Paul Menard 2015 Fantasy NASCAR Preview
Paul Menard 2014 Stats: Points Finish 21st, 0 Poles, 0 Wins, 5 Top Fives, 13 Top Tens, Average Running Position 18.0, Average Finish 17.9, Laps Led 45, Driver Rating 77.2
Strengths – Look for Paul Menard to have his best days at high-speed intermediate tracks and Bristol.
Weaknesses – Flat tracks, road courses and most short tracks haven’t historically been favorable venues for him and it’s likely you’ll have better fantasy options.
Track Type Fantasy Value Key = Elite > High > Moderate > Low
Intermediate Track Fantasy Value – High
Paul Menard is a solid intermediate track driver. Last season at high-speed intermediate tracks (intermediate tracks minus Darlington and Dover) he scored the 8th most points and had a 12.9 average finish. In 8 of those 14 races he finished in the top ten. Being successful at these venues is a big deal because they comprise more than a third of the season.
For the year on this overall track type he scored the 13th most points. On this track type in 2013 he scored the 15th most points.
2015 Printable PDF NASCAR Schedule <— Print yours today!
Flat Track Fantasy Value – Low
Flat tracks were a major area of weakness for Paul Menard in 2014. In the 7 races on this track type last season he had one top fifteen result and a 24.7 average finish.
His top fifteen finish was a 15th at New Hampshire in the fall. At the magic mile Menard doesn’t have great fantasy value. His average finish there is 23.7, and it’s one of four tracks that he’s never finished in the top ten. Since 2011 at Loudon he’s finished between 12th and 24th every race. At the other shorter flat track Menard has also not performed that great. In 2014 at Phoenix he finished 23rd both races. In 2013 he had results of 16th and 20th. In 2015 I would look for him to finish somewhere right around 20th.
At Indy Paul Menard got his only career win in 2011. In that event he was a hyper mileage driver so by no means did he have the best car. Last year at that venue he finished 34th after getting into the wall. His two results prior to that event were 12th and 14th place finishes.
The Tricky Triangle has been tricky for Menard. In his last four races there he has a best result of 26th and a 30.25 average finish.
Read his teammates fantasy NASCAR previews: Austin Dillon and Ryan Newman
Short Track Fantasy Value – Moderate
On short tracks Paul Menard is unquestionably at his best at Bristol. At Thunder Valley he’s finished in the top ten in 5 of the last 6 races. I’m pretty sure you can’t say that about him anywhere else. At Martinsville last year he statistically had his best season and came home with results of 10th and 14th. It’s important to note his 10th place finish is his only career top ten at Martinsville. His overall Martinsville average finish is 20.5. Richmond has historically been one of his worst tracks. His average finish at that venue is 24.1. In 2014 at RIR he had results of 18th and 24th. In 2013 he had his best season by a wide margin and finished 5th and 13th. In 16 starts at Richmond he’s finished in the top fifteen in just 3 races. Overall on this track type last season he scored the 12th most points.
Check out our Paul Menard Fantasy NASCAR Portal page
Restrictor Plate Track Fantasy Value – Moderate
Paul Menard has moderate fantasy value at restrictor plate tracks. RCR brings great cars to this track type and he’s a driver who’s capable of coming home with a good result. In 2011 on this track type he scored the most points in the series. Last year at the plate tracks he had a 22.5 average finish.
Last fall at Talladega Menard finish 36th. Prior to that event he had back to back top six results. At Daytona in 2014 he finished 16th in July and in the Daytona 500 he had a strong car that led 29 laps but his race wasn’t incident free and as a result he finished 32nd.
Road Course Track Fantasy Value – Low
Last year at Sonoma Paul Menard finished 5th. Don’t make the mistake and think he’s suddenly a road course ringer because he’s not. That 5th place finish is Menard’s only top ten on this track type in 18 races. At Sonoma he’s only finished in the top fifteen twice and has a 19.0 average finish. I would say that average result is pretty representative of what you should expect if you pick him. At Watkins Glen his best finish is 12th, and his average finish is 23.6.
