NASCAR 2025: Team Penske stars among five Cup Series drivers demoted at Kansas

An image of Team Penske NASCAR drivers Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano — Photo: © IMAGO

NASCAR Cup Series

Team Penske stars among five NASCAR Cup Series drivers demoted at Kansas

A flurry of NASCAR penalties at Kansas Speedway

Simmey Hannifin Donaldson

Sunday 28 September 2025 20:00 Updated: 21:24

Five NASCAR Cup Series drivers are set to be demoted ahead of the green flag at Kansas Speedway on Sunday afternoon, including all three Team Penske stars.

After a strong showing in New Hampshire last Sunday, the 1.5-mile track in Kansas City has proved a tougher challenge for Team Penske, with Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano and Austin Cindric qualifying 37th, 35th and 26th, respectively.

NASCAR RESULTS LIVE: Cup Series stage and race updates from Kansas Speedway

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Of course, Blaney did not set a lap time in qualifying after a crash in practice, as a result of which he will start Sunday's race in a backup car, which sees him demoted to the very back of the field.

However, after Team Penske made 'unapproved adjustments' to Logano's No. 22 and Cindric's No. 2, they will also join their teammate in being sent to the rear ahead of the green flag.

Unlike the Team Penske drivers though, Van Gisbergen and McDowell must also serve a stop-and-go penalty after taking the green flag.

NASCAR Kansas revised starting lineup

Here is the full Cup Series starting lineup for today's race, factoring in the above five drivers dropping to the rear ahead of the green flag.

Pos	Driver (Car No.)	Team
1	Chase Briscoe (19)	Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
2	Denny Hamlin (11)	Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
3	Kyle Larson (5)	Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
4	Chase Elliott (9)	Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
5	Christopher Bell (20)	Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
6	Carson Hocevar (77)	Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
7	Bubba Wallace (23)	23XI Racing Toyota
8	Ty Gibbs (54)	Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
9	Ross Chastain (1)	Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
10	Erik Jones (43)	Legacy Motor Club Toyota
11	William Byron (24)	Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
12	Tyler Reddick (45)	23XI Racing Toyota
13	Josh Berry (21)	Wood Brothers Racing Ford
14	Noah Gragson (4)	Front Row Motorsports Ford
15	Chris Buescher (17)	RFK Racing Ford
16	Austin Dillon (3)	Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
17	Alex Bowman (48)	Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
18	Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (47)	HYAK Motorsports Chevrolet
19	Ryan Preece (60)	RFK Racing Ford
20	AJ Allmendinger (16)	Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
21	Justin Haley (7)	Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
22	Todd Gilliland (34)	Front Row Motorsports Ford
23	John Hunter Nemechek (42)	Legacy Motor Club Toyota
24	Cole Custer (41)	Haas Factory Team Ford
25	Zane Smith (38)	Front Row Motorsports Ford
26	Kyle Busch (8)	Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
27	Daniel Suarez (99)	Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
28	Brad Keselowski (6)	RFK Racing Ford
29	Riley Herbst (35)	23XI Racing Toyota
30	Ty Dillon (10)	Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
31	Cody Ware (51)	Rick Ware Racing Ford
32	JJ Yeley (44)	NY Racing Team Chevrolet
33	Michael McDowell (71)	Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
34	Shane van Gisbergen (88)	Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
35	Austin Cindric (2)	Team Penske Ford
36	Joey Logano (22)	Team Penske Ford
37	Ryan Blaney (12)	Team Penske Ford