By Seth Eggert, Staff Writer
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series veterans Paul Menard and David Ragan both had an uneventful final race as full-time competitors.
The Ford Performance duo finished the Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 17th and 27th respectively.
Menard ran mid-pack for much of the race in the No. 21 Motorcraft / Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford Mustang. He slipped a lap behind the leaders in the first stage, like much of the field. Under caution in the second stage, he used the wave around to move back onto the lead lap.
The caution-free final stage left Menard’s Wood Brothers Racing machine without a chance to make up ground. He held station and took the checkered flag in 17th, one lap down. Menard finished the 2019 season 19th in the final points standings.
Ragan on the other hand struggled throughout the race. His Front Row Motorsports team opted for an alternate strategy for the No. 38 Thank You David Ford Mustang. The alternative strategy failed to pan out and left Ragan four laps down in 27th when the checkered flag waved. He ended the season 30th in the final points standings.
“Our last race was really uneventful,” Ragan explained. “We tried some strategy a few times and it kind of bit us. We probably lost a lap or two that we shouldn’t have, but we were being aggressive because we didn’t really have anything to lose.
“I can’t say enough about everybody at Front Row Motorsports and the NASCAR industry for making this last weekend special. It was a tough season. I wish we had some better results to show for it, but the last season won’t dictate my 13-year career.”
Menard and Ragan are the last two drivers of the 2007 Rookie-of-the-Year class to step away from full-time NASCAR competition. Juan Pablo Montoya and David Reutimann stepped away in 2013 with AJ Allmendinger left without a ride at the end of 2018.
With 471 starts, Menard closes his full-time career with one victory, 20 top-five, and 69 top-10 finishes. The Eau Claire, WI native’s best final points standings finish, 14th, came in 2015, the only time he made the playoffs.
In a nearly identical career, Ragan ends his status of being a full-time Cup Series driver with 470 starts, two victories, 15 top-five and 40 top-10 finishes. The Unadilla, GA native’s best final points standings finish, 13th, came in 2008, his sophomore season.
Ragan admitted that he has no regrets heading into retirement:
“We’ve had a lot of fun, a lot of good memories and don’t regret anything that we’ve done. I’ll sleep good tonight and think a little bit over the offseason on what I want to do next year and I’m sure I’ll be around.”
Both drivers have previously stated that they would be open to returning in a part-time capacity.