Paul Menard, an Eau Claire, Wis. native, racing career began to take shape at just eight years old when Menard won the Briggs Junior Class Championship in his hometown of Eau Claire, Wis. He later won the Briggs Medium Class Championship before working his way up the proverbial racing steps. Menard began ice racing when he was 15-years-old and went on to win 10 International Ice Racing Association events in his career. To date, Menard continues to compete in IIRA events during the NASCAR off season.

Menard made his foray into NASCAR competition in 2003 and has since proved to be a rising star. The Wisconsin driver posted his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series top-10 finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway in the spring of 2006. Still a full-time NASCAR Nationwide Series driver, Menard continued to show strength by earning great finishes including his first NASCAR Nationwide Series victory at The Milwaukee Mile in June of 2006. Overall, Menard earned one win, 10 top-fives, 16 top-10s and a sixth-place finish in the 2006 championship standings.

The 2007 season faced several significant challenges for the driver of the No. 15 team. Not only was Menard required to qualify on speed for the first 19 races of the season, but with as many as 55 cars showing up to each event, qualifying was nearly as notable as winning in ‘07. In addition, many consider the competition among the Raybestos Rookie class to have been at an all time high in 2007 and Menard was awarded Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors at four events throughout the season.

In 2008, Menard posted his first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series pole at the historic Daytona International Speedway. Menard also posted his career best NSCS finish at Talladega Superspeedway.

The end of the 2008 season brought many changes as Menard made a major decision to join Yates Racing. Joining teammate Bobby Labonte at Yates Racing in 2009, Menard and his No. 98 Menards team posted seven top-20 finishes and finished 31st in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver standings.

In 2010, Menard will join the famed Richard Petty Motorsports with teammates Kasey Kahne, Elliott Sadler and A.J. Allmendinger. Menard will pilot the No. 98 Menards Ford Fusion full time in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Menard enters his fifth full season of competition in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and also continues his representation of Quaker State, Serta Mattress, Turtle Wax, Moen, MasterCraft, Certainteed, Sylvania, Zecol, Pittsburgh Paints, Peak, Nibco, Schrock, Vertis and Energizer. Menards will be the primary sponsor for the No. 98 Ford Fusion carrying the neon yellow paint scheme around the track and across the country.

Joining Menard at Richard Petty Motorsports for the 2010 season is legendary crew chief Richard “Slugger” Labbe. The No. 98 team, Labbe and Menard look forward to a successful run at the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship.

Off the track, Menard enjoys riding dirt bikes, go-karting, wakeboarding, and playing video games. The 29-year old driver resides in Charlotte, N.C.