The Final Lap – NASCAR News, Radio, Podcast

7-Paul Menard Holds Off Jeff Gordon to Win Brickyard 400

Surprise winners in 2011, take three. For much of its 19 years, Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s Brickyard 400 had been won by the greatest names in NASCAR: Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Jarrett, Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt, bill Elliott – champions all. No first-time winners in the bunch – until this July. Midwesterner Paul Menard wound up kissing the start-finish line bricks after prevailing in a torrid battle with four-time Brickyard 400 winner Jeff Gordon. Menard joined Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne and SHOWTIME Southern 500 winner Regan Smith to score a first victory on the schedule’s largest stages.

Paul Menard’s fuel mileage gamble paid off huge, getting his first career Cup Series win at one of NASCAR’s biggest tracks….The Brickyard 400

1 15 27 Paul Menard Nibco/Menards Chevrolet
2 8 24 Jeff Gordon Drive To End Hunger Chevrolet
3 27 78 Regan Smith Furniture Row Chevrolet
4 16 1 Jamie McMurray Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet
5 9 17 Matt Kenseth Crown Royal Ford
6 24 14 Tony Stewart Mobil 1/Office Depot Chevrolet
7 18 16 Greg Biffle Red Cross Ford
8 12 5 Mark Martin Quaker State/GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
9 5 2 Brad Keselowski Miller Lite Dodge
10 29 18 Kyle Busch M&M’s Toyota

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