As the NASCAR season heads into its second half, the No. 12 team of Team Penske is confronting a pivotal moment at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Early‑season results have left the crew languishing near the bottom of pit‑road efficiency rankings, having ceded 88 positions across the first eight races.
In response, team management announced a reshuffle of the pit crew just days before the Coca‑Cola 600, the longest race on the schedule. Veteran jackman Graham Stoddard, previously associated with Front Row Motorsports, will join the lineup, while Justin Fox replaces Zach Price as the rear tire changer.
The move comes after a series of pit‑road miscues that have hampered Ryan Blaney’s campaign, even though the driver broke through with a victory at Phoenix earlier this month and now sits fourth in the championship standings.
Crew chief Jonathan Hassler has been vocal about the need for improvement, emphasizing that a faster, more cohesive unit could be the catalyst for a deeper playoff run. The team’s leadership hopes the new faces will translate practice‑room chemistry into race‑day execution.
A New Look on Pit Road
Stoddard brings a wealth of experience from the No. 4 Front Row Motorsports Ford, where he honed his craft alongside a championship‑winning roster. Fox, meanwhile, steps into a high‑pressure role after a stint with the No. 22 Team Penske Ford, bringing fresh energy to the tire‑changing station.
The transition also marks the end of an era for Zach Price, who has been part of the No. 12 crew since 2021 and was a key contributor to the 2023 championship‑winning package. His departure underscores the unforeseen circumstances that forced the swap, as the originally planned exchange with Wood Brothers Racing never materialized.
With the Coca‑Cola 600 looming, the pressure is on for the revamped crew to prove that the changes are more than a reaction to early‑season setbacks. If they can tighten pit‑road performance, the No. 12 could emerge as a serious contender not only at Charlotte but throughout the remainder of the season.