NASCAR Cup Series: Paul Menard to retire after 2019
By Asher Fair
Despite previous reports, Paul Menard is set to retire from NASCAR Cup Series competition following the conclusion of the 2019 season.
Paul Menard appeared to be all set to return to Wood Brothers Racing for what would have been his 14th consecutive season as a full-time NASCAR Cup Series driver and his third consecutive season driving the #21 Ford for the Team Penske-affiliated team.
But the 39-year-old Eau Claire, Wisconsin native has announced that he will be retiring upon the conclusion of the 2019 season instead.
Here is what Menard had to say about his decision, according to NASCAR.
"“I’ve enjoyed every moment of my career racing in the NASCAR Cup Series, and I’m so thankful for all the great memories and friendships I’ve made through this sport. But I’m looking forward to spending more time at home with my wife, Jennifer, and our two young children while moving forward with the next chapter of my life.“I’m excited for what the future holds and I’m looking forward to sharing the plans for 2020 and beyond in the coming weeks.”"
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Menard began competing in the Cup Series in 2003. After competing in one race in the 2003 season, one race in the 2005 season and select races in the 2006 season, he landed a full-time ride with Dale Earnhardt, Inc. for the 2007 season and has driven full-time ever since.
Menard continued driving for Dale Earnhardt, Inc. in the 2008 season before landing a ride with Yates Racing for the 2009 season. He then drove for Richard Petty Motorsports in the 2010 season before landing a ride with Richard Childress Racing, where he stayed from the 2011 season through the 2017 season.
During his seven-year tenure at Richard Childress Racing, Menard secured what is his only Cup Series victory to this day, as he won the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in July of 2011. He finished in a career-high 14th place in the championship standings in the 2015 season.
He has driven for Wood Brothers Racing since the start of the 2018 season as the replacement for Ryan Blaney, who was promoted to Team Penske as their third driver.
Menard has competed in each of the last 442 races going back to the 2007 season, a season during which he failed to qualify for six of the 36 races on the schedule. In total, he has competed in 461 races throughout his career, and that number is set to rise to 471 with 10 races remaining on the 36-race 2019 schedule.
Menard has recorded 69 top 10 finishes, including 20 top five finishes, and two pole positions, although he almost added a third with his second place starting position for this past Sunday’s Brickyard 400. He has led 336 of the 129,241 laps that he has completed and recorded an average starting position of 20.0 and an average finishing position of 20.3.
Through the first 26 races of the 2019 season, Menard has recorded four top 10 finishes and sits in 19th place in the championship standings. He has led five of the 7,173 laps that he has completed and recorded an average starting position of 15.2 and an average finishing position of 16.3.
Matt DiBenedetto, who currently drives for Leavine Family Racing, is set to replace Menard behind the wheel of the #21 Ford next year.
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We wish Paul Menard nothing but the best throughout the remainder of the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series season and as he pursues life after his racing career.