Team Penske without a doubt had the best cars in the field in last weekend's NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500, and yet the organization left Daytona Beach without

Ryan Blaney, the recent Cup champion who came within 0.003 seconds of Daniel Suárez, won the pole position to lead the field to green. Ford drivers own nine of the first 10 starting positions in Sunday’s race — including all four members of the Team Penske/Wood Brothers Racing alliance on the front two rows.

Unlike the Daytona 500, Atlanta and the other NASCAR Cup Series races set qualifying during qualifying time trials.

According to The Athletic, the auto brand is aiming to rejoin the NASCAR Truck Series in 2026 with the goal of competing again in the Cup Series in 2027. From The Athletic:

NASCAR Cup Series' Ryan Blaney gets the pole position after Saturday’s qualifying session for Sunday's Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Christopher Bell edged Carson Hocevar and Kyle Larson in overtime Sunday in another close NASCAR Cup Series finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway