Paul Menard

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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

Continue reading “Clinch Scenarios for Richmond, Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup”

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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

Continue reading “2011 Race #20 Results: Indianapolis Motor Speedway”

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Paul Menard stretches fuel to win Brickyard 400

By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

(July 31, 2011)

INDIANAPOLIS — Years ago, as a garage rat at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Paul Menard dreamed of winning a race at the vaunted Brickyard.

On Sunday, the dream came true. In a season full of improbable first-time winners in NASCAR’s foremost races, Menard, 30, stretched his fuel mileage and held off charging Jeff Gordon to win the Brickyard 400 at the 2.5-mile track.

The victory was Menard’s first as a Sprint Cup driver, and it catapulted him into the conversation for a wild-card berth in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Gordon, who closed rapidly over the final five laps, crossed the finish line .725 seconds behind the season’s fourth first-time winner.

“My first year here was 1989, that I can remember anyway—I think I was here when I was 3 or 4 years old, too,” said Menard, whose father, John Menard, has fielded IndyCars for a variety of drivers. “I just spent a lot of time in the garage area. I didn’t miss an Indy 500 from 1989 to 2003.

Continue reading “Paul Menard Gets First Career Cup Win, At Indy”