Paul Menard and the No. 21 Quick Lane team will close out the 2018 season in the Ford 400 at one of Menard’s favorite tracks, Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Sunday’s 400-miler is the third race in the Ford Championship Weekend, which will determine the champions of NASCAR’s top three divisions – Monster Energy Cup, Xfinity and Camping World Truck series.
Menard said Homestead’s progressively-banked, 1.5-mile oval suits him just fine.
“It’s a great track,” he said. “It’s lots of fun to race there. It’s a shame we only go there once a year.”
He said he likes the way the track changes during the race as daylight fades to darkness.
“It’s really wide, so you can fan out and run right next to the wall when the sun’s out,” he said. “Then when the sun goes down, the bottom comes in.”
Menard and the team will be racing for the first time since the death of David Pearson, the iconic driver of the No. 21 back in the 1970s.
“He was a true legend of the sport and a long-time driver for the Wood Brothers,” Menard said. “It’ll be a privilege to honor him.”
The Ford 400 also marks the end of Menard’s first season aboard the No. 21 Fusion. He said it’s been a year of ups and downs, but he’s encouraged about the future as he heads into the offseason.
“We’ve had some pretty good flashes at time, but we need to be more consistent,” he said, pointing out that the team did win a pole at Chicago, score a stage win at Talladega and post one top-five and seven top-10 finishes to date. “We definitely have something to build on, and we’re going to work hard on it over the winter.”
Qualifying for the Ford 400 is set for Friday at 6:10 p.m. Eastern Time with TV coverage on NBCSN, and the race is scheduled to start just after 2:30 p.m. on Sunday with the broadcast on NBC.
###
About Motorcraft
Motorcraft® offers a complete line of replacement parts that are recommended and approved by Ford Motor Company. From routine maintenance to under-hood repairs, Motorcraft parts offer exceptional value with the highest quality and right fit at competitive prices. Motorcraft parts are available nationwide at Ford and Lincoln dealers, independent distributors and automotive parts retailers are backed by Ford Motor Company’s two-year, unlimited-miles Service Parts Limited Warranty. Ask for Motorcraft by name when you visit your local auto parts store or your favorite service facility. For more information, visit www.motorcraft.com.
About Quick Lane Tire & Auto Centers
Ford’s Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center offers routine vehicle maintenance such as oil and filter changes, light repair services including brake repair, and tire replacements on all vehicle makes and models. With more than 800 locations and growing, customers can visit www.quicklane.com to find a center that is closest to them, print savings coupons and review maintenance tips to keep their vehicles running at peak efficiency. This site includes information on how to spot tire wear, how to jump-start a battery and even a series of tips to improve a vehicle’s fuel economy.
Wood Brothers Racing
Wood Brothers Racing was formed in 1950 in Stuart, Va., by Hall of Famer Glen Wood. Wood Brothers Racing is the oldest active team and one of the winningest teams in NASCAR history. Since its founding, the team won 99 races (including at least one race in every decade for the last seven decades) and 120 poles in NASCAR’s top-tier series. Fielding only Ford products for its entire history, the Wood Brothers own the longest association of any motorsports team with a single manufacturer. Glen’s brother, Leonard, is known for inventing the modern pit stop. The team currently runs the Ford Fusion driven by Paul Menard in the famous No. 21 racer.
