“We Have 74,000 People” – Roger Penske Flaunts Unmatched Racing Supremacy Over Rivals Rick Hendrick and Joe Gibbs

Roger Penske and his team Penske Racing is arguably the best auto racing company in the United States. This idea was further bolstered by his team's exploits in winning a third straight NASCAR Cup Series championship at Phoenix last Sunday. Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney finished 1-2 in stretching the team's dominant run in the Next Gen era.

This triumph couldn't have come at a better time for the veteran team owner. In fact, this win in Phoenix was an extension of how the other arms of Penske Racing have performed this year. They won the Indianapolis 500, the IMSA Weathertech Championship, the World Endurance Championship, and the 24 Hours of Daytona. It is indeed a long list and one that none of the other owners can match or come close to in the NASCAR garage. So what's next for Penske Racing, and what could his NASCAR team do to level up next year?

Roger Penske has immense trust and faith in his team members There's a different level of comradery among the team members at Team Penske. This was evident from Joey Logano's comments in the victory lane. "I've got the best team. I don't know if I'm the best driver, but I've got the best team." The same was reciprocated on the racetrack, as the two Penske drivers fought tooth and nail in the final few laps. It was hard racing, but nothing egregious that could derail Penske's hopes of a third title.

Although the 87-year-old owner isn't too invested in the daily operations of his team at NASCAR, his message and vision remain consistent every year. Moreover, this year's success across different series was a source of inspiration for his NASCAR drivers to add to the silverware. And this is indeed an advantage they have over their rivals in the Chevy and Toyota camps.

"I think that's been a great thing for us not only here in NASCAR racing but all other series. Because it rubs off. I mean, we talk about the 24 hours at Daytona that rubbed off on these guys; they're always asking me how we are doing. When you think about it, the number of people that we have that we touch, every race in our company, and we have 74,000 people that tomorrow are going to be just climbing the walls with happiness because of the success, that's what I'm in it for." Roger Penske said after celebrating a championship win in Phoenix.

He also shared the formula of success that has worked out for his team. And it is about putting the right people in the right places and nurturing them from the grassroots level. "We want to win properly. I think when you race in this league with the teams we have here. We didn't put them in from the top in the funnel; they came up through the bottom, every one of them. So they have that domain knowledge, which makes it so important, and they work as one team."

If anything, Roger Penske certainly has an eye for the talent. But with the legacy of his racing company, it isn't an easy task to handpick the drivers that represent his brand of racing. One that thrives on the success of championship wins. So the question begs, how does he identify the right drivers that would carry the flag of Penske Racing and elevate it to new heights?

Here's how Roger Penske picks his race car drivers Racing for Team Penske is indeed a massive undertaking. The history, the legacy across different disciplines of racing, is something that can be overwhelming for drivers representing the team colors. But the veteran owner has been able to identify the star, which he feels can sustain the pressure of delivering the goods. And not fold when the going gets tough.

Sharing his thought process in what he sees in his driver before roping them in, he said, "I think first we want drivers that have won in some series. Today the technical relationship with the crew chief or the chief mechanic, or the engineer is so important... You kind of look at that; do they have those attributes to be a part of that success, and we don't have to tell our guys what to do?" The 87-year-old owner added.

Looking at the last few years, Penske drivers have certainly stepped their game up and maybe overdelivered on their promises. It will be interesting to see if the likes of Rick Hendrick and Joe Gibbs have a rebuttal to this dominant run next year.