Co-Pilott Motorsports Marketing For MenardsRacing, Press Release
NOTES OF INTEREST ON THE CHARLOTTE CAR
Nextel Cup Primary Car: Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chassis #22/ Back up Car #37
Last Used: California Speedway (February 2007)
Fun ‘Cup’ Fact: Crew Chief Tony Eury Sr. and the Menards Racing team will bring a car identical to the team’s NASCAR Nextel Open entry from last weekend. While the two cars are virtually the same, set up wise, Menard favored this car over last weekend’s car during last month’s Charlotte Cup test.
OVERALL NOTES OF INTEREST
Paul Menard heads to Charlotte with his sights on making his way into the top-35 in points. Menard’s solid experience at the track (five NBS starts and one Cup start which resulted in a top-15 finish) is a motivating factor for the team hoping to climb out of the go or go homers and into a guaranteed starting spot.
Testing, Testing, One, Two, Three
Menards Racing was solidly in the top group of teams at the Charlotte test last month. The No. 15 team was third quick, in two of the four testing sessions and sixth quick in the final session of the two day test.
Over the Wall Crew Ready for the Extra Work
Menards Racing over-the-wall crew, trained by Walt Smith, is one of the best crews in the business. According to Walt, the team’s pit stop times are among the top-ten in the series. The team’s solid performance on pit road is something that gives Menard piece of mind on the race track. “It’s much easier to pass cars on pit road than it is on the racetrack and this team usually picks me up a spot or two on pit road.” Menard said of the over-the-wall crew.
COT Rookie Power
Menard’s battle for Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors has improved over the last few weeks. Menard stands third in overall Raybestos Rookie ratings. He has 82 points, 38 points behind Juan Pablo Montoya who leads the battle with 120 points.
Working Towards Top-35
The No. 15 team sits 38th in Nextel Cup Owner’s Standings, only 96 points outside of the top-35. Menard’s 31st place finish in the last race at Darlington helped the No. 15 team close the gap three extra points (prior to Darlington, the team was 99 points out of the top-35).
QUOTES ON CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY
Paul Menard on the Coca-Cola 600:
“It's a fast track and a great track to drive, but with the harder tire, you have to be really careful on those first few laps and let your tires warm up before you make any daring moves. Obviously you saw what can happen if you’re impatient early in the Open last week. But the good news is that we got the car handling really well during the test and I’m actually looking forward to 400 laps of racing at Charlotte.”
Nextel Cup Car Chief “B” Hoover on the Coca-Cola 600:
“Well we had a great test at Charlotte and we were really happy with our findings from practice last week so it should be a good weekend. It’s a long race and we’ve made some allowances for driver comfort in the car, like an extra water bottle for Paul and some heat shields on the headers, but as far as race set up is concerned 600 miles is really no different for us than say a 400-mile race.”
Paul Menard on his first season in Nextel Cup:
“We knew it was going to be a big struggle getting into the top 35 in points with probably the most competitive field of cars each week that there’s ever been in the Cup series. Missing Daytona put us back. It was nobody’s fault. We had a good race car and were in position to transfer from our qualifying race. The guy in front of me almost wrecked so we had to check up and lost all our speed. That allowed the other cars to catch up. ... It’s a tough sport for sure. These guys are good.”
Paul Menard on getting into the top 35 in the point standings:
“I think it’s reasonable to get in these next few weeks. Then we’ll be locked in with the top 35. Then we can concentrate on racing and trying to get some good finishes.”
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Menard's #15 to have Energizer on the Hood: #15-Paul Menard’s hood sponsor for the Pennsylvania 500 is Energizer Battery Company. Energizer is one of the world's largest manufacturers of dry cell batteries and flashlights.(Team Menard PR)(8-3-2007)
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Co-Pilott Motorsports Marketing For Menards Racing, Press Release
MENARDS RACING NOTES – MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
No. 15 Sylvania/Menards Chevrolet Monte Carlo – Nextel Cup
No. 15 Akona/Menards Chevrolet Monte Carlo – Busch Series
NOTES OF INTEREST ON THE MICHIGAN CUP CAR
Nextel Cup Primary Car:
Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chassis #022/ Back up Car #037
Last Raced:
Car #022 was raced at California in February (finished 20th) and at Michigan in June (finished 12th).
