Everyone is hearing whispers (and shouts) that Team Penske might be staging a serious playoff comeback just as Toyota’s grip seems to be loosening. After Penske’s domination in New Hampshire, where Ryan Blaney won, leading 116 laps, and teammate Joey Logano racked up 147 laps at the front, it was a clear signal that Ford means business this postseason.

Meanwhile, Toyota’s previously strong momentum has shown cracks. At Loudon, in what was supposed to be their stronghold, their performance fell short, with Bell as their top finisher in sixth, while Penske and Hendrick more than held their own. And in Kansas, while Hamlin led a ton of laps, he couldn’t close it out, and handling issues surfaced amid relentless pressure.

So now the narrative’s shifting: Penske, once chasing, looks like it’s

See Full Page