Team Penske Warned Against Playoff Format Change After Disastrous Misstep NASCAR insiders raise concerns for Team Penske’s future as looming playoff format changes threaten to expose issues within the

The thunderous silence following the checkered flag at the cutoff race was a stark reminder of a dynasty momentarily interrupted. William Byron clinched his spot in the NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4 with a dominant victory in the 2025 Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway. His teammate, Kyle Larson, also clinched the final transfer spot on points, finishing 5th, making it a Joe Gibbs Racing vs Hendrick Motorsports showdown at Phoenix.

But for the first time in the Next Gen era, defined by the dominance of the ‘Captain’ Roger Penske’s organization, Team Penske was shut out of the Championship 4. This unprecedented lapse, coming after Joey Logano’s 2022 and 2024 titles and Ryan Blaney’s 2023 championship, was a significant misstep, especially with the looming existential change to NASCAR’