Paul Menard 2014 Fantasy NASCAR Preview
2013 Stats: Points Finish 17th, 0 Poles, 0 Wins, 3 Top Fives, 9 Top Tens, Average Running Position 17.7, Average Finish 17.8, Laps Led 72, Driver Rating 76.66
Strengths- Paul Menard given his tier has solid fantasy potential at intermediate tracks, flat tracks and restrictor plate tracks.
Weaknesses- Don’t get your hopes up at road courses, Martinsville and Richmond.
Intermediate Track Grade- B, After the top tier elite drivers Paul Menard is about as good as it gets on intermediate tracks. Last season he scored the 16th most points on this track type. On these venues in 2013 he had five top ten finishes, that’s the same amount Greg Biffle had. His top tens on these tracks come intermittently throughout the season. Typically on these venues during a trouble-free day he gets at least a mid teens result. In 2012 on intermediate tracks he scored the 15th most points and had a 15.5 average finish.
NASCAR Printable 2014 Schedule
Flat Track Grade- B, Paul Menard had a tough season on flat tracks in 2013 and scored the 23rd most points. He’s capable of doing better than that. In 2012 he had solid fantasy production on flat tracks. In five of the seven races that season he finished between 9th and 14th. If you take away the spring 2012 Phoenix race (crashed) then he would’ve had a 12.0 average finish and a 11.7 average running position. That’s not bad in my book. Those type of numbers give him good dark horse potential.
Short Track Grade- B-, Paul Menard has good sleeper potential at Bristol. Currently at Thunder Valley he has four straight top ten results. Also in five of the last six races there he’s had a top ten. In summer 2013 he finished 6th and led 64 laps.
Richmond was once a terrible track for him but he’s shown recent improvement. In September he had his best result and finished 5th. In two of the three races prior to that he had a 13th place result. Before 2012 he finished 26th or worse 90% percent of the time.
At Martinsville I wouldn’t even be tempted to consider him. His 21.8 average finish is pretty reflective as to what you should expect if you pick him. Last season he had results of 22nd and 19th.
Restrictor Plate Track Grade- B, With the exception of a 4th place finish at Talladega in October Menard had a dreadful season on this track type. His average finish in his other three races on this track type was 30th. In 2011 Paul Menard scored the most points in the series on restrictor plate tracks. Don’t overlook him as a dark horse driver at these venues.
Road Course Track Grade- B-, Paul Menard had one of his better season’s statistically on road courses last season. At Infineon he had his all-time best result and finished 14th. Four of his five previous results were 20th or worse. At Watkins Glen he finished 17th. In four out of the five previous races there he had a result between 12th and 19th.
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