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Of the many new team combinations that will be followed with interest this Sprint Cup season, one of the most interesting dynamics exists at Penske Racing.

Brad Keselowski suddenly is the “veteran” team statesman, and the new kid on the block is AJ Allmendinger, fresh from Richard Petty Motorsports and ready to take advantage of a huge opportunity.

The Dinger was one of the biggest gainers in the off-season shuffle of drivers, crew chiefs and other team personnel, and his goal at Penske this season will be to win races and duplicate the overall Penske effort last year, which put Keselowski and then-teammate Kurt Busch in the Chase.

“This is a challenge that I welcome and look forward to,” Allmendinger said. “The two Penske teams were strong enough to both win races and make the Chase last year, and we’re looking for that same level of success this season. It’ll be important to start off the season on a positive note.

“Testing proved to each of us that, even though we haven’t had much time together, we all have the same goal and are really excited to get going. Testing also showed, though, that the drafting and NASCAR making changes to try and put forth the best racing possible, makes the Daytona 500 just about anybody’s game. I think we’ve got one of the best shots out there, and definitely a team capable of winning at any of the 36 races.”

Penske scored five wins last season, Keselowski winning three times despite a major foot injury and Busch winning twice. Keselowski finished fifth in points, and Busch was 11th.

Allmendinger was 15th in points for RPM.

Allmendinger will be shooting for his first career victory this season. He finished 24th in points in 2009 and 19th in 2010.

“I think it is a very realistic goal to win races and make the Chase this season,” he said. “I think Penske Racing proved last season that working with Dodge as only a two-car effort isn’t necessarily a bad situation. They proved that a smaller group with a strong common goal and clear way of doing things can be just as strong, maybe stronger.

“This is my second time around working with Dodge, and I’ve seen how dedicated they are to our sport. We’re really looking forward to taking them to victory lane this season.”

Allmendinger perhaps will be under more scrutiny than other driver this year.

“We have spent most of our time in NASCAR just trying to survive,” he said. “Getting this opportunity to drive the Shell-Pennzoil Dodge for Penske Racing is truly like a double blessing. I am finally getting the stability I have needed to do my best, but I am also realizing a dream in driving for Mr. Penske.

“Coming from my open-wheel background, Roger Penske and his organization and race teams are just the best of the best. I am committed to representing Penske Racing, Shell-Pennzoil, Dodge and all the other great partners the best I can on and off the track.”

Mike Hembree is NASCAR Editor for SPEED.com and has been covering motorsports for 30 years. He is a six-time winner of the National Motorsports Press Association Writer of the Year Award.

Source:SpeedTV.com

On Thursday, January 26 President of GM North America Mark Reuss, and Chairman of Crain Communications Keith Crain, will take the stage at the 2012 Washington Auto Show to present Roger Penske with the Keith Crain Automotive News Lifetime Achievement Award.

Automotive News reports, “The award is given annually to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the auto industry.” One look at Roger Penske’s accomplishments and it is clear to see that his contributions to the automotive industry have been nothing short of just that… significant.

Roger Penske’s passion for cars and the automotive industry started at a young age. The son of a car dealer, Penske spent his teenage years as a “lot boy” for a dealership while he honed his ability to build lasting and meaningful relationships with anyone he came into contact with. This quality is reflected in the words of his colleagues. Keith Crain had this to say about the Automotive News Lifetime Achievement Award recipient: “For his ingenuity as an entrepreneur and his passion for speed and the art of design, Roger Penske is a visionary in the automotive industry.”

The Penske Corporation oversees operations at more than 1,800 locations employing more than 36,000 people worldwide. The Penske Truck Leasing company, which provides customers with everything from complete fleet management to residential moving trucks, is comprised of over 1000 locations worldwide. The Penske retail automotive business has grown to over 325 franchises including the largest Toyota dealership in the United States. However, Roger Penske’s accomplishments are not confined to the automotive sales and leasing industry, Penske is also the recipient of the Sports Illustrated SCCA Driver of the Year Award.

The Penske Racing Team captured their first Championship Car victory in the Pocono 500 on July 3, 1971. Since then, they have stacked up 340 major race victories, over 400 pole positions and 23 National Championships. In addition to those staggering numbers, the Penske Racing Team has dominated the Indianapolis 500 by taking home 15 checkered flags over the last 4 years. The closest competitor has achieved this feat only 5 times in the history of the race.

The Washington Auto Show is the largest public show in the capital. Held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Northwest D.C., the event will feature more than 700 new makes and models from over 42 manufacturers. The Keith Crain Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented upon commencement of the 2012 Washington Auto Show on January 26 and it will be followed by a dinner reception at 7:00PM. For more information about how you can be a part of this celebratory award ceremony visit the Washington Auto Show website at http://www.washingtonautoshow.com

Information in this article courtesy of http://www.washingtonautoshow.com/

Picture Courtesy of http://www.trucktrend.com/

The Isaac Agnew Group of Northern Ireland is the most recent addition to the Penske Automotive family. The group, which sold 7,000 new units last year, is comprised of Volkswagen, Volvo, Porsche, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW/Mini franchises.

Chairman Roger Penske had this to say about the new acquisition, “This collection of dealerships has a strong legacy. The outstanding premium/luxury brand mix and leading market position of these dealerships provide an attractive entry point into this new market and complement our existing operations in the United Kingdom.”

The Isaac Agnew Group joins the 170 Penske Automotive franchises owned and operated outside the U.S. However, while expanding their reach to the UK, Penske Automotive has remained the second-largest automotive retailer in the United States.

Source: AutoNews.com

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. —Penske Automotive Group, Inc. reported sharply higher earnings as the dealership group sold more cars at higher prices throughout the quarter. Penske announced Wednesday that its net income rose to 61 cents per share from 33 cents per share a year earlier, a jump of 85 percent.

Revenue rose 11 percent to $2.95 billion from $2.67 billion. The results included an income tax benefit of 12 cents per share. Excluding that benefit and a loss of 1 cent per share from discontinued operations, the company earned 50 cents per share, an increase of 31 percent compared with adjusted earnings from last year’s third quarter. Analysts expected the company to earn 42 cents per share, after removing the effects of special items, on revenue of $3.04 billion. Separately, the company announced Wednesday it will raise its dividend to 9 cents per share, an increase of 12.5 percent. The dividend is payable Dec. 1 to shareholders of record on Nov. 10.

Penske owns 170 auto dealer franchises in 17 U.S. states and Puerto Rico and 155 dealer franchises abroad, mostly in the United Kingdom. The company sold 72,204 cars in the quarter, up from 67,994 in the same quarter last year. In a statement, Penske Automotive Group Chairman Roger Penske said the company’s new car sales where held back because Japanese automakers are still not able to return to normal production after the March earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

On another note, used car volumes rose 16 percent. Used car prices rose 2 percent to $26,404 per car. Gross profit per used car rose 3 percent to $1,978. Revenue at dealerships open at least a year rose 6.4 percent. This measure is considered a key gauge of a retailer’s performance.

Uncut- Local 4 Interviews Roger Penske

Source: Click On Detroit