Paul Menard Wins His First Race At The Brickyard

Paul Menard gets his first Nascar Sprint Cup win at the Brickyard 400. Many people have talked about Paul Menard’s family sponsorship in the past saying that his daddy bought him rides not his talent. I think those Naysayers are eating crow now as Paul Menard was a tough competitor in the Brickyard 400 today. There just wasn’t enough laps left in the race for Jeff Gordon to get it done this time as he was the closest car to Menards Chevy in the closing laps of the race, Menard was speaking in victory circle when he said that near the end he was backing off of it, meaning that he was conserving fuel as they were a little worried about making all the way. He said when he backed off it the others behind him did the same. When Jamie McMurray ran out of fuel and slowed wit only a few to go Paul Menards crew chief Slugger Labbe cut the reigns and let Paul run it out. This was partly because he knew Paul could now make it all the way on fuel and partly because Jeff Gordon knew he could make it and was coming on with a full head of steam.

            Paul Menard grew up visiting the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as his father fielded Indy cars for many a driver, so those that thought Menard was just a home improvement store name didn’t have the entire picture did they? Every kid who has ever watched a race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway either in person or on Television has dreamed of racing there and winning there. In all of those years of Indy car racing, no Menard has ever won there, until now. We now have another first time winner in victory circle and at one of Nascar’s biggest venues as well. With this win and being in the top 20, Paul Menard is now in the hunt for a wild card birth into the chase for the Sprint Cup. A lot could happen through the remaining weeks until chase cutoff, just ask Dale Earnhardt Junior who finished 16th today and slid another spot down in the points to tenth today.

            The 88 team needs to get their stuff together or they will be on the outside looking in when the chase gets here. Junior led some laps today but pit stop cycles out of sync with the rest of the field left them hoping for a miracle that never materialized. Will this slide in the points lead to Junior not making the chase? I hope not but it just doesn’t seem like they can catch a break. Maybe I am bad luck and need to root for Jimmy Johnson instead? It just seems that whenever I pick a driver they end up sucking wind for some reason. I mean I was a mark martin fan after Rusty Wallace retired and Martin’s career fell flat. When he retired and then didn’t retire I got on the Junior bandwagon and now look! Maybe it is me? I think that I will buy a “48” sticker and put it on my truck to see if that helps. Sorry “Five Time” fans, its his turn to lose lol.

            Here is how they crossed the line today at the Brickyard. As usual head over to Nascar.com for the full field rundown.

Paul MenardJeff GordonRegan SmithJamie McMurray (I guess he had a little fuel left)Matt KensethTony StewartGreg BiffleMark MartinBrad KeselowskiKyle Busch

The points are looking like this after Indy.

Carl EdwardsJimmy JohnsonKevin HarvickKyle BuschMatt KensethKurt BuschJeff GordonRyan NewmanTony StewartDale Earnhardt Jr.

            There are now two drivers in the top 20 who have a win apiece qualifying them for the two wild card spots if the chase started today and they are Paul Menard and David Ragan. Regan Smith has a win but he is back in 26th and Trevor Bayne also has a win but his absence due to medical reasons has him mired way back in 51st position. They were never planning on running the entire season so that really is a non-story as far as wild card births are concerned.

            I’ll get into the rest of the weekend’s racing activities tomorrow, I have been driving my butt off today so I need to get some rest.

Stay safe out there.

TW

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