DARLINGTON, S.C. (May 11, 2008) – Paul Menard has always been a fan of the racing action at the famed Darlington Raceway.  However, his affinity for the track was challenged this weekend as he faced an array of difficulties at the 1.33-mile egg shaped oval.
 
“It was just a tough weekend overall, for the Menards/Dale Earnhardt Inc. team,” Menard said following the 367-lap event.  “Doug and the boys on the team were awesome, as usual, but we just couldn’t catch a break with the Lady in Black.”
 
After making significant strides in three of four practices sessions, Menard and his DEI backed team turned their attention to a practice qualifying run during Happy Hour.  In the final minutes of practice, Menard came off turn four, scraped the wall, then came down and slapped the inside wall.  The team worked swiftly to prepare the back up car so that Menard could complete his qualifying laps.
 
Menard turned in a conservative two lap to make sure he kept the car in one piece for the long race ahead and qualified in 41st position for the Dodge Challenger 500.
 
Upon taking the green flag in Saturday night’s race, Menard advanced into the top-35 by lap seven.  He reported to Crew Chief Doug Randolph that he was loose getting into the corner and the over the wall crew made the necessary adjustments to the Menards/Nibco Chevy.  On lap 57 Menard lost a lap to the leaders, but was able to regain the position on lap 151.  At the time, Menard was running in 24th position.  Unfortunately, the leaders came fast during green flag runs at Darlington and by lap 183 Menard had gone a lap down, once again.  
 
During a routine pit stop on lap 206, Menard broke an axel cap inside his left rear wheel when pulling out of his pit.  While he returned to track to survey the damage, it became clear to Randolph that the repairs would need to be done beyond the wall.  The crew worked swiftly to repair the broken axel cap and Menard returned to the track, 27 laps down.
 
When the checkered flag flew on the 367-lap event, Menard was shown in 36th place.  The results of the race weekend dropped Menard to 24th in NASCAR Sprint Cup driver’s points and 25th in owner’s standings.
 
“It’s a long season, so we’re bound to have rough weekends like this one every now and again,” Menard reasoned.  “We’ll head home to Charlotte and rebound in the Coca Cola 600 like the top team that I know we are.”