The Final Lap with Kerry Murphey

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.

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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.

Childress Statement on No. 27 Team Speculation

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.

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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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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