NASCAR Sprint Cup Series - GoBowling.com 400
August 4, 2013 – Pocono Raceway

Paul Menard started the Go.Bowling.com 400 from the 21st position and finished 32nd after being caught up in a late-race accident on lap 110 at Pocono Raceway on Sunday afternoon. In the early laps of the 160-lap event, Menard relayed to the No. 27 Tarkett/Menards crew that his Chevrolet was loose on entry into turn three and exit of turn one. An early yellow flag on lap 16 provided Menard and crew the opportunity to play the pit strategy game when crew chief "Slugger" Labbe told his driver to stay out under caution. Menard restarted fourth and maintained a position inside the top-10 until having to pit for a scheduled green-flag stop on lap 33.The Eau Claire, Wis., native remained off sequence from the majority of the field for the next 60 laps. Though he was off sequence, Menard communicated to the crew that his car was handling well and the changes made on the previous stop had helped. A lap 96 caution allowed Menard to return to the same pit sequence as the rest of the 43-car field as he restarted 21st. The 32-year-old driver was running in 20th on lap 110 when he was caught up in an accident directly in front of him, which caused severe damage to the front end and left rear of the No. 27 machine. Unable to make the repairs on pit road, Menard took his Chevrolet to the garage. The crew never gave up and Menard returned to the track in the 33rd position with 17 laps remaining in the 160-lap event. By virtue of returning to green-flag action, Menard was able to gain one valuable position, ultimately finishing 32nd. Menard remains in the 19th spot in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver championship point standings heading into Watkins Glen International next weekend.

Our Tarkett/Menards Chevrolet was pretty good today. We just got caught up in someone else's mess. We were off pit sequence from the majority of the field and got caught back in the pack. It's unfortunate our day ended the way it did. I have to give my guys credit, they worked really hard to get the car fixed up and back on the track so we could gain some points. We'll keep our heads up and hope for better results at Watkins Glen (International) next weekend. - Paul Menard

Race Notes

• Started - 21st, Finished, - 32nd,  Laps led - 0, Points - 19th
• Following the event at Pocono Raceway, Menard sits 19th in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver championship point standings, 67 points outside the top 10.
• Menard tied for ninth in the Closers category after gaining one position during the final 10 percent (16 laps) of the race.
• Of drivers who did not finish within five laps of the race leader, Menard was the Fastest Driver Early in a Run.