For Team Penske , the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs have become familiar territory. Since the debut of the Next Gen car in 2022, the organization has produced three consecutive championships: Joey Logano in 2022 and 2024, and Ryan Blaney in 2023. This marks one of the most dominant playoff streaks in recent memory. Blaney’s consistent form has shown in 10 top-five finishes and six straight top-10s to close the regular season. But in the postseason, consistency is often tested at tracks where unpredictability reigns. That looming challenge has drivers circling one special superspeedway date on the calendar.

Talladega Superspeedway has long been known as the great equalizer. Its history is littered with last-lap wrecks and razor-thin margins that can instantly alter the playoff picture.

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