Roger Penske is hoping to add to this week’s accomplishments with a pair of “crown jewel” wins this Memorial Day weekend.
Penske was one of five new members announced for the 2019 NASCAR Hall of Fame Class earlier this week. It was an accomplishment the esteemed man known as “The Captain” was honored to have bestowed upon him as he joined Jack Roush, Davey Allison, Alan Kulwicki and Jeff Gordon in the group that will be formally inducted on Feb. 1, 2019.
“I’m very appreciative of the honor,” Penske said upon learning of the news when his name was announced earlier this week. “Of course there are so many people that have helped me achieve so many things in the sport of NASCAR racing and I’m very grateful.”
Penske’s opportunity to add a pair of crown jewel victories to his win total this weekend will be in Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway as well as the 102nd running of the Indianapolis 500.
Penske’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series teammates Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski both start inside the top five in Sunday’s longest race of the season and neither take lightly the opportunity to drive for the legendary team owner.
“Roger’s contributions as a car owner combined with his contributions as a track owner put him in an elite category,” Keselowski said. “There are many car owners who have won races in the series and a lot of car owners who’ve won championships, which he’s done, but what he was able to do for the sport, professionally from a sponsorship and track perspective, really put him in a unique category to me.
“When you drive for Roger Penske, you are driving for someone that has raised the bar and challenges you to do the same. You just learn a level of professionalism that he’s brought to everything he touches.”
Ryan Blaney, who has seven Xfinity Series wins with Team Penske, will start eighth in the Coca-Cola 600.
“Roger has been a tremendous influence not only in my racing career, but for the motorsports industry worldwide,” Blaney said. “The Penske name has become a symbol of success on and off the racetrack. I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this honor. Without his leadership and knowledge, I wouldn’t be where I am now.”
Keselowski will also join Penske teammate Austin Cindric in Saturday’s Xfinity race at Charlotte.
Penske has four drivers entered Sunday in the Indy 500 with Josef Newgarden, Simon Pagenaud, Will Power and Helio Castroneves all hoping to bring Penske’s 201st career Indy Car victory home with the Borg Warner trophy in “The Greatest Spectacle of Racing.”
“If there was ever a person that deserved to be inducted into any racing Hall of Fame it would be Roger Penske,” Castroneves said. “He deserves it not only for what he has done in motorsports but also for the person he is. He is a leader for all of us and someone I have always admired throughout my career. Congratulations, Roger, on your induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. It has been such an honor to drive for you during my career. I hope to give you many more race wins in the future.”
All of Penske’s drivers will start in the top eight in the ‘500’ with Pagenaud the highest qualifier in second.
