NASCAR Sprint Cup Series - AdvoCare 500
November 10, 2013 – Phoenix International Raceway
Paul Menard and the No. 27 Rheem/Menards Chevrolet team started Sunday's 312-lap NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race in 13th place. Once the initial green flag waved over the one-mile oval of Phoenix International Raceway under sunny skies, Menard would remain in a top-15 running position for the early going. While competing against the other 42 competitors, Menard radioed to crew chief "Slugger" Labbe he was having trouble getting his Chevrolet SS to handle exiting the turns. Utilizing right-side tire only pit stops on laps 52, 101 and 131 allowed Menard to compete in the top 10 and top 15 positions. After falling to 26th place because of pit sequences under cautions, Menard stayed out under a yellow flag on lap 190 while others hit pit road. This lined him up 12th for the restart for a gain of 14 places. As the race continued, Menard remained in 13th-place needing the car to turn better in the turns by lap 282. Making one last pit stop under caution on lap 184 taking four tires and fuel, he restarted 18th. During the final run, he gained two positions to finish 16th. As a result, Menard remains 17th in the Sprint Cup Series driver championship point standings.
We were doing pretty good there in the early parts of the race, but just needed more grip exiting the turns and a better balance through them in the No. 27 Rheem/Menards Chevrolet. Two-tire pit stops worked really well for us and the guys did a great job on pit road. We have one more chance to earn a victory this season, and Homestead-Miami Speedway seems like the perfect place to make that happen. - Paul Menard
Race Notes
- Started - 13th, Finished, - 16th, Laps led - 0, Points - 17th
- RCR teammates Harvick and Menard posted 64 of the Fastest Laps Run with 63 and one, respectively.
- Menard gained three positions during the final 10 percent (32 laps) of the 312-lap event, tying him for third in the Closers post-race loop data category and had the 10th-fastest Speed in Traffic.
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