Brooklyn, MI – Paul Menard turned in a season-best performance during the Citizens Bank 400 event weekend at Michigan International Speedway.  Menard accomplished the first mission by securing a place in the 200-lap event during Friday afternoon’s qualifying session.

“We slowed down from practice,” Menard said following his qualifying lap of 40... “But tracks temps are a lot hotter than they were in practice.”

With his two laps in the books, Menard had to wait out the remainder of go or go home cars to determine his fate.  

“It’s going to be close.” Menard said.  “I mean, it is close every week. So we’ll just have to wait and see.”  

Menard rolled off 38th for Sunday’s event and worked with Crew Chief Dave Charpentier to continually improve his showing in the first 100 laps.  

On lap 68 Menard was up to 26th place when the caution flag flew and the Menards Racing team went to work on the Chevy Monte Carlo SS.

Before coming to pit road, however, Menard maintained his position on the lead lap but stayed out one additional lap before pitting in order to lead lap 70 and gain the all-important five bonus points.  

The turning point of the race came on lap 115 when green flag pit stops had already begun and Menard had yet to come to pit road.  Charpentier assured Menard he had plenty of fuel and instructed the driver to stick to the plan.  When the caution flag flew on lap 115, the three DEI cars were running one, two, and three with Menard holding down the third spot.  

“Dave is the type of crew chief who has a plan and he sticks to it and that’s why we were on the right side of the caution flag and able to stay on the lead lap.” Menard said.

As the pit stops cycled through, Menard restarted the race in 13th place and hung onto a spot in the top-15 through the remaining 85 laps.  

When the checkered flag flew, Menard crossed the finish line in 12th place and won Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors for the third time this season.  

“We were pretty decent all day.” Menard said following the Citizens Bank 400.  “At the end we were legitimately a top ten car, and we finished 12th.   We made some good adjustments all day, made some good pit strategy, and that’s where we ended up.”