NASCAR Cup Series

Penske wants Ryan Blaney in full-time Cup ride for 2016

Published May. 16, 2015 10:02 p.m. ET

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CONCORD, N.C. (AP) Roger Penske wants Ryan Blaney to run a full NASCAR Sprint Cup season in 2016 with the Wood Brothers.

Blaney, a Team Penske development driver, has been farmed out to the Wood Brothers for about 18 Cup races this year. Blaney has made four starts so far this season and finished a career-best fourth at Talladega three weeks ago.

A lack of available seats has made it difficult for Penske to give Blaney many opportunities, and the Wood Brothers alliance has worked well for both sides.

''This is a partnership really with Woods' people and ours,'' Penske said before Saturday night's All-Star race. ''We've got the technology and the ability to build the right pieces for them. It's like a brother-in-law.''

Penske said he's not interested at this time in expanding his Cup program to three cars, but would like Blaney to run the full schedule in the No. 21 Ford assuming funding is found for the 21-year-old.

''I'd hope there can be an extension - we're going to run him in about 18 races, so if we can get sponsorship for him, that gives him a chance to take a look at extending that through a full season next year. That would be our goal,'' Penske said.

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