Interesting Cup Fact:
In two previous NASCAR Nextel Cup Series starts at Michigan International Speedway, Menard has completed all but one lap and even led a lap in competition this past June. In addition, Menard’s solid finishes of 20th (August – 2006) and 12th (June – 2007) point to added potential for Menards Racing come Sunday afternoon.
NOTES OF INTEREST ON THE MICHIGAN BUSCH CAR
Busch Series Primary Car:
Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chassis #012/ Back up Car #016
Last Raced:
Chicagoland Speedway – July 2007 (finished 6th)
Interesting Busch Fact:
Car #012 needed two clips and a new body put on it after the Vegas race, where Menard crashed on lap 132, but Menard rebounded from Vegas with a sixth place run in car #012 at Chicago last month. “This is Paul’s favorite car from 2006.” Crew Chief Mike Greci said. “And the way it ran at Chicago gives a lot of hope for a win come Saturday.”
OVERALL NOTES OF INTEREST
DEI and Menard Ready for Intermediate Track Success
Menard’s best Cup finishes have been on intermediate style race tracks. Not only did Menard finish 12th in the June race at Michigan, but Menard has had finishes of 7th (Atlanta – 2006); 14th (Charlotte – 2006); 17th (Homestead – 2006); 20th (California – 2007); and 15th (Texas – 2007) at this type of track. In 12 intermediate track starts, Menard has an average finish of 20th.
Special Paint Scheme
In addition to the special Sylvania hood, this weekend Menard’s #15 Menards Chevy will feature a special paint scheme to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1957 Chevrolet, one of the most recognizable cars in American motoring history. The scheme will include decals replicating the iconic 1957 car design.
Raybestos Rookie Power
Currently, Menard stands third in overall Raybestos Rookie ratings. He has 162 points; 50 points behind Juan Pablo Montoya who leads the battle with 212 points. Menard has won Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors in four events this season, including Michigan, Richmond, Phoenix and Watkins Glen.
Standings Status
Paul Menard is currently 36th in Driver’s Points, while the No. 15 team gained two positions to 29th place in Owner’s Standings following last weeks race at Watkins Glen International. The team is has a 299 point cushion on the top-35. Menard’s prowess on intermediate style racetracks should aid his Dale Earnhardt Inc. backed team in its quest towards the top-20 in owner’s standings.
QUOTES ON MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
Paul Menard on the 3M Performance 400:
It’s good to be back on a mile and a half. I like Michigan and California because you can pass in the corners and the way the groove is at this track, you’ll see guys racing three wide. I’m not sure what it is about Michigan that I like so much, but of course it helps to have had a top-20 in last year’s August race and a 12th place in June at the track. With that we know going into this weekend that we should be solid in race trim and qualifying I don’t worry too much about any more, thanks to being locked in.
Nextel Cup Car Chief “B” Hoover on the 3M Performance 400:
We think this is one of our best tracks for set up wise and Paul likes it helps. We had a great run last week and that momentum will definitely be
This paint scheme is pretty neat. Chevrolet does a lot for this sport and for our team so we’re happy to carry the company colors.
Paul Menard on the CARFAX 250:
Doing double duty with the Busch and the Cup car is definitely an advantage at a track like Michigan. Having an idea of how the track temperature is affecting the handling of the car is definitely huge at a place like Michigan. I heard it was going to be pretty cool in Michigan this weekend so that may not be such a huge advantage but the laps still help. We’ve been running really strong in the Busch car so it also helps to build up our confidence for Sunday.
Busch Series Crew Chief Mike Greci on the CARFAX 250:
The Busch program has been pretty solidly lately. Our last two finishes have been awesome and the only let to do is get a win for the Menards Racing Busch team. Paul and I have really gotten on the same page as far as car set up is concerned and I think that’s what you’re seeing in the results.
