MENARDS RACING NOTES – NEW HAMPSHIRE INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
No. 15 Sylvania/Menards Chevrolet Impala – Nextel Cup
NOTES OF INTEREST ON THE NEW HAMPSHIRE CAR
Nextel Cup Primary Car: Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chassis #019/ Back up Car #022
Last Used: Car #019 was tested at Iowa Speedway last month. Prior to the test, it was raced at the following tracks: Phoenix – April 2007 (qualified 33rd; finished 25th ) Richmond – May 2007 (qualified 33rd; finished 16th) New Hampshire – July 2007 (qualified 35th; finished 39th)
Interesting Cup Fact: Car #19 was the team’s early season favorite COT car. In two of three race day appearances of #19, Menard won Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors (Phoenix and Richmond).
OVERALL NOTES OF INTEREST
Testing, Testing, One, Two, Three
Milwaukee Mile – Menards Racing tested at the Milwaukee Mile in June in preparation for the two events at NHIS. The results of the test were extremely positive according to Crew Chief, Dave Charpentier. Specifically, Charpentier says the team worked to achieve a combination of controlling the body attitude and having solid entry in the corner, while maintaining forward bite on exit.
Iowa Speedway – Two weeks ago, the No. 15 team tested at Iowa Speedway to further advance its COT program. The team spent two solid days working on its NASCAR Nextel Cup efforts, alongside the No. 8 and No. 1 teams.
Sylvania and Menards Racing - Hometown Pride
Not only is Sylvania the title sponsor of this weekend’s race, but it’s also Menard’s hood sponsor on the No. 15 Menards Chevrolet. The company is based in nearby Danvers, Massachusetts and has been a partner sponsor to the Menards Racing program since Menard joined Dale Earnhardt Inc. in 2004.
Raybestos Rookie Power
Currently, Menard stands third in overall Raybestos Rookie ratings. He has 176 points; 42 points behind Juan Pablo Montoya who leads the battle with 218 points. Menard has won Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors in four events this season, including Richmond, Michigan, Phoenix and Watkins Glen.
Standings Status
After Paul Menard’s 26th place run at Richmond, he currently sits 34th in Driver’s Points, while the No. 15 team maintained it's 29th place spot in Owner’s Standings. The team is has a 287 point cushion on the top-35. Menard’s proven success at New Hampshire International Speedway should aid his Dale Earnhardt Inc. backed team in its quest towards the top-20 in owner’s standings.
QUOTES ON NEW HAMPSHIRE INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
Paul Menard on the Sylvania 300: “I really like racing at New Hampshire International Speedway and it’s definitely an honor to carry the colors of Sylvania on our hood this weekend. This track is a lot like the Milwaukee Mile and last year’s win at the Mile will definitely be on my mind this weekend. It helps to have tested a bunch in the COT, at Milwaukee and Iowa, so we should have a handle on things come Friday during practice. I’ll definitely do my best to put on a good show and run up front for Sylvania.”
Nextel Cup Crew Chief Dave Charpentier on the Sylvania 300: “This is the sort of track that Paul excels at, so I think we’re looking forward to a great weekend for Sylvania and for Menards Racing. It helps to have momentum from a great test at Talladega, coming into an event like this where we really want to do well for the sponsor. We’re taking the same car back that we raced here in July and we’ve made some slight modifications to it based on the findings of our test at Iowa last month.”
