long runway ahead of him and we are excited to have him as a part of the future of Team Penske,” team owner Roger Penske said in a statement. “Since joining our team, Ryan has developed into a championship-caliber driver and his personality and engagement with fans has made him a terrific ambassador for NASCAR.
“In addition, Ryan has done a great job of working with our partners to support their activation and investment throughout each year. I am looking forward to even more success together.”
As a gifted racer at 18-year-old Blaney joined the Team Penske throne in 2012 competing part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. He earned his first victory for the Mooresville, N.C.-based team a year later at Kentucky Speedway.
Under the Team Penske Alliance, he joined the Cup Series fulltime in 2016 driving the famed No. 21 Ford for the Wood Bros. He won a year later in a dominant performance at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway.
Later that season, Team Penske announced the start of a third Cup team with Blaney behind the wheel of their No. 12 Fords beginning in 2018.
“I’ve always said, it’s been a lifelong dream to be able to drive a racecar for Roger Penske,” said Blaney. “I am proud of what we have accomplished with the No. 12 Team Penske Ford.
“It’s really exciting to know I will continue to drive for this organization in 2021 and beyond. I am fortunate to be surrounded by extremely talented people throughout the organization and have no doubt we will continue to compete for wins and championships well into the future.”
Blaney’s best finish thus far in 2020 is second in the season-opening Daytona 500.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
