Stability may lead to prosperity for new-look Penske

Considering the internal strife that engulfed Penske Racing in 2009, the organization has to look at the past season as a success.

Penske endured the impending loss of crew chief Pat Tryson, replacing driver David Stremme and the continued maturation of former Indy Car standout Sam Hornish Jr. in what was a trying year for the team.

With a new crew chief, Kurt Busch looks for his second career title in 2010. (Getty Images)

Tryson's announcement that he would leave the crew chief role for Kurt Busch's Miller Lite Dodge and move to Michael Waltrip Racing in 2010 came just before the start of the Chase. Busch had put together a solid regular season and was poised to try to win a second career Sprint Cup title.

But suddenly Busch was saddled with a lame-duck crew chief and a situation that at times became quite contentious.

"The timing isn't all that good, but it never is any good when you want to change direction in life," Busch said when the change was announced in September. "I did that back in 2005 at Roush Racing. There is never really a good time to bring things up."

Busch, who scored a win during the regular season, also went to Victory Lane once in the Chase and wound up fourth in the final points standings. That was a far cry from his 2008 performance, when he finished 18th and missed the postseason. The 2003 Cup champ looks back fondly on last season's effort.

"Pat and I had a great run together and we accomplished a lot this season," Busch said. "Am I disappointed we didn't win more races and a championship? Sure I am. But overall this team showed the kind of perseverance and cohesiveness worthy of a champion."

Stremme tried his best to persevere through a rough season after he was brought in to replace Ryan Newman in the Penske No. 12.

After spending 2008 competing in the Nationwide Series and serving as Penske's main test driver, Stremme was given another shot at running in NASCAR's top division.

Things did not go well; Stremme struggled all season before finally being replaced by Brad Keselowski, who will be the team's full-time driver in 2010.

"It doesn't matter if I'm out at the end of the year or they could be paying me $10 million to try to win the race, I run the same," Stremme said. "In this day and age it's hard, especially in the Cup series, to come right in and get going ... I'm thankful I got to drive this car and each week I got to run it, I gave 100 percent."

Hornish, no doubt, gave 100 percent as well and did show signs of improvement. But the former Indy 500 winner and IRL champion has not yet succeeded in stock car racing anywhere near the level of performance he displayed in the open wheel world.

"I feel that the entire No. 77 team has had a season of tremendous growth," said Hornish, who finished 28th in the final points standings. "We went from a rookie season without any top 15 finishes to having a year with nine top 15 and two top five results. We have run consistently better this year, and I am excited for the 2010 season to begin. I have learned so much as a driver, and the team has really come together as a cohesive group, so I feel that there are great possibilities for us next year."

Season preview

Busch headlines the Penske Racing title hopes for the coming year and will compete for his second crown with new crew chief Steve Addington.

Coincidentally, Addington worked with Busch's younger brother Kyle at Joe Gibbs Racing before being let go toward the end of last season.

"I guess you can say I have family experience," Addington said with a laugh. "But this is a great opportunity for me. This a championship-caliber team with a great driver, and with the resources and experience at Penske Racing, we have the opportunity to add to the team's success starting next season."

Keselowski will be added to the team's full-time lineup when he takes controls of the No. 12.

Keselowski, who has built the reputation as a controversial, aggressive driver in his short truck series and Nationwide Series tenure, believes joining the Penske operation is the biggest break of his professional career.

"I came to this [Penske] shop a year ago and looked around, and I came back again about two weeks ago, a week ago, something like that, and looked around, and it's a completely different feel, a completely different vibe," Keselowski said. "This whole company is on the upswing, and you can see it, and you can feel it. And I feel like I'm jumping on ship at the right time, so to speak. Everything is here to get the job done."

Penske will be the only Dodge team on the Sprint Cup grid next season and it remains to be seen just how much factory support the troubled company can provide,

The pairing of Busch and Addington should reap immediate results, and Keselowski has already proved he can win on the Cup level with his Talladega victory last season.

With Hornish showing the potential to continue up the improvement ladder, 2010 has the makings of a solid year for Penske and perhaps another opportunity for Busch to win that second championship.