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Menard Heads To Nashville With An Eye Towards ASALMS Challenge Division Points Lead
By: ASA Late Model Series
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| Eau Claire,
Wisconsin veteran, Charlie Menard will head to the Music City (TN)
Motorplex in Nashville, Tennessee on Friday and Saturday March 30-31,
2007 for the Music City Spring Clash 200 just 40 points out of the 2007
ASALMS Challenge Division points lead. (ASALMS File Photo) |
Lexington, Michigan (03/21/2007): While the ASA Late
Model Series Presented by GM Performance Parts is primarily known for the
young, up and coming drivers that grace all three divisions’ rosters, the
veterans of the ASALMS are making their presence felt in the early going of
the 2007 racing season and letting the talented kids know that they’ll have
to earn their stripes just like they had too when they began their respective
careers.
Charlie Menard and his Menards Racing Team is one of those talented veteran
teams that the younger drivers in the series look up to and will have to beat
if they want any part of any ASALMS hardware. For the 2007 season, Menard will
make a run for both the ASALMS Challenge and Northern Division Championships
with a full schedule of events in both divisions and is widely considered a
serious title contender in both divisions!
The next race on the 2007 Menards Racing Schedule will see the Eau Claire,
Wisconsin veteran head to the Music City (TN) Motorplex in Nashville,
Tennessee, as the historic speed plant awaits the cars and stars of the ASALMS
Challenge Division for race number two on the 2007 schedule on Friday and
Saturday March 30-31, 2007 for the Music City Spring Clash 200.
Menard, who’s getting married in October, is very optimistic about going
down to the Volunteer State at the end of the month. Heading into Nashville,
Menard stands sixth in the season long points chase after his sixth place
finish in San Antonio, Texas and is only five points out of the Top Five and
with only one race in the record books. In addition, he’s just 40 markers
back of Current Points Leader and 2nd annual Alamo 200 winner, Colt James
(200-160).
“We’re really looking forward to Nashville! After finishing sixth at
Speedfest in January and then sixth again in Texas, we’d like to break into
the Top Five at Nashville and move up in the points!” The 34-year-old
stated. “This year will be just great, we’re running the full schedules in
both the ASALMS Challenge and Northern Divisions as well as a few Wisconsin
races thrown in for fun. I’m looking forward to the rest of this season.”
The Eau Claire, Wisconsin veteran added.
The first race of the Fifth Anniversary 2007 season for the crown jewel of the
ASALMS, the Challenge Division was at the fast 0.500 Mile High-Banked Paved
Oval of the San Antonio (TX) Speedway in San Antonio, Texas. The 2nd annual
Alamo 200 was on tap on March 3, 2007 as drivers and teams were hoping to get
off to a good start to begin the 2007 campaign.
Menard’s day didn’t start off as well as he had hoped as in ARP
Bodies/Aluminum Racing Products Qualifying, the Eau Claire, Wisconsin veteran
qualified directly in the middle of the 31-car field in 16th. Menard would
start the 200-lap Feature from the outside of the Eighth Row and would avoid
the numerous accidents throughout the Feature and climb up 10 spots to finish
a solid sixth in the running order.
“Overall we’re pretty happy with our race in San Antonio. It’s a fun
race track but proved to be hard to pass on.” Continued Menard as he talked
about the weekend in South Texas. “The car was good all night and after a
terrible qualifying effort, we moved up with the car getting faster as the
night progressed and we ended up sixth! Chad (Crew Chief Chad Wood) and I have
really clicked and you should see an awesome year from Menards Racing.”
Menard ended.
Running in his first full season of ASALMS competition in 2006, the
34-year-old C.O.O. of the nationally known Menards Home Improvement Chain of
Hardware Stores was a solid contender at every event during the 2006 ASALMS
Challenge Division season. The Eau Claire, Wisconsin veteran registered Four
Top Five finishes with a season high finish of fourth on two occasions.
The first was during the Miller Lite 200 at the Madison (WI) International
Speedway on May 27, 2006 after leading the first 124 laps. Then he did it
again at the next race at the Oswego (NY) Speedway on June 10, 2006 in the
Fleet Pride 200. Menard finished with Eight Top 10 showings to finish just
outside the Top Five in sixth by just five points.
He also made select appearances in the ASALMS Northern Division where he
picked up one Top Five finish, a fifth place showing at the tight 0.250 Mile
Semi-Banked Paved Oval of the Columbus 151 (WI) Speedway, located North of
Madison in Columbus, Wisconsin on August 5, 2006. Overall Menard grabbed Two
Top 10 showings and finished 23rd in the final North standings in only five
appearances out of 12 North events held.
Also in 2006, Menard kept his streak of Oktoberfest Feature Wins in tact by
winning the Central Wisconsin Late Models Feature at his home track of the
LaCrosse (WI) Fairgrounds Speedway during the 37th annual Oktoberfest Weekend.
With the win, Menard has at least one Feature victory in Oktoberfest since
2002, a streak of five consecutive years!
Menard began his racing career in go-karts on various asphalt road courses
when he was eight years old. Over the years, Menard has also ran in Ice racing
where he picked up the International Ice Racing Association Championship in
1995. Menard has also seen time in IMSA and Grand Am Cup Sedan Racing where he
placed a third in the GT 2004 Daytona 24-hour event. Menard also has won
several Legend Cars Championships and has seen time in the now defunct ASA
National Tour. His cousin is NASCAR Nextel Cup Rookie, Paul Menard.
Menard competed regularly at the LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway from 2002-2005
and had a banner 2004 season when he won the 2004 NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series
Midwest Regional Champion as well as 2004 LaCrosse (WI) Fairgrounds Speedway
Late Model Track Champion with six feature wins.
Among those wins were two victories during the 2004 Oktoberfest in both the
Wisconsin Late Models feature as well as the LaCrosse Late Models feature.
Another impressive accomplishment during the 2004 season was his fifth place
showing at the 24 hours of Daytona.
Menards' 2005 season began and ended with wins! An impressive win at Speedfest
2005 at the USA (FL) International Speedway and then during the ASALMS
Coca-Cola/Oktoberfest 100 at LaCrosse. In addition to his ASALMS Oktoberfest
win, Menard would go on to win two more features during the weekend to
complete the Oktoberfest Hat Trick!
During the 2007 season, Menard will carry the colors of the Menards Home
Improvement Chain on the side of his familiar #13 Ford Fusion. In addition,
Floors of Distinction by Custom Surfaces, Jack Links Beef Jerky, Shell Rock,
John's Manville Insulation, Tech Stain Remover, Crown Spray Power, The Tool
Shop, Bud Light, Ironclad, Powertex, and Menards Racing will all sport decals
on Menards’ machine during the season.
To learn more about Charlie Menard and the entire stable at Menards Racing,
log onto their website at: Menards
Racing
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