BLANEY LANDS WITH PENSKE

Ryan Blaney will be back under the Team Penske umbrella in 2018, as team owner Roger Penske expands to a third car in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Team Penske announced that the 23-year-old would leave the Wood Brothers for a No. 12 Ford, joining Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano, both of whom signed multiyear extensions this season. Blaney will take crew chief Jeremy Bullins with him, but his sponsor was not announced. Veteran Paul Menard, 36, was named as Blaney’s replacement in the No. 21 Ford after leaving Richard Childress Racing in another move. As has been the case throughout his 14 years at NASCAR’s top level, Menard will bring the might of his billionaire father’s massive home improvement empire to the Wood Brothers. RCR did not immediately announce plans to fill its empty seat.