Talladega, AL – Paul Menard’s NASCAR Nextel Cup Talladega track record looked poised for a turnaround in today’s UAW-Ford 500.  
 
After qualifying 30th for the 188-lap event, Menard was focused on the strength his Peak/Menards Chevrolet showed in the draft.
 
“Probably would have liked to have gone faster than that but we just concentrated on drafting and we think we’ll be pretty good on Sunday,” Menard said following his two-lap qualifying effort.  “I think everybody is going to be right on top of each other once the green flag waves.  There’s going to be some big wrecks and we just need to dodge those and be there at the end.”
 
Under the strong rays of the Alabama sun, Menard took the Green Flag with his sights set on a season best finish.  As Menard moved into the top-10 on lap 14, Menard’s previous Talladega finishes of 34th and 43rd were a distant memory.  Menard continued to run with the lead pack of cars through the halfway point of the race, running as high as seventh place.  At one point, the ABC telecast crew even commented on Menard’s car being the fastest on the race track.  
 
Crew Chief Dave Charpentier instructed Menard to “keep up the good work” and with that, Menard forged ahead.
 
On lap 138, Menard made what would be the last four tire and fuel pit stop of the day.  Charpentier’s plan was to take fuel only on the last pit stop to ensure track position.  Menard’s fresh rubber helped him advance from 25th to 13th within two laps of the restart.  
 
Trouble struck on lap 144, when the token Talladega ‘big one’ claimed the four racecars, including the Menards Chevrolet.  
 
“Just plate racing, you know.” Menard reasoned after the wreck.  “We had a good car, just riding around.  I just saw the 43 turned dead sideways.  I stayed in the throttle.  I knew if I lifted I was going to get run over so I stayed in the throttle and tried to beat ‘em before he came back up.  And it was close but we were on the losing end.”   
 
Menard’s day ended early and his 38th place finish in the race drops him one spot to 30th in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Owner’s Points.