New Rules Await Menards/Moen Team At Atlanta

February 20, 2019

After sporting the Motorcraft/Quick Lane colors throughout Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway, the Wood Brothers’ No. 21 Ford Mustang will be going Menards/Moen neon yellow and blue for this weekend’s Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

But that won’t be the only major change for Paul Menard and the No. 21 team, as well as the rest of the drivers and cars in the Monster Energy Cup Series. Beginning at Atlanta, Cup cars will transition to a higher downforce/lower horsepower package that is intended to foster more side-by-side racing.

That drastic rules change has many veterans in the garage, including Eddie Wood, wondering just how the new engine/aerodynamic combination will play out once the green flag drops on Sunday.

“We tested the new package at Las Vegas, and Paul and the team were pleased with how it went, but no one really knows what to expect when there are 40 cars on the track,” Wood said, adding that NASCAR and its teams have put a lot of work into the new package, which is similar to the one used in last year’s NASCAR All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. “There’s going to be a big difference in horsepower from what we’re used to, but there’s been a lot of work done and a lot of research put into this rules change so the racing should be good.”

For the Woods and their fellow Ford campaigners, Sunday’s 500-miler at Atlanta will be the first intermediate-track race for the new Ford Mustang.

“We were really happy with the performance of the Mustang at Daytona,” Wood said. “I’m confident the Ford teams have adapted to the new package, and I’m anxious to see how it all plays out at Atlanta.”

Menard will be making his 18th career Cup start at Atlanta, while the Wood Brothers will be making their 107th Atlanta start, with 12 wins, 33 top-five and 45 top-10 finishes at the Georgia track.

Cup qualifying at Atlanta is set for 5:10 p.m. on Friday, and the 325-lap race is scheduled to start just after 2 p.m. on Sunday with TV coverage on FOX.

Late Crash Relegates Menard To 29th-Place Finish At Daytona

February 17, 2019

After battling back from being a lap down, Paul Menard and his No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang were racing among the leaders in the closing laps of the Daytona 500 only to be involved in a multi-car crash that ended his night.

With nine of the scheduled 200 laps remaining, Menard attempted to pass the No. 95 of Matt DiBenedetto but collided with DiBenedetto, triggering a 21-car crash.

Menard shouldered the blame for the incident. Continue reading Late Crash Relegates Menard To 29th-Place Finish At Daytona →

Menard Secures Seventh Starting Spot For Daytona 500 As Mustang Drivers Dominate Duels

February 15, 2019

Paul Menard and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane team are set to start the Daytona 500 from seventh place thanks to Menard’s third-place finish in the first of two Gander RV Duels on Thursday night.

Menard started the 150-mile qualifying race from sixth position but settled out in fourth place, where he ran until a green-flag pit stop at lap 12 of 60. Continue reading Menard Secures Seventh Starting Spot For Daytona 500 As Mustang Drivers Dominate Duels →

Thanks Gander RV Duels Up Next For Menard, Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team

February 14, 2019

Paul Menard and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane team, fresh off a strong run in the Advance Auto Parts Clash, are set to officially kick off their 2019 campaign in Thursday’s Gander RV Duel qualifying races.

Menard, who led a Clash-record 51 laps last Sunday, will be back in his Daytona 500 Mustang for the first of two 150-mile qualifying races that will set the field for Sunday’s Daytona 500.

Menard starts sixth in the first Duel after qualifying 11th this past Sunday.

Eddie Wood said he likes what he’s seen of his team so far this Speedweeks.

“I was really proud of Paul and how he ran on Sunday,” Wood said. “The new Mustang is impressive. We had some new people on the team and they did a good job. We had a good pit stop in the Clash, and we all think our new spotter, Joey Meier, is going to be a great addition to the 21 team.”

Wood said how the team fares in Thursday evening’s 150-miler will determine how the rest of the week goes.

“After you run the qualifier, depending on how you run and how things unfold, you’ll know what to work on in practice on Friday,” he said.

And, like last year, there will be points to be earned in the Duels. The top-10 finishers in each Duel will receive Stage points like in a regular points race, with the winner earning 10 Stage points and the 10th-place driver earning one.

“We’ve all come to understand how important each Stage point can be,” Wood said.

Likewise, the Duels offer the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team a chance to show some hospitality to some of the people from Ford Motor Company and others who make their racing possible.

“We’re looking forward to having Mr. Edsel Ford and Mr. John Menard with us,” Wood said. “It’s always an honor to have them with us wherever we are, but having them at Daytona International Speedway is extra special.”

The Gander RV Duels are scheduled to start at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 14, with TV coverage on Fox Sports 1, and the green flag for the Daytona 500 is set to fly at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 17, at 2:30 p.m., with TV coverage on FOX.

After Record-Setting Clash Performance, Menard Collected In Late Crash

February 10, 2018

Paul Menard and the No. 21 New Ford Tech Mustang were the dominant team in Sunday’s Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona. But after starting from the pole and leading 51 of the race’s first 55 laps, Menard lost the top spot and a potential victory after contact with eventual winner Jimmie Johnson. Continue reading After Record-Setting Clash Performance, Menard Collected In Late Crash →

Menard Hoping To Ride His Mustang To The Front At Daytona

February 7, 2019

The season-opening Daytona 500 always brings an air of optimism to the NASCAR race teams who have spent a big portion of the off season preparing for the event that has come to be known as the “Great American Race.”

Adding to the positive vibes for Paul Menard and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane team is the upcoming competitive debut of the Ford Mustang, which will be making its first appearance in a points-paying Monster Energy Cup Series race. Continue reading Menard Hoping To Ride His Mustang To The Front At Daytona →

Menard Back In The Clash At Daytona

February 7, 2019

Paul Menard and the No. 21 New Ford Tech Mustang are back in the Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona, thanks to the team’s pole-winning run at Chicagoland Speedway last summer.

Menard will be returning to the 75-lap non-points race for pole winners from the previous season and others for the first time since 2016. Continue reading Menard Back In The Clash At Daytona →

Menard Finishes 25th In The Ford 400, 19th The Final Cup Standings

November 19th, 2018

Paul Menard and the No. 21 Quick Lane Tire and Auto Center Ford team ended their first season together with a 25th-place finish in the Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, but Menard and the team consider their first year a promising foundation for future successes.

Menard ended the year with a pole at Chicago, one top-five and seven top-10 finishes, nine appearances in the final round of knock-out qualifying, a stage win at Talladega and 19th place in the final points standings. Continue reading Menard Finishes 25th In The Ford 400, 19th The Final Cup Standings →

Menard Looking To Have Some Fun At Homestead

November 14, 2018

Paul Menard and the No. 21 Quick Lane team will close out the 2018 season in the Ford 400 at one of Menard’s favorite tracks, Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Sunday’s 400-miler is the third race in the Ford Championship Weekend, which will determine the champions of NASCAR’s top three divisions – Monster Energy Cup, Xfinity and Camping World Truck series.

Menard said Homestead’s progressively-banked, 1.5-mile oval suits him just fine. Continue reading Menard Looking To Have Some Fun At Homestead →

Menard Finishes 29th In A Hurdle-Filled Weekend At Phoenix

November 11, 2018

After entering the weekend with optimism, Paul Menard and the No. 21 Menards/Cardell team experienced disappointment from the start to the finish of Sunday’s Can-Am 500 at ISM Raceway near Phoenix, ending the race with a 29th-place finish.

Menard qualified a strong 11th on Friday at Phoenix, but near the end of practice on Saturday he experienced a tire failure, which led to contact with the wall. Continue reading Menard Finishes 29th In A Hurdle-Filled Weekend At Phoenix →

Menard Advances To The Third Qualifying Round For The Second-Straight Week

November 10, 2018

Paul Menard and the No. 21 Menards/Cardell team appear to be getting their qualifying program back on track.

On Friday at ISM Raceway near Phoenix, Menard advanced through all three rounds of knock-out qualifying to secure the 11th starting spot for Sunday’s Can-Am 500.

It was the second straight week that Menard qualified 11th, the first coming at Texas Motor Speedway a week ago, and the ninth time this season that Menard and the No. 21 team have been among the top 12 qualifiers for a Monster Energy Cup Series race. Continue reading Menard Advances To The Third Qualifying Round For The Second-Straight Week →

Menard Battles Back To Finish 13th At Texas

November 5, 2018

Paul Menard and the No. 21 Menards/Cardell team turned in a solid performance in Sunday’s AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway, running in the top 10 in the early stages of the race then battling back from a late pit-road penalty to finish 13th.

Menard started the 500-miler from the 11th position but was running seventh after just 10 laps. He remained inside the top 10 for the remainder of the first 85-lap stage and ended the segment in eighth place, earning three bonus points. Continue reading Menard Battles Back To Finish 13th At Texas →

Menard Qualifies 11th At Texas As Ford Places Eight Drivers In The Top 12

November 2, 2018

Paul Menard and the No. 21 Menards/Cardell team advanced through all three rounds of knock-out qualifying at Texas Motor Speedway on Friday to earn the 11thstarting spot for Sunday’s AAA Texas 500.

It was the eighth time this season that Menard and the No. 21 team have been among the elite 12 qualifiers for a Monster Energy Cup Series race. Continue reading Menard Qualifies 11th At Texas As Ford Places Eight Drivers In The Top 12 →

Menard Ready For Another Chance To Tame Texas

November 1, 2018

An early crash at Texas Motor Speedway back in April ruined that day for Paul Menard and his Wood Brothers team. But it didn’t dampen his enthusiasm for racing the No. 21 Fusion at the Fort Worth track.

Menard and the Menards/Cardell team will return to Texas for Sunday’s AAA Texas 500 with essentially the same set-up they started with in the spring. Continue reading Menard Ready For Another Chance To Tame Texas →

Menard Finishes 22nd at Martinsville

October 28, 2018

Paul Menard and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane team started Sunday’s First Data 500 at Martinsville Speedway at a disadvantage and were never able to completely overcome it, ending up 22nd at the finish.
Continue reading Menard Finishes 22nd at Martinsville →

Menard Gets Fresh Engine For Sunday’s First Data 500 at Martinsville

October 27, 2018

After experiencing a rare mechanical issue during qualifying on Saturday at Martinsville Speedway, Paul Menard and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team will start Sunday’s First Data 500 with a fresh engine under the hood of the No. 21 Fusion.

Menard started Saturday with good speed, posting a best lap at 94.685 miles per hour in the opening practice session, which put him 12th on the speed chart. Continue reading Menard Gets Fresh Engine For Sunday’s First Data 500 at Martinsville →

Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team Heads Home To Martinsville

October 24, 2018

Paul Menard and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane team are looking to build on a solid run at Martinsville Speedway in March as the Monster Energy Cup Series returns to the home track of the Wood Brothers, who will be making their 115th start at Martinsville dating back to Glen Wood’s Cup debut in 1953. Continue reading Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team Heads Home To Martinsville →

Pit-Road Incident Spoils Fast Start For Menard At Kansas

October 21, 2018

Paul Menard and the No. 21 Menards/NIBCO team were left to wonder what might have been after a pit road collision ended a promising start to Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway.

After a stirring run from his 18th starting position to fifth place at the end of the race’s first 80-lap Stage, Menard and Trevor Bayne made contact on pit road during a pit stop midway through Stage Two. Menard suffered damage to the right front of the No. 21 Fusion, and the damage led to two flat tires and multiple laps lost. He wound up 32nd at the finish. Continue reading Pit-Road Incident Spoils Fast Start For Menard At Kansas →

Menard Qualifies 18th At Kansas

October 20, 2018

Paul Menard and the No. 21 Menards/NIBCO team had a case of the second-round blues during Monster Energy Cup Series qualifying at Kansas Speedway Friday evening.

After posting top-10 speeds in opening practice and the first of three rounds of qualifying, Menard was just 18th fastest in the second round and therefore not among the elite 12 who ran for the pole. Continue reading Menard Qualifies 18th At Kansas →