MENARD STAKES NASCAR BUSCH SSERIES CLAIM IN KENTUCKY PRACTICES
 
Stage set for "Meijer 300 Presented by Oreo" Qualifying Tomorrow
 
SPARTA, KY. -- Dale Earnhardt, Inc., driver Paul Menard staked