Menard to make Cup debut at The Glen.

NASCAR Busch Series racer Paul Menard will make his second career Nextel Cup start, but his first for Dale Earnhardt Incorporated in next month's Sirius Satellite Radio at the Glen.

The son of long-time racing entrant John Menard, who currently drives the #11 Menards sponsored DEI Busch Series car, will drive DEI's #1 Kraft sponsored Chevrolet in the second and final road course event of the season just as he did for Andy Petree Racing at Watkins Glen in 2003.

The 24 year-old Busch Series sophomore is expected to graduate to Cup with DEI in the near future, but a move to the #15 team in 2006 doesn't appear to be on the cards just yet. Menard has yet to break into the Busch Series winners circle and has scored just five top ten finishes in 21 starts so far this year as both he and the brand new #11 DEI Busch team get to grips with the rough and tumble Busch Series.

Menard started his career in Karting and has gained valuable road course experience during his time in the Trans Am Series. After successfully qualifying for his Nextel Cup debut two years ago, Menard drove from 43rd on the grid to take a solid 29th place finish for a team in the throws of dissolving the majority of its racing operations.