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Team Penske Reassigns Pit Crew Roles Ahead of Talladega

Veteran Skip Flores moves to Zane Smith’s team as Keiston France joins Ryan Blaney’s crew in a bid to improve pit-stop performance.

Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 BodyArmor Zero Sugar Ford, pits during the NASCAR Cup Series Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on February 23, 2025 in Hampton, Georgia.

Overview

  • Team Penske has replaced veteran front tire changer Skip Flores with Keiston France on Ryan Blaney’s No. 12 team, citing the need to close performance gaps on pit road.
  • Skip Flores will now serve as the front tire changer for Zane Smith’s No. 38 team under Front Row Motorsports, which uses Penske-supplied pit crews.
  • Blaney’s crew chief, Jonathan Hassler, noted that while their pit stops were clean, they lagged behind competitors achieving faster low-8-second times.
  • The move has drawn criticism from fans, with many questioning whether a single personnel change can address broader team performance issues.
  • Keiston France, a rising talent from NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program, trained under legendary coach Phil Horton and is known for his discipline and work ethic.