NASCAR XFINITY Series - VFW Sports Clips Help a Hero 200
September 5, 2015 - Darlington Raceway - Darlington, S.C.

A flat right-rear tire sent Paul Menard to pit road on lap nine of Saturday's NASCAR XFINITY Series 147-lap event at Darlington Raceway, throwing the team off sequence and spoiling the chance for a good finish. Menard started from the fifth position after a strong qualifying effort earlier in the day at the South Carolina-based track. On lap four, Menard radioed to crew chief Danny Stockman that he felt a tire going down and came to pit road on lap nine for four tires. The Richard Childress Racing driver was scored in 36th place, two laps down, when he went back green-flag racing on lap 11. A lack of cautions meant the No. 33 team had to pit off sequence, taking away the possibility for Menard to get back on the lead lap at the 1.366-mile track. The Eau Claire, Wisconsin native visited pit road two additional times for four tires, fuel and a wedge adjustment and took the wave around twice for a 25th-place finish. Up next for Menard in the No. 33 Richmond/Menards Chevy is the event at Chicagoland Speedway.

We had a really good car today. That flat tire at the beginning really made it difficult for us to have a good finish. Then we had long green-flag runs which put a cap on the day for us. I really appreciate the guys working hard this weekend in the Darlington heat. We had a fast car and would've finished at least in the top 10. I'm looking forward to my final race with them in Chicago. - Paul Menard

Start - 5, Finish - 25, Laps Led - 9, Owner's Points - 4