Penske wants to run Blaney full time in 2016

Ryan Blaney

Roger Penske wants Ryan Blaney to run a full NASCAR Sprint Cup season in 2016 with the Wood Brothers. Blaney, a Team Penske development driver, has been farmed out to the Wood Brothers for about 18 Cup races this year. Blaney has made four starts so far this season and finished a career-best fourth at Talladega three weeks ago.

A lack of available seats has made it difficult for Penske to give Blaney many opportunities, and the Wood Brothers alliance has worked well for both sides. "This is a partnership really with Woods' people and ours," Penske said before Saturday night's All-Star race. "We've got the technology and the ability to build the right pieces for them. It's like a brother-in-law."

Penske said he's not interested at this time in expanding his Cup program to three cars, but would like Blaney to run the full schedule in the #21 Ford assuming funding is found for the 21-year-old.

"I'd hope there can be an extension – we're going to run him in about 18 races, so if we can get sponsorship for him, that gives him a chance to take a look at extending that through a full season next year. That would be our goal," Penske said. Associated Press