Ben Gitlin, a native of Stafford County, North Carolina, now serves as the interior and rear‑suspension mechanic for Ryan Blaney’s No. 12 NASCAR Cup Series entry, a role that has thrust him into the national spotlight.
From the Garage to the Pit Box
His fascination with motorsports began long before he could legally drive. At age twelve he started working alongside Jack Bailey, a childhood friend whose parents had known the Gitlin family for generations.
The two spent nine months at a racing school in Charlotte, North Carolina, mastering fabrication and welding, before Ben opted to focus on the mechanical side rather than get behind the wheel.
After stints with veteran driver Morgan Shepherd in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and a period of full‑time pit work, Gitlin caught the eye of Team Penske. In 2012 he joined the organization, where he now oversees the setup of the No. 12 car each week and makes real‑time adjustments to the rear end during practice sessions.
A Championship‑Year Milestone
The 2023 season added a dramatic chapter when Ryan Blaney captured the NASCAR Cup Series championship. At Richmond Raceway, the No. 12 car claimed pole position and won the opening stage, even though Joey Logano ultimately won the race, propelling Blaney to second in the points standings.
Off the track, Gitlin met his wife Victoria in North Carolina; they married in 2021 and have built a family of four children, a support system bolstered by his wife’s father, a former racer who shares the family’s racing heritage.
Looking ahead, Gitlin’s blend of technical expertise and deep‑rooted passion positions him as a key figure in the evolving landscape of NASCAR, where precision engineering continues to shape the sport’s future.