Catchfence

“Menard Seventh in Nationwide Point Standings”

RICHMOND, VA. (April 30, 2010) - Paul Menard and the No. 98
Richmond/Menards team had a hard-fought top-20 finish in the Bubba
Burger 250 on Friday night at Richmond International Raceway. For the
first time in two weeks the Nationwide series experienced good weather
and started on schedule. After a long day of practice and qualifying
for both Nationwide and Sprint Cup series, Menard rolled off the grid in
the 26th position. Menard struggled early with a slightly ill-handling
race car caused by major contact with a fellow competitor. Menard and
the team were able to fight through the adversity to secure a
respectable 19th-place finish. Menard is seventh in Nationwide Series
point standings and is now 278 points behind the leader Brad Keselowski.

Menard started his Richmond/Menards No. 98 Ford Fusion in 26th
position. After several early cautions Menard worked his way through
heavy traffic and settled into the 20th position by lap 50. Early on,
Menard ran solid lap times, but trouble soon found him. Menard made
heavy contact with another car on lap 79 causing major damage to the
right front fender. Menard commented his Ford Fusion was shaking and
chattering badly. Menard went a lap down on lap 84. A much needed
caution flew on lap 96. Crew chief Matt Puccia called Menard to the pit
stall for major adjustments on lap 97. Puccia called for four tires,
fuel an air pressure adjustment and the crew repaired the fender damage.

At the halfway point in the race, Menard had settled into the 17th
position and was the “lucky dog” as the caution flew on lap 120.
Puccia decided to bring Menard to the pits for four tires, fuel, a track
bar adjustment and an air pressure adjustment. The Richmond/Menards pit
crew got Menard off pit road in the 17th position. During the next 69
laps, Menard guided his Ford Fusion to the 16th position, but his
momentum was slowed by a caution on lap 189. Menard was called to the
pit stall again for four tires, fuel and track bar and air pressure
adjustments. The pit crew ripped off a 13 second pit stop which made
Menards a factor in the race. When green-flag racing resumed Menard was
scored in the 13th position.

On lap 244, Menard made heavy contact with the wall after blowing a
right front tire. The damage was extensive, but Menard was able to pit
and get back on the race track before loosing too much track position.
Menard was able to recover and finish in the 19th position.

“We had an early incident and really never recovered,” said Menard.
“The crew did a good job in the pits and helped keep us in the top
twenty. On these short tracks there is always going to be some bumping
and grinding, unfortunately my Ford Fusion was involved in some of it
and it took us out of contention.”

The Nationwide Series will travel to Darlington Raceway next weekend,
where Menard has finished 732 of 735 laps in five career starts.

About Roush-Fenway Racing

Roush Fenway Racing is NASCAR’s largest team operating eight
motorsports teams. Four in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with drivers
Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards and David Ragan; and four in the
Nationwide Series with Edwards, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., Colin Braun, and
Paul Menard. For more information on any of the Roush Fenway Racing
teams, log onto www.RoushFenway.com. Become a fan of Roush Fenway
Racing on Facebook by going to http://www.facebook.com/roushfenway. And
for sponsorship inquiries please contact Robin Johnson at 704.720.4645.

- Roush Fenway Racing Press Release