By Team Release - August 11, 2010
Richard Childress Racing and Menards have signed a multi-year partnership agreement for the Eau Claire, Wis.-based company to become the primary sponsor of RCR's fourth Sprint Cup Series team beginning in 2011 with driver Paul Menard.
"Paul has developed into a very good race car driver, and we see his move to RCR next year as an opportunity for him to continue that progress," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of RCR. "At the same time, we feel Paul will contribute to the continued progress and success of RCR.
Paul will fit in perfectly with our team of drivers at RCR, and they are all looking forward to working with him. We're also very proud to be aligned with Menards, one of the great family business success stories in American history."
Menard is in his fourth full season of Cup Series competition and is 23rd in the point standings. He made his series debut in 2003, running just one race while also competing in six Nationwide Series races.
Menard raced fulltime in the Nationwide Series from 2004 through 2006 while picking up Cup Series experience in eight other races during that time. In 2007, Menard became a full-time driver in the Cup Series and part-time Nationwide Series driver, though he is scheduled to compete in every event of both series this season. He is sixth in the Nationwide Series point standings.
"Richard Childress Racing has shown this year that they're headed on the right track," Menard said. "Having three cars competing for the Chase and, ultimately, the championship is no small feat and they're on top of their game.
"With that in mind and having known Richard for the past 10 years or so, when this opportunity to join RCR came about it was a no-brainer. I have always had the utmost respect for Richard and what his organization has accomplished in the past and what they're capable of achieving in the future."
Menard has two top-five finishes and five top-10s in 133 starts in the Cup Series.
2 comments:
Having an airtight sponsorship bought him this opportunity.
Sure he's had his best year yet at the Cup level, but RCR wouldn't be taking this chance with someone who didn't bring guaranteed backing like Dad's money does for Paul.
Best of luck to them all. In the mean time, I hope Petty replaces him with someone who goes on to really challenge for the Chase.
Paul is a pretty good driver. Hos misfortune has been team and ownership instability. Everyone has kicked him to the curb after one year or less. Each year he has gotten better and his Nationwide numbers are improving steadily as he matures both as a person and as a driver. But, you're right... who wouldn't want to have Menard's as a sponsor with lots of money to fully fund a 4th team? The other three RCR cars will now feature small-ish Menard's decals on the rear quarter which automatically gets them extra funds to pay for incidentals. Not a bad deal for both sides, I'd say.
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