Penske Buying NASCAR Charter From RFR For Blaney (Update)

Ryan Blaney's team will be chartered

UPDATE This rumor is upgraded to 'fact' today. Roush Fenway Racing confirmed it has sold a charter to Penske Racing, which needed one for the addition of the No. 12 NASCAR Cup car with driver Ryan Blaney to its stable for 2018. Roush Fenway sold the charter – NASCAR's form of a franchise that guarantees a spot in each race plus accompanying revenue — of its former No. 16 car, a charter it leased in 2017 to JTG Daugherty Racing. Roush Fenway, which has Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Trevor Bayne as its drivers, continues to own two charters.

01/02/18 Team Penske is going to buy a charter from Roush Fenway Racing (RFR), Sports Business Daily sources rumor, presumably to run starting for the '18 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season on its new No. 12 Ford driven by Ryan Blaney. The selling price was unclear, but charters have typically been sold for low seven figures since the system’s implementation in '16. It was also unclear whether the move would be officially announced, but RFR informed its shop of the move today.

The move by Penske to acquire a third charter was expected, as teams need to run charters on each of their cars in order to receive the significant financial benefits that come with it. Penske needed to purchase or lease a third one for '18 as it expands to a third car in the Cup Series. It was unclear how many teams Penske talked to about acquiring a charter. By selling one of its charters to Penske, RFR also keeps the charter in the Ford stable.

RFR after the sale will have two charters for its two Cup cars. Sources said that if the opportunity arose, RFR could expand back to three cars and buy another charter. RFR moved from three cars to two last season when it dissolved its No. 16 operation that had been driven by Greg Biffle. There were eight charter transactions during the first offseason under the system in '16, and there have been several more this offseason. Adam Stern/SBD