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Team Penske: Celebrating 50 years at the NASCAR Hall of Fame
By | Published: January 16, 2016 25
Photo by Bob Leverone/NASCAR via Getty Images
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Photo by Bob Leverone/NASCAR via Getty Images
Team Penske's 50-year anniversary is being commemorated at the NASCAR Hall of Fame this year. This limited-time special exhibit celebrates Team Penske's storied history over the past 50 years with cars, trophies and never-before-seen artifacts from Team Penske's archives, highlighting its successful NASCAR program as well as its achievements in open wheel and other racing disciplines over the years. It's on display from Jan. 21 through June 30.
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Getty Images
Fast facts
• 8 cars on display (including the first INDYCAR in the NASCAR Hall of Fame)
• More than 60 artifacts featured
• Team Penske began as Roger Penske Racing in 1966
• Won the first race entered, the 1966 24 Hours of Daytona
• More than 80 drivers have raced for Team Penske
• Over 420 combined wins
• Over 480 combined poles
• Combined 28 national championships
• 16 Indianapolis 500 wins
• 2 Daytona 500 wins
• Victory in the 24 Hours of Daytona
• Overall victory in the 12 Hours of Sebring
• Last American team to win a Formula 1 race
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Photo courtesy of NASCAR Hall of Fame
1963 Pontiac Catalina driven by Roger Penske
This is a replica of the 1963 Pontiac Catalina that Roger Penske drove to victory for car owner Ray Nichels in the NASCAR Riverside 250 race on May 16, 1963. This was one of 52 wins in his driving career from 1958 to 1964.
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ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images
Roger Penske drove a 1963 Catalian to victory for car owner Ray Nichels in the NASCAR Riverside 250 race on May 16, 1963. This was one of 52 wins in his driving career from 1958 to 1964.
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Photo courtesy of NASCAR Hall of Fame
1994 PRS-009 'Midnight'
Rusty Wallace drove this chassis (PRS-009) during the 1992-1994 NASCAR Winston Cup seasons and amassed a total of 13 wins. This ninth chassis assembled by Team Penske became known as 'Midnight' when it pulled into victory lane at Richmond International Raceway around midnight on Sept. 12, 1992.
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ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images
Rusty Wallace drove this chassis (PRS-009) during the 1992-1994 NASCAR Winston Cup seasons and amassed a total of 13 wins. This ninth chassis assembled by Team Penske became known as 'Midnight' when it pulled into victory lane at Richmond International Raceway around midnight on Sept. 12, 1992.
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Photo courtesy of NASCAR Hall of Fame
2008 Dodge Charger
On Feb. 17, 2008, this No. 12 Alltel Dodge Charger won the 50th running of the Daytona 500 with driver Ryan Newman at the wheel. Teammate Kurt Busch followed behind for a 1-2 finish. This was the first Daytona 500 victory for Team Penske.
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Nigel Kinrade Photography via Team Penske
On Feb. 17, 2008, this No. 12 Alltel Dodge Charger won the 50th running of the Daytona 500 with driver Ryan Newman at the wheel. Teammate Kurt Busch followed behind for a 1-2 finish. This was the first Daytona 500 victory for Team Penske.
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Photo courtesy of NASCAR Hall of Fame
2010 Dodge Charger
In the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series (now the XFINITY Series), Brad Keselowski led a total of 1,147 laps in the No. 22 Discount Tire Dodge Charger with six wins, five poles and 25 top-five finishes en route to claiming Team Penske's first NASCAR championship.
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Photo courtesy of AutoStock via Team Penske
In the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series (now the XFINITY Series), Brad Keselowski led a total of 1,147 laps in the No. 22 Discount Tire Dodge Charger with six wins, five poles and 25 top-five finishes en route to claiming Team Penske's first NASCAR championship.
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Photo courtesy of NASCAR Hall of Fame
2012 Dodge Charger
In the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, Brad Keselowski won five races in the famous No. 2 'Blue Deuce' and earned 13 top-five and 23 top-10 finishes, capturing Team Penske's first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship.
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Photo by Ronald C. Modra/Sports Imagery/Getty Images
In the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, Brad Keselowski won five races in the famous No. 2 'Blue Deuce' and earned 13 top-five and 23 top-10 finishes, capturing Team Penske's first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship.
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Photo courtesy of NASCAR Hall of Fame
1972 McLaren M16B
This is a replica of the 1972 Sunoco McLaren M16B driven by Mark Donohue. He captured Team Penske's first Indianapolis 500 victory after leading the last 13 laps of the race. This was his 50th win in six years for the team.
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Photo courtesy of NASCAR Hall of Fame
1988 PC-17
In 1988, Rick Mears qualified this Pennzoil PC-17 on the pole and won his third Indianapolis 500 and the team's seventh overall. Teammates Danny Sullivan and Al Unser Sr. qualified second and third, making Team Penske the first team in history to capture the Indianapolis 500 first row.
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Photo courtesy of Indianapolis Motor Speedway Collection via Team Penske
In 1988, Rick Mears qualified this Pennzoil PC-17 on the pole and won his third Indianapolis 500 and the team's seventh overall. Teammates Danny Sullivan and Al Unser Sr. qualified second and third, making Team Penske the first team in history to capture the Indianapolis 500 first row.
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Photo courtesy of NASCAR Hall of Fame
2008 Porsche Spyder
On March 15, 2008, this No. 7 Porsche Spyder won the 12 Hours of Sebring endurance race with drivers Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas and Emmanuel Collard. This was Team Penske's first overall win at Sebring and the first in 20 years for Porsche.
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Photo courtesy of Dan R. Boyd via Team Penske
On March 15, 2008, this No. 7 Porsche Spyder won the 12 Hours of Sebring endurance race with drivers Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas and Emmanuel Collard. This was Team Penske's first overall win at Sebring and the first in 20 years for Porsche.
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Photo courtesy of NASCAR Hall of Fame
Rusty Wallace 'The Last Call' Fire Suit, 2005
Rusty Wallace's 2005 season took on the name 'The Last Call' after Rusty announced his retirement.
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Photo courtesy of NASCAR Hall of Fame
Daytona 500 trophy, 2008
During the 50th Anniversary of the 'Great American Race,' Team Penske won its first Daytona 500 in a spectacular 1-2 finish with Ryan Newman and Kurt Busch.
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Photo courtesy of NASCAR Hall of Fame
Confetti from Daytona 500 Victory Lane Celebration, 2008
This is the original confetti collected off Ryan Newman's car after winning the 50th anniversary of the Daytona 500 on Feb. 17, 2008.
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Photo courtesy of NASCAR Hall of Fame
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship Trophy, 2012
In his third full season with Team Penske, Brad Keselowski won the team's first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship.
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Photo courtesy of NASCAR Hall of Fame
Indianapolis 500 Baby Borg Trophy, 1972-2001
The first time Team Penske entered the Indianapolis 500 was in 1969 with Mark Donohue, who earned 'Rookie of the Year' honors with a seventh-place finish. The team has since won 'The Greatest Spectacle in Racing' a record 16 times. The first win was in 1972 with Mark Donohue.
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Photo courtesy of NASCAR Hall of Fame
Nazareth Win Trophy, 2000
On May 27, 2000, Gil de Ferran led 68 of the 225 laps in the Bosch Spark Plug Grand Prix at Nazareth Speedway (PA) to give Team Penske its 100th INDYCAR win.
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Photo courtesy of NASCAR Hall of Fame
Indianapolis 500 Wreath, 2015
This is the traditional wreath that was presented to Juan Pablo Montoya after winning Team Penske's record 16th Indianapolis 500.
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Photo courtesy of NASCAR Hall of Fame
Pit Board, 1973
In the 1960s and 1970s, a pit board was used to communicate with a driver, since radios were not available at that time, to let him know where he was in a race, what his lap times were and if a pit stop was necessary. This is the pit board that was often held by Roger Penske to communicate to Mark Donohue and other Penske drivers.