Youngster Menard takes first Busch Series top ten.

Rising stock-car star Paul Menard captured his first top-10 in the NASCAR Busch Series last Saturday night at Indianapolis Raceway Park with a sweet 9th-place finish in his Andy Petree Racing Turtle Wax Chevrolet.

"The car was so good tonight," said the smiling 22 year-old after the race. "We worked all day in practice to get it loose for the race, knowing it would tighten up in the runs and that's exactly what happened. This is a big result for us right now; Andy (Petree) and the guys did a great job."

Menard, who started 20th, held off series veterans Mike Bliss and Johnny Sauter late in the race, while working his way through the field methodically early in the race.

Through the first 100 laps, Menard picked up eight positions as his spotter and Team Menard Craftsman Truck Series driver Matt Crafton helped guide him through the short-track traffic and mayhem.

"Matt (Crafton) helped me a ton tonight. He spotted for me in a lot of my ReMax races last season and he knows what to look for out there. It also helped that he ran the truck series race last night [Friday] on this track. It was a complete package tonight, everybody involved with this team did an excellent job."

In the first few laps of the race around the tight 0.686-mile IRP oval, Menard was worried the car might be too loose, radioing in to Petree that he was all over the place exiting the corners. But within a matter of laps, the car settled in and was perfect. In fact, at the mid-point of the race, Menard was the fastest car on the track and was gaining on his eventual top-10 position rapidly.

"When we were really moving there towards the middle of the race, I radioed in that I didn't want any kind of caution because we were so good. Of course one came out shortly after that, but we didn't make any changes and we were just as good in the second half. At the very end we were getting too tight, but I think everyone was slowing a little bit."

Team owner Andy Petree had a grin the size of North Carolina after the race.

"It was such a great race for all of us," said Petree. "We learned what not to do from last night when I drove in the Truck (Series) race and Paul just took it from there. I think I found a seat that fits better for me - on top of the pit box! Really though, Paul is so smooth. He showed so much maturity out there running with the top guys all night and holding on in the end without making any mistakes. He's a racer and I'm just having so much fun racing this year with Paul. There's so much potential and so many positive things about him, it's really the most fun I've had since we were racing with Schrader. This is just the boost everybody needs to go up to the Glen next weekend and run with the Cup boys."

Saturday night's race was especially memorable for Menard, as he had dedicated his race to his childhood greyhound dog, "Corndog," who he and his family have to put to sleep on Sunday in Wisconsin. As a tribute to the greyhound he and his Mom rescued from a dog racing track in 1984, Menard wore a greyhound t-shirt with Corndog's name on it.

"Corndog was such a big part of my life growing up; it's going to be a sad day tomorrow. I wanted to do something for him and show him how much I was going to miss him. He's such a great dog, but he's in so much pain right now. I'm just proud that he was a part of this today."

Menard has now logged top-10 finishes in all three series he has competed this year, ARCA, Busch, and Trucks. Next weekend he will attempt to qualify for his first NASCAR Winston Cup event at Watkins Glen.

[pic copyright: Team Menard]