Photo Credit: Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR
1 33 Paul Menard(i) Menards/Rheem Chevrolet 29.717 181.714
2 18 Denny Hamlin(i) SportClips Toyota 29.886 180.687
3 6 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Pure Michigan Ford 29.934 180.397
4 3 Austin Dillon # American Ethanol Chevrolet 29.974 180.156
5 2 Elliott Sadler OneMain Financial Chevrolet 29.979 180.126
6 54 Kurt Busch(i) Monster Energy Toyota 30.085 179.491
7 88 Cole Whitt # TaxSlayer.com Chevrolet 30.103 179.384
8 38 Kasey Kahne(i) Great Clips Chevrolet 30.224 178.666
9 30 Steve Arpin Mike’s On The Rocks Chevrolet 30.232 178.619
10 44 Mike Bliss TriStar Motorsports Toyota 30.264 178.430
11 11 Brian Scott Dollar General Toyota 30.299 178.224
12 20 Joey Logano(i) GameStop/Batman2DCSuperHeroes Toyota 30.357 177.883
13 22 Brad Keselowski(i) Discount Tire Dodge 30.382 177.737
14 12 Sam Hornish Jr. Wurth Dodge 30.383 177.731
15 70 Johanna Long # Foretravel Chevrolet 30.383 177.731
16 31 Justin Allgaier Brandt Chevrolet 30.392 177.678
17 7 Danica Patrick GoDaddy.com Chevrolet 30.394 177.667
18 43 Michael Annett Pilot/Flying J Ford 30.530 176.875
19 09 Ryan Truex Grime Boss Toyota 30.587 176.546
20 5 Dale Earnhardt Jr.(i) Degree Chevrolet 30.675 176.039
21 08 Kyle Fowler Randy Hill Racing Ford 30.757 175.570
22 10 Jeff Green TriStar Motorsports Toyota 30.826 175.177
The Paul Menard Empire must be high-fiving this evening. They are the loyal fans of Paul Menard. They have faithfully stood beside their driver through his humble beginnings, and are now reaping the benefits since he went to Richard Childress Racing.
Menard turned the fastest lap in NASCAR Nationwide Series qualifying with a speed of 181.714 mph. Menard was the only driver fast enough to crack the 181 mile-per-hour barrier. This pole marks Menard’s fifth career Nationwide Series pole.
Denny Hamlin will make it an all Sprint Cup regular front row, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was third followed by Austin Dillon and Nationwide point leader Elliott Sadler.
Other notable starters included: Kurt Busch (6th), Cole Whitt (7th), Kasey Kahne (8th), Danica Patrick (17th) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (20th).
The two drivers who have to take their equipment home early are Morgan Shepherd and Joe Jackson.
Here is the full starting lineup for tonight’s O’Reilly Auto Parts 300
– Toby Christie is the lead Motorsports writer for Sicknissified.com, and he can be reached via twitter or email. Tweet him @Tobalical or email him at tobalical@sicknissified.com. You can also find his work at TheFinalLap.com this weekend.
March 7, 2012 — NASCAR drivers Regan Smith and Paul Menard, along with Smith’s wife Megan and a friend of the Smiths, escaped injuries in a Colorado road accident today (Wednesday, approximately 8:45 a.m. MT). The foursome was on the way to a nearby ski slope.
Smith lost control of his Silverado truck after hitting a patch of ice near his mountain home in Evergreen, outside of Denver. The truck slid off the road and crashed into a collection of trees.
WELCOME, N.C. (February 6, 2012) – Entering their ninth season with Richard Childress Racing driver Paul Menard, PEAK® Performance announced today the No. 27 Chevrolet will sport an exciting and electric look during 2012 Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway.
Expanding on their hood sponsorship of the Menards Chevrolet, PEAK has redesigned the No. 27 Impala to be completely adorned with the signature “PEAK blue” and “Menards yellow” as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series kicks off the season with the 54th running of the “Great American Race” on February 26. The special paint scheme will also be showcased in the Budweiser Shootout on February 18 and the Duel 150 qualifying race on February 23.
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.
WELCOME, N.C. (September 16, 2011) – The following is a statement by Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing, regarding speculation surrounding RCR’s No. 27 team last week at Richmond International Raceway:
“There were no team orders despite all the speculation in the media. I know Paul Menard well enough that he wouldn’t have spun out on purpose even if he had been asked. We are at Chicagoland Speedway to win the race and get a great start toward the championship.”
There will be no further statements from RCR about the issue.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Sept. 6, 2011) – With only one race remaining until the 12-driver Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup is set, eight drivers have clinched a top-10 spot – Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Matt Kenseth, Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch and Ryan Newman. Brad Keselowski, with three victories, has clinched at least a Wild Card berth. He remains eligible to earn a top-10 spot.
Heading into the final race of the regular season, here are the clinch scenarios for the remaining three Chase spots.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Earnhardt is currently 25 points ahead of 11th place. Regardless of any other driver’s finish, Earnhardt will clinch if he finishes:
· 20th or better
· 21st or better and leads at least one lap
· 22nd or better and leads the most laps
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March 7, 2012 — NASCAR drivers Regan Smith and Paul Menard, along with Smith’s wife Megan and a friend of the Smiths, escaped injuries in a Colorado road accident today (Wednesday, approximately 8:45 a.m. MT). The foursome was on the way to a nearby ski slope.
WELCOME, N.C. (February 6, 2012) – Entering their ninth season with Richard Childress Racing driver Paul Menard, PEAK® Performance announced today the No. 27 Chevrolet will sport an exciting and electric look during 2012 Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway.
7-Paul Menard Holds Off Jeff Gordon to Win Brickyard 400
