EASTABOGA, Ala. -- After posting one of the best practice times on Friday at Talladega Superspeedway, Paul Menard and the No. 98 Zecol / Menards team looked forward to Sunday’s AMP Energy 500. With qualifying rained out on Saturday morning, Menard started this afternoon’s race from the 32nd position. After four laps of racing, Menard blew a left rear tire which sent him directly into the outside retaining wall. The impact left the No. 98 Zecol / Menards team with a wrecked race car and a disappointing 42nd-place finish.

With rain showers on Saturday morning at the 2.66-mile superspeedway, the teams started according to current NASCAR Owner’s Points. In practice on Friday, Menard and his No. 98 Zecol / Menards team were very pleased with the performance of their race car.

The weather on Sunday morning in Talladega, Ala was perfect for an afternoon of racing. Current points leader Jimmie Johnson led the field to the green flag. After starting 32nd, Menard lined up two wide going into turn one. The two-wide racing continued around the 2.66-mile speedway for three laps until the cars broke off into line.

After crossing the start/finish line on lap four, Menard noted the car was a little loose entering turn one. He corrected the car and worked his way through turn two when his left rear tire blew out, sending him careening into the outside while collecting the No. 87 car.

Menard was seen and release from the infield care center, while his No. 98 race car was loaded back into the transporter.

“I was just trying to go to the back and ride for a little bit and the left rear or right rear popped,” said Menard following the wreck on lap four. “The car wiggled going into one, I corrected it, and then it just caught and went straight into the fence. We had a really fast race car. I was really happy with it in the draft on Friday. The first lap or two today I was just trying to see what I had and it felt good, so I was just bailing to the back. The guys worked really hard, but now we’ve got a destroyed race car.”

Following the wreck, Goodyear officials determined a piece of debris picked up on the track was the cause for the blown tire on the No. 98 Ford Fusion.

Next week, the No. 98 Vertis / Menards team will return to Texas Motor Speedway for the second time this season. ABC television and PRN radio affiliates will carry the live race broadcast beginning at 3:00 p.m. (EST).

NEXT UP:

Dickies 500

Texas Motor Speedway (1.5-mile speedway)

Fort Worth, Texas

Sunday, November 8, 2009

ABOUT MENARDS

Well-known as the place to “Save Big Money,” Menards is a family-owned home improvement retailer with 252 hometown hardware stores in 12 Midwestern states. Menards carries all the tools, materials and supplies for all your home improvement needs from just needing a light bulb to building a new house. Most Menards stores also carry name brand appliances, pet products, lawn and garden supplies and even groceries as your one-stop shopping experience. There is something for everyone at Menards from the beginning do-it-yourselfer to the experienced contractor. The company’s strength and success can be seen in the well-stocked and maintained stores, the lowest prices in the area and the way guests are always treated like family in a hometown hardware store atmosphere.

For more information, visit www.menards.com or www.menardsracing.com

ABOUT YATES RACING

Yates Racing currently operates three motorsports teams in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Formerly known as Robert Yates Racing, the team is owned by Doug Yates, who took the reins after his father, Robert Yates, retired following the 2007 season. In 2008, Doug partnered with Max Jones; a former road racer and long-time race team championship General Manager. During Yates Racing’s 21-year tenure in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series, the organization has earned a total of 57 wins, 49 poles, 270 top-five finishes, 433 top-ten finishes, and a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship. In 2009, Hall of Fame Racing has teamed up with Yates Racing to field the No. 96 Ford Fusion in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Sponsorship opportunities are available; please contact Jon Sands with Yates Racing at 704-720-4621 or visit www.yatesracing.com.