By: Toby Christie – Follow on Twitter @Tobalical

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

1. 33-Paul Menard
2. 18-Denny Hamlin
3. 6-Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
4. 3-Austin Dillon
5. 2-Elliott Sadler
6. 54-Kurt Busch
7. 88-Cole Whitt
8. 38-Kasey Kahne
9. 30-Steve Arpin
10. 44-Mike Bliss
11. 11-Brian Scott
12. 20-Joey Logano
13. 22-Brad Keselowski
14. 12-Sam Hornish Jr.
15. 70-Johanna Long
16. 31-Justin Allgaier
17. 7-Danica Patrick
18. 43-Michael McDowell
19. 09-Ryan Truex
20. 5-Dale Earnhardt Jr.
21. 08-Kyle Fowler
22. 10-Jeff Green
23. 81-Jason Bowles
24. 01-Mike Wallace
25. 4-Danny Efland
26. 41-Timmy Hill
27. 40-Erik Darnell
28. 19-Tayler Malsam
29. 15-Blake Koch
30. 27-David Ragan
31. 39-Kelly Bires
32. 42-Josh Wise
33. 87-Joe Nemechek
34. 75-Scott Riggs
35. 47-Scott Speed
36. 46-Chase Miller
37. 51-Jeremy Clements
38. 52-Tim Schendel
39. 23-Robert Richardson Jr.
40. 50-T.J. Bell
41. 24-Benny Gordon
42. 14-Eric McClure
43. 74-Kevin Lepage

– 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.