NASCAR Legend Dale Inman on the Biggest Threat to Joe Gibbs Racing: The Strong Rise of the No. 12 Team Penske Ford Mustang
In the high-stakes world of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, where every lap can shift the championship trajectory, few voices carry the weight of Dale Inman. The legendary crew chief, who orchestrated eight driver’s titles for Richard Petty across three decades of dominance, has seen dynasties rise and fall. Now, at 88, Inman is sounding an alarm for one of NASCAR’s most formidable operations: Joe Gibbs Racing. In a recent episode of the Petty Race Recap podcast, Inman pinpointed the surging No. 12 Team Penske Ford Mustang—piloted by reigning 2023 champion Ryan Blaney—as the most pressing external danger to JGR’s title aspirations. “The Fords were dominant yesterday,” Inman remarked, referencing the recent New Hampshire Motor Speedway showdown. “And with Phoenix as the finale, where Penske has owned the place, that No. 12 is the one keeping me up at night.”
It’s a stark assessment, especially as JGR entered the playoffs as the team to beat. With four drivers—Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell, Chase Briscoe, and Ty Gibbs—advancing deep into the postseason, Gibbs’ Toyotas swept the Round of 16, showcasing the kind of mechanical precision and strategic depth that has netted them five Cup Series championships since 1992. Hamlin, the points leader heading into the Round of 12, tied for the most wins this season with four, including a gritty victory at Gateway that echoed his veteran savvy. Bell, the young phenom, added three triumphs, his aggressive style propelling JGR to a near-perfect start in the elimination rounds. Briscoe, the newcomer from Stewart-Haas Racing, brought fresh energy with a win that locked him in, while Gibbs, the 22-year-old grandson of team owner Joe Gibbs, flashed potential despite a learning curve.
Yet, the cracks appeared dramatically at New Hampshire on September 21, the opener of the Round of 12. What was billed as JGR’s coronation lap turned into a cautionary tale. Hamlin, mentoring the fiery Gibbs, tangled with his teammate in Stage 2, spinning both Toyotas and igniting a post-race feud that dominated headlines. Hamlin, finishing 12th after clawing back, vented on his Actions Detrimental podcast about the need for internal unity, lamenting how non-playoff drivers like Gibbs must yield to championship contenders. “Hendrick and Penske do it right,” Hamlin said, highlighting the disciplined teamwork that has eluded JGR at critical moments. Bell salvaged sixth place, but the team’s highest finisher couldn’t mask the dysfunction. Crew chief Chris Gabehart later admitted, “We’ve got a lot of work to do,” underscoring the vulnerability exposed on the 1.058-mile oval.
Enter Team Penske, the silent assassins of the 2025 season. While JGR imploded, Blaney and Joey Logano orchestrated a masterclass, sweeping both stages, leading 253 laps combined, and delivering Blaney his third victory of the year. The No. 12 Menards/Libman Ford Mustang Dark Horse started second, won Stage 1, and powered to the checkered flag, securing Penske’s first automatic berth into the Round of 8. Logano, the three-time defending champion entering 2025, slotted fourth, his No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil machine untouchable on the flat, one-mile layout reminiscent of Phoenix Raceway—the playoff finale where Penske has claimed the last three titles. Blaney’s runner-up finishes in the past two Phoenix finales aren’t coincidence; they’re blueprint. As Inman noted, “The two tracks are somewhat alike,” a nod to how New Hampshire’s banking and grip preview the desert showdown.
Blaney’s ascent in the No. 12 has been meteoric. After narrowly missing back-to-back titles in 2024 with three wins and 18 top-10s, the 31-year-old Ohio native has elevated Penske’s Ford program to new heights. His 2025 stats—three victories, consistent top-fives, and a penchant for leading laps (116 at New Hampshire alone)—position him as the playoff’s X-factor. Crew chief Jonathan Hassler, in his third year with Blaney, has fine-tuned the Mustang’s aero package, making it a beast on intermediate tracks like Kansas Speedway, site of the next Round of 12 race on September 28. Penske’s internal harmony contrasts sharply with JGR’s turmoil; Austin Cindric, despite a 17th at New Hampshire, remains in striking distance at 10th in playoffs, 19 points from elimination, ready to play spoiler if needed.
Inman’s warning isn’t hyperbole—it’s history repeating. He recalls the 1970s, when Petty’s STP Plymouth faced Ford’s relentless charge, only to adapt or perish. For JGR, the No. 12 isn’t just a car; it’s a symbol of Penske’s engineering edge, honed by Roger Penske’s empire that spans IndyCar dominance to IMSA success. Ford’s resurgence, bolstered by Roush Yates engines, has given the Mustang Dark Horse a horsepower edge estimated at 15-20 over Toyotas in restrictor-plate scenarios, though NASCAR’s parity rules keep it close. Still, Blaney’s versatility—wins on ovals, road courses, and short tracks—makes him the wildcard. “He’s got that quiet fire,” Inman said. “And with Logano lurking, Penske doesn’t need heroes; they breed them.”
As the playoffs tighten—eight drivers left after Kansas and Bristol—JGR must heal its fractures. Owner Joe Gibbs, the Hall of Fame NFL coach turned racing mogul, called an emergency competition meeting post-New Hampshire, emphasizing the “team above all” ethos that built his empire. Hamlin and Gibbs’ reconciliation could unlock the Toyotas’ raw speed, but distractions like the Mexico City tire debacle earlier this year linger. Bell remains a safe bet for the Final 4, his March Phoenix win a morale booster, but Hamlin’s experience and Briscoe’s hunger could falter without cohesion.
Penske, meanwhile, plots quietly. Blaney’s top-five streak at Bristol (fourth last weekend) sets up a potential sweep, while Logano eyes a fourth straight crown. Inman’s verdict? The No. 12’s rise isn’t a fluke—it’s a reckoning. For JGR, ignoring it risks relegation to also-ran status in a season defined by Ford’s resurgence. As Petty quipped on the podcast, “The King’s seen threats before, but this one’s got teeth.” With 700 miles of playoff fury ahead, Blaney’s Mustang could bite deepest, leaving Gibbs to wonder if their dynasty’s next chapter is written in blue oval ink.