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Event / Date / Start / Finish / Laps Led / Notes
O’Reilly 200 / 8-20-03 / 16th / 21st / 0 / Running
Car Notes –
Nextel Cup Primary Car:
Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chassis #101 / Back up Car: #16
Last Raced:
This car was used as primary in the Bristol spring race when Menard missed the race. It has since been re-worked by Crew Chief Dave Charpentier and tested at Milwaukee last month with very position results.
Fun Fact:
Paul Menard’s Car Chief (“B” Hoover) was on Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Bristol Motor Speedway winning team (August 2004).
OVERALL NOTES OF INTEREST
Overview
While Menard has 26 NASCAR Nextel Cup starts to his credit, the Sharpie 500 will be Menard’s first start at Bristol Motor Speedway. Despite the impending milestone, Menard heads to Bristol Motor Speedway feeling more than ready to succeed at the ½ mile concrete oval in Tennessee. Not only is Menard backed by a team with proven success at the track, but he has some solid results from testing to bolster his confidence level.
Testing, Testing, One, Two, Three
During the NASCAR sanctioned Bristol test in March, 50 teams worked on COT cars. The No. 15 team worked through some issues during the first day and by day two everyone was extremely pleased with Menard’s lap times in race runs and the findings of the test session. Most recently, Menard tested the Car of Tomorrow at the Milwaukee Mile in July. Previously, Menard’s team has also tested the COT at South Boston Speedway in Virginia and USA International Speedway in Lakeland, Florida.
Car of Tomorrow
Menard’s performance during race day with the COT has been solid. At two of the five COT races he’s run in ’07, he’s won Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors. Richmond International Raceway and Phoenix International Raceway were the two tracks that previously held accolades for Menard’s performance and the team hopes to extend that success to Bristol Motor Speedway this Saturday night.
Busch Break for Menard
Menard will take a brief hiatus from the NASCAR Busch Series, despite logging his third series top-10 finish in a row this past weekend in Michigan, where the No. 15 team brought the Busch entry home in seventh place. Menard’s next Busch start will be at Richmond next month.
Raybestos Rookie Power
Currently, Menard stands third in overall Raybestos Rookie ratings. Juan Pablo Montoya leads the battle with David Ragan on his heels. Menard has won Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors in four events this season, including Michigan, Richmond, Phoenix and Watkins Glen.
Standings Status
Paul Menard is currently 36th in Driver’s Points, while the No. 15 team lost one position after Michigan to 30th place in Owner’s Standings. The team is has a 250 point cushion on the top-35. Menard aspires to be in the top-20 by the end of the season, a goal which is 323 points away from his current point count.
Bristol Quotes
Paul Menard Quote on the Sharpie 500:
“We’ve come a long way with the COT. We started at Lakeland in January and we’ve been testing the COT pretty regularly throughout the season. At first I wasn’t such a huge fan. It’s just a totally different feel. But by the second day of the Bristol test, we hit on some things with springs and the car was actually pretty good. Last time out, we didn’t even get a chance to do any race runs because we missed the show. But since that’s where our strength lies, I think we’ll be running in the top 15 or 20 most of the night and hopefully come away with our first top-10 of the season if we’ve got luck on our side.”
Paul Menard General Quote on the COT:
“Probably the biggest thing I like about the COT is it’s a bigger car, you can get in and out of it easy. If the car starts on fire you can undo your belts and hop out a lot faster than you could in our current car.”
Nextel Cup Car Chief “B” Hoover on the Sharpie 500:
“Dave Charpentier has been a great leader of this team in the last few weeks so if anyone’s going to figure out how to succeed with the COT, it’s going to be him. If anything, the COT evens the playing ground as far as the driver goes and Paul did a great job during the test in March, especially in race runs, so we’re definitely going in with high hopes this weekend. Being locked in the show lets us concentrate on those race runs, which like I said, were very promising during the test.”
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I heard all the RCR/DEI engines had valve spring retainer failures with excessive wear in the retainer area, possibly not correctly hardened?
These retainers were only used in the restrictor plate engines ( they use a lighter valve spring pressure due to the lower rpm NORMALY turned in restrictor engines ) so this doesent apply to previous engine failures and should not effect the rest of the season. Thank Goodness!
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Paul Menard Pre-Coca-Cola 600 Preview
Paul Menard Michigan NNCS & NBS Race Previews
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