In a strategic move ahead of this weekend's high-speed battle at Kansas Speedway, Team Penske has shaken up the pit crew for Ryan Blaney's No. 12 Ford Mustang. The change comes as the reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion looks to overcome early-season struggles on pit road, a critical component for track position at a 1.5-mile intermediate oval like Kansas.

The key adjustment sees Graham Stoddard stepping in as the new jackman for the No. 12 team. Stoddard, previously with Noah Gragson's No. 4 team at Front Row Motorsports, brings fresh energy to a crew that has been identified as a liability in the opening races of the 2026 season. Every second counts in the pits, and Team Penske is betting this swap will provide the consistency Blaney needs to contend for wins.

This personnel shift triggered a mini-domino effect across the garage. With Stoddard moving to Penske, Tommy Bebie from Rick Ware Racing's No. 51 team will fill the vacancy on Gragson's crew. The change is focused squarely on the jackman position, with the rest of the No. 12 over-the-wall crew remaining intact. The team's clear goal is to turn pit stops from a weakness into a strength, allowing Blaney to capitalize on the speed of his Ford and challenge for the victory under the Kansas lights.