By: Zach Catanzareti, Staff Writer
Paul Menard made his first Xfinity Series start of 2019… and it turned out to be among his best in years.
Starting on pole for the first time since 2012, Menard kept his No. 12 Team Penske Ford in the lead for 56 laps and came home with a fourth-palce finish.
The finish was his best in the series since Indianapolis in 2017 and the time out front was his longest since Kansas in 2012. Surely a day to be proud of, said Menard.
“The [No.] 12 guys were great,” Menard said. “Everyone on the Richmond/Menards Ford Mustang was great. We sat P1 and were probably just one adjustment off at the end. The car was really fast up front.”
Fighting Christopher Bell and Cole Custer for the top spot through nearly all of Stage 1, Menard’s speed fell off following a two-tire pit stop thereafter.
“We had a good car early. But when we put two tires, we were tight from then on,” he said. “Track position is so important. These cars can pass pretty well compared to what we’re going to fight with tommorow. It was a lot of fun.”
Pittingn late, Menard had the green light to go in the closing laps as others were in fuel-save mode. Restarting outside the top 10 with 44 laps to go, Menard drove his way to fourth place, Ford’s top result of the evening.
More than anything, the full-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series competitor had fun in the Saturday race.
“It is kind of interesting how the lines kind of moved around,” he said. “I could make time on the bottom and you normally can’t here. A little on the loose side. Then you get behind and it is like you have to adjust for it more when you hit traffic. I was just a little tight at the end.
“We passed a lot of cars. It was fun.”