With the experience that comes from 427 career starts and 12 full seasons on NASCAR’s elite Monster Energy Cup Series, Paul Menard generally has a good idea what’s ahead of him when he heads to a race track.
But he’s never been to a track quite like the Roval at Charlotte Motor Speedway, where the Cup series races this weekend. The all-new Roval circuit is 2.28 miles in length, with 17 turns. It uses part of Charlotte’s oval track and the rest is on the updated road course.
“I have no idea what to expect,” Menard said. Although he has tested his No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Fusion there on three different occasions, he’s still looking at the upcoming weekend as a big unknown.
If anything, the test session showed that the course will be challenging.
“I crashed in two of the three tests,” he said. “The third one was OK.”
He said the third test was done using a tire compound similar to the one that will be used in Sunday’s Bank of America 400, and the track and car configurations will be essentially the same as what he experienced in that final test.
But the test sessions mostly consisted of single-car runs, whereas Sunday’s 109-lap, 400-kilometer race will have a full field on the track at the same time.
Menard says that’s a recipe for mayhem.
“It probably will be similar to what restrictor-plate races are like,” he said. “You’ll need to dodge spinning cars and take care of your fenders and your tires.
“It is what it is, and we’ll have to just go in there and try to get the job done.”
Qualifying is set for Friday at 4:45 p.m. Eastern Time with TV coverage on NBCSN. The 248.520-mile race, the longest scheduled road-course race of the Cup season, is scheduled to start just after 2 p.m. on Sunday with TV coverage on NBC.
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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.
