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Paul Menard - Photo Credit: Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR

No. 27 Richmond/Menards Chevrolet Impala

Race Notes and Quotes

This Week’s Richmond/Menards Chevrolet at “The Magic Mile” … Paul Menard will pilot Chassis No. 341 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. This No. 27 Chevrolet Impala is a brand new addition to the RCR fleet for the 2011 season and will make its first paces this weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

By the numbers at NHMS … In his eight previous starts at the Loudon, N.H.-based track, Menard has finished each of his contested races and completed 98.3 percent of his laps (2,319 of 2,358). He has a 27th-place average starting position and an average finishing position of 29.1. He had his best start of eighth on his last visit to the one-mile flat oval (September 2010), while his best finish of 21st was claimed in the September 2008 event.

A Loopy Year in Review … After 18 races, the Eau Claire, Wisc., native has an average running position of 15.8, ranking him 14th in the NSCS, has made the fourth-highest number of green-flag passes (2,266), has spent 50.9 percent of his contested laps in the top 15 and is ranked second in quality passes. He has also completed 94.7 percent of his laps (5,014 of 5,295).

2011 Season Statistics:

Starts: 18

Top-five finishes: 3

Top-10 finishes: 5

Best start: 2nd (Pocono Raceway, June)

Average start: 12.0

Best finish: 4th (Michigan International Speedway, June)

Average finish: 17.3

Laps led: 60

Richard “Slugger” Labbe to pull double duty at NHMS … Following Saturday’s final NSCS practice session at NHMS, No. 27 crew chief Slugger Labbe will don his work gloves and to help good friend and fellow NSCS crew chief Kevin “Bono” Manion with his NASCAR Whelen Modified team as they look to return the No. 7 Menards entry to Victory Lane with Ryan Newman in the F.W. Webb 100. Last year the team claimed two pole positions and won all three of the NWMT events that they entered, including a sweep of the two races held at NHMS. Qualifying for the NWMT event is scheduled for Thursday, July 14 at 4:45 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time with the 100-lap race kicking off at 1:10 p.m. on Saturday, July 16.

Returning to their New England Roots … As NASCAR’s premier series heads to New Hampshire, a few members of the No. 27 Richmond/Menards team will be as close to home as their travels take them. Crew chief Richard “Slugger” Labbe hails from Saco, Maine and front tire-changer Erik Pringle calls Sharon, Vt. his hometown.

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Race Rewind … After starting from the 10^th position, the inaugural NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race last at Kentucky Speedway last weekend was shaping up to be a solid one for the No. 27 Sylvania/Menards team, but an untimely caution during green-flag pit stops and front-end damage sustained during a late restart relegated Paul Menard to a 24th-place finish.

PAUL MENARD QUOTES:

You had a good run at Phoenix (International Raceway). With that, do you feel more optimistic going to Loudon (New Hampshire Motor Speedway)?

“Yeah, for sure. We’ve struggled on short tracks the last few years, but this is the best we’ve run on them in a while. Phoenix (International Raceway) is a totally different track than Loudon (New Hampshire Motor Speedway), but it does give you a little bit of confidence.”

What is the key to getting around NHMS?

“New Hampshire (Motor Speedway) has relatively long straightaways and tight corners. One way to describe it is that it’s kind of like a large Martinsville (Speedway). You have to get as much gas as you can from the center and off the exit to get down the straightaways.”

We’ve seen a few fuel mileage races this season, and there have been some at NHMS. How good are you at saving fuel?

“Saving fuel is something you learn as you go. I haven’t done it a whole lot, but we’ve done some studies on it – how to maximize lap times and save the most fuel. You have to know how to be the most efficient with the throttle, and I think I have a pretty good grasp on it.”

How much contact do you usually suspect at Loudon?

“It’s short-track racing, so anything can happen and, a lot of times, people get mad at each other. Loudon is no different than Phoenix (International Raceway) or Martinsville (Speedway). You drive into the corner and get hit from behind, and you remember that and repay the favor later. You don’t go out looking for contact but it’s inevitable that it’s going to happen.”

- Richard Childress Racing, Press Release