Car Notes - Energizer/Menards Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS
Nextel Cup Primary Car:Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chassis #038/ Back up Car #037
Last Used: Menard raced #038 at Chicagoland where the team faced motor problems early in the race. Previously, Menard raced #038 at Pocono in June, where he qualified 21st and finished 28th.
Fun ‘Cup’ Fact: Menard and his Crew Chief, Dave Charpentier, consider #038 a rocket ship. Last time at Pocono, Menard drew the dreaded first spot for qualifying and still ran a lightening fast lap that put him easily in the race.
Testing, Testing, One, Two, Three
While Menard spent this week preparing for next weekend’s Busch Series and Nextel Cup events at Watkins Glen International, the team has completed two solid intermediate track tests in the past two months, which have resulted in solid finishes for Menards at ‘big, fast, tracks’ according to Dave Charpentier.
Menard’s best Cup finishes have been on intermediate style race tracks. Not only did Menard finish 12th in last months 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 10 intermediate track starts, Menard has an average finish of 20th.
Menard Ready for Second Pocono Start
Menard’s last visit to Pocono was his first and was quite a bit more stressful based on the team’s standing outside the top-35. Menard returns with provisional status and a chance to further stretch his wings as a Raybesto Rookie driver.
Menard Unstoppable with Energizer on the Hood
Menard’s hood sponsor for the Pennsylvania 500 is Energizer Battery Company. With a sponsor that keeps going and going and going, Menard should be poised for a season best finish at Pocono Raceway. His previous best finish of the season is 12th place at Michigan International Raceway. Energizer is one of the world's largest manufacturers of dry cell batteries and flashlights.
Raybestos Rookie Power
“Being a rookie in the draft is tough.” Menard has said of racing at Daytona. “The veteran drivers are used to working with each other so until I can earn their respect it’s tough to say who I can rely on out there.”
Currently, Menard stands third in overall Raybestos Rookie ratings. He has 113 points; 77 points behind Juan Pablo Montoya who leads the battle with 190 points. Menard has won Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors in three events this season, including Michigan, Richmond and Phoenix.
Points Report
Paul Menard is currently 38th in Driver’s Points, while the No. 15 team sits 30th in Owner’s Standings, 306 points inside of the top-35. Last week in Indianapolis, Menard’s 20th place finish moved him further up the ladder towards the top-20 in NASCAR Nextel Cup Owners Standings, which Menard says is his goal for the end of the season.
Daytona Quotes:
Paul Menard on the Cup Race:
"This was the last track that I hadn’t raced at and now it’s a track that I can say I will look forward to going back to. I’m not sure what it is about Pocono and Indy but they are two tracks definitely suits my style of racing Last week when I got out of the car at Indianapolis (after finishing 20th) I said to Dave, that was fun. Indy and Pocono are so similar that I think this weekend will be really good too. Just need to keep logging top-20 finishes and I will be feeling really good."
Nextel Cup Crew Chief Dave Charpentier on the the Cup Race:
"Looking forward to the second time around at Pocono. Based on how we qualified last time out, I think we’ll be pretty strong in qualifying and probably have a decent starting spot, which is a key at Pocono. Paul is an extremely intelligent thinking driver and that helps me as a crew chief as far as car set up and what works in race trim."
