Paul Menard 2016 Fantasy NASCAR Preview
Paul Menard 2015 Stats: Points Finish 14th, 0 Wins, 0 Poles, 2 Top Fives, 5 Top Tens, Average Finish 17.1, Average Running Position 18.2, Laps Led 10, Driver Rating 76.3
Strengths – Paul Menard is a solid well rounded driver. Rarely is he a “sexy pick”, but he’s proven himself to be an effective option. If you pick him it’s important to note a typical good day is a finish in the top fifteen. Last year in 44% percent of the races he finished between 11th and 15th.
Weaknesses – Paul Menard doesn’t come home with really good finishes very often. Last year he had just two top 5’s, and five top 10’s. His top ten tally was his lowest since 2009 when he didn’t have a single finish within that mark.
Track Type Fantasy Value Key = Elite > High > Moderate > Low
Intermediate Track Fantasy Value – Medium
Paul Menard had a minor performance drop off at intermediate tracks in 2015. Last year on this track type he scored the 16th most points and had a 17.8 average finish. In the three season’s prior to last year he scored the 12th, 15th and 15th most points on this track type.
In 2015 in the 17 races held on this track type he only had 1 top five and 3 top tens. In over half the races he finished between 11th and 20th.
2016 Printable PDF NASCAR Schedule
Flat Track Fantasy Value – High
Paul Menard is a respectable performer at flat tracks. In five of the seven races on this track type last year he finished between 11th and 15th. In 2016 in incident free races I would look for him to typically come home with a finish between 11th and 20th.
Last year at shorter flat tracks (New Hampshire and Phoenix) in incident free races he finished 13th, 14th and 15th. In the one race he had problems he would’ve also finished around that range if his race would’ve played out smoothly.
At big flat tracks in 2015 he had results of 11th, 14th and 31st.
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Short Track Fantasy Value – Medium
Short tracks aren’t the best venues for Paul Menard. Last year on this track type he had a 19.0 average starting position, 19.0 average finish and scored the 17th most points. In the two seasons prior to last year he accumulated the 12th and 6th most points on this track type.
At short tracks I like him the most at Bristol. Since 2012 at that venue he’s finished in the top eleven in 6 of the last 8 races. Last year he finished 11th and 24th. At Martinsville he’s an OK driver and in 3 of the last 4 races he’s finished between 10th and 15th. Richmond is his worst short track. At that venue he’s typically been a mid-teens to mid-twenties driver.
Paul Menard Fantasy NASCAR Portal
Restrictor Plate Track Fantasy Value – High
Paul Menard had a solid season at plate tracks in 2015. On this track type last year he scored the 4th most points and had a 12.5 average finish. The only drivers who scored more points than him were Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick.
Talladega has recently been the better plate track for him. Last year he swept the top six with results of 3rd and 6th. In four of the last five races at Talladega he’s finished in the top six.
He wasn’t a standout performer at Daytona last year. In 2015 he recorded finishes of 16th and 25th. Since 2013 he hasn’t finished in the top fifteen there.
Road Course Track Fantasy Value – High
Paul Menard isn’t a flashy fantasy option at road courses but he’s been getting the job done at both serpentine tracks in recent years.
At Sonoma he currently has three straight top fourteen results. Over this three race stretch he has a 10.7 average finish. Last year he finished 13th. In 2014 he had his best finish on this track type and finished 5th.
At Watkins Glen in incident free races since 2010 he’s finished between 12th and 17th every race. Last year he finished 13th.
