Long Pond, PA – Paul Menard’s weekend at Pocono began on a high note as the driver of the No. 15 Menards Chevrolet beat the odds against him and made the field for the Pocono 500. Despite drawing the notoriously ill fated first position to qualify, Menard recorded a lap of 54.068 seconds.
Not only was Menard’s qualifying lap a seriously solid speed that was sure to put him in the field for Sunday’s Pocono 500, but it was an improvement over his practice speeds from earlier that afternoon.
“Drawing first never helps unless you’re at Indianapolis.” Menard said following his two lap effort. “Dave Charpentier and all the boys did an awesome job all day. We had a real good practice. We made changes to the car and it’d go better.”
Menard’s qualifying lap included a tap to the outside wall, but still provided speed enough for the No. 15 team to end up 21st overall.
“My first lap, I just nicked the wall coming off the tunnel turn, not too bad.” Menard continued. “Just cosmetic, just barely went through the sticker. But the second lap I was just trying to get better.”
On Saturday afternoon, Menard took his Pocono schooling a bit further as he fielded another No. 15 DEI Chevy in the ARCA 200.
“Even though it’s basically a Cup car, I was amazed how much that spoiler makes a difference.” Menard said of his ARCA entry. “But just logging laps here is good. I’ve never seen this place before this morning so getting laps and figuring what to do to go fast is what my goal was in the ARCA race.”
While Menard’s ARCA experience ended early, with a blown left front tire on lap 36, his early race showing proved he was finding his way around the track just fine. Menard was passing for third place when the expired tire put him in the wall.
Putting the ARCA race behind him, Menard looked to newly appointed interim crew chief, Dave Charpentier to help him through his Nextel Cup debut at the track.
“Dave is one of the smartest guys I know.” Menard said of Charpentier. “We’re trying to get a more engineer-driven mentality in our organization and I think he can point us in the right direction.”
Charpentier exuded confidence in his first weekend on the job.
“It’s actually pretty good to be back as a crew chief for the first time with the equipment, people and organization that can compete at the top level of the sport.” Charpentier said following Friday’s qualifying session. “There’s no doubt that Paul can get it done. We just need to understand him and give him what he needs as a driver.
With Charpentier’s engineering background and hands on racing experience, Menard looked to Sunday’s race with his eye on a top-20 finish. After qualifying 21st, Menard had to fall to the back of the field for the start of the race as a result of the team changing engines on Saturday after practice. Charpentier and the Menards Racing team identified a problem with the camshaft but the change in engines, saved the team from problems in the race.
Menard quickly advanced from the rear of the field and held strong in 35th position for the early portion of Sunday’s rain delayed race.
Menard managed to stay on the lead lap before the first caution flag flew on lap 48, despite making a green flag four tire, fuel and adjustment pit stop on lap 26. Menard continued to provide feedback to the crew, while Charpentier strategized the end of the race. With the rain coming again, Charpentier made the call for a two tire pit stop on lap 92, which catapulted Menard from 32nd to 26th position. Through what would be the closing laps of the race, Menard fell to 28th place but the two tire call was more help than hurt to the team that is fighting for a spot in the top-35 in points.
“The car wasn’t driving terrible.” Menard said following the race that was called for weather after just 106 laps. “I definitely learned a lot as we ran, adjusting my entrances and exits and where I got in the gas. Dave Charpentier [crew chief] made a great call and we’ll take a top-30 finish and head to Michigan.”
With Sunday’s finish, Menard and the No. 15 team moves within 200 points of the top-35 in owner’s points.
