RCR Post Race Report — NSCS Good Sam Roadside Assistance 500 at Talladega Superspeed​way

The “Big One” Relegates Paul Menard and the CertainTeed/Menards Team to a 28th-Place Finish at Talladega Superspeedway

 

Paul Menard and the No. 27 CertainTeed/Menards team were relegated to a 28th-place finish in Sunday’s Good Sam Roadside Assistance 500 after getting caught up in the “Big One” on the final lap of the event at Talladega Superspeedway. The Eau Claire, Wis., native started the scheduled 188-lap affair from the 16th position and spent the early laps running near the back of the field to avoid trouble. Menard began his charge to the front of the field following a green-flag pit stop on lap 60. As green-flag pit stops cycled through the field, the 32-year-old driver worked his way into the top 10 by lap 62. The neon yellow Chevrolet remained a fixture near the top 10 until the team’s final yellow-flag pit stop on lap 185. The Shane Wilson-led pit crew bolted on four fresh tires and filled the Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet with fuel for the green-white-checkered finish. While several teams opted to only take fuel, the CertainTeed/Menards Chevrolet was scored in the 24th-position for the final restart. Menard worked his way into the 12th spot before being collected in the “Big One” on the final lap, relegating the team to a 28th-place result.

 

Start – 16 Finish – 28 Laps Led – 0 Points – 16

 

PAUL MENARD QUOTE:

“The CertainTeed/Menards Chevrolet was strong all weekend long. The pit crew did a great job during the race and Shane (Wilson, crew chief) made good calls that kept us in contention all day. We couldn’t avoid the “Big One” at the end and ended up with a finish that didn’t reflect how we ran today.”

 

 

Kevin Harvick and the Budweiser Team Capture an 11th-Place Finish

at Talladega Superspeedway

Kevin Harvick drove Richard Childress Racing’s No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet to an 11th-place finish in the Good Sam Roadside Assistance 500 after being involved in a final-lap incident at Talladega Superspeedway. The 36-year-old driver started the scheduled 188-lap event from the 21st position and raced as high as 12th before the caution flag waved on lap 16. Crew chief Gil Martin instructed Harvick to stay out when the leaders came to pit road on lap 18, allowing him to lead a lap and collect one bonus point prior to visiting pit road for tires and fuel. The Bakersfield, Calif., native was scored in the 30th position for the lap-21 restart and began his charge towards the front of the field, moving into the top 10 by lap 36 after pairing up with RCR teammate Jeff Burton. As the race progressed, Harvick was shuffled throughout the field, but regained the lead on lap 109 and held onto the top spot until lap 117. The RCR driver was scored in the fourth position when NASCAR officials displayed the caution flag on lap 184. Harvick lined up in the third spot for the green-white-checkered finish and took the white flag while running fourth before being caught up in a 24-car incident in turn four, crossing the finish line 11th. Following the event at the 2.66-mile track, Harvick fell to 10th in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver championship point standings, 49 markers behind the leader.

Start – 21 Finish – 11 Laps Led – 12 Points – 10

KEVIN HARVICK QUOTE:

“Well, this was definitely a crazy race. We were able to keep the Budweiser Chevrolet up front most of the day, but got caught up in the wreck on the final lap. It’s all part of superspeedway racing, so we’ll move on from this and turn our focus on the upcoming race at Charlotte (Motor Speedway).”