Paul Menard and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane team head to Texas Motor Speedway ready to put the new handling package to its first Texas test and continue their climb up the Monster Energy Cup Series points standings.
Menard’s 15th-place finish last weekend at Martinsville Speedway moved him up one spot to 20th place, and he’s just one point behind 19th-place Ryan Newman and 14 shy of Daniel Suarez, who holds the 16th position.
Now it’s on to Texas Motor Speedway where Menard said the new higher downforce/lower horsepower package in use on intermediate-length tracks this season creates some unknowns, as it has each time the circuit headed to a new venue this season.
“It’s going to be different,” Menard said of racing on the 1.5-mile oval in Ft. Worth, which was just repaved and reconfigured two years ago while the other intermediate tracks he’s raced on this year have older pavement. “It’ll be more single-groove than most places, and the fastest lane will be at the bottom.
“We’ll be turning all day trying to pass people.”
Menard said he and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team are putting a lot of effort into maximizing their performance with the new package.
“We’re working hard to understand what the car wants,” he said. “And I’m working hard to get used to how to use the throttle with the new package.
“It takes a different driving style, and I’m trying to teach myself how to get the most out of it.”
Although Menard and the team aren’t quite where they’d like to be from a performance standpoint, he feels like they’re getting there.
“We’re in the ballpark,” he said, adding that there’s an air of optimism around the team. “We’re not where we want to be, but we understand where we need to go and how to get there.”
Qualifying at Texas is set for Friday at 6:40 p.m. (7:40 Eastern Time), and the race is scheduled to start just after 2 p.m. (3 p.m. Eastern Time) on Sunday with TV coverage on FOX.
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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.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan. The company designs, manufactures, markets and services a full line of Ford cars, trucks, SUVs, electrified vehicles and Lincoln luxury vehicles, provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company and is pursuing leadership positions in electrification, autonomous vehicles and mobility solutions. Ford employs approximately 200,000 people worldwide. For more information regarding Ford, its products and Ford Motor Credit Company, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.
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 Mustang driven by Paul Menard in the famous No. 21 racer.
