Team Penske announced Friday plans to expand their NASCAR Xfinity Series program to two cars in 2017.

Team officials said the second entry will give Ford Performance an opportunity to expand their driver developmental program as both organizations build toward the future.

Team Penske began competing full-time in the Xfinity Series in 2009 and won the driver's championship in 2010 with Brad Keselowski. From 2001 to 2008, the team won nine races with drivers Ryan Newman and Kurt Busch, including Busch's first ever win in the Xfinity Series. Since joining Ford in 2013, Penske has won 29 races and two Xfinity Series owners' championships.

"Our NASCAR Xfinity Series program has been one of the best in the series since we started running full-time in 2009," said team owner Roger Penske. "For several years, we ran it as a two-car operation and then decided to focus primarily in the No. 22 for the last few years. Along the way, we developed a lot of people that have moved into our Cup programs, including all of our current NASCAR Sprint Cup crew chiefs."

Team officials said Friday that sponsorship and driver lineups will be announced at a later date.

"Obviously, we've really enjoyed our relationship with Team Penske and the success that they've brought to the Ford family in the NASCAR Xfinity Series," said Dave Pericak, Director of Ford Performance. "The addition of a second Team Penske Xfinity Series car will allow all of us to work on developing talent behind the wheel and across the board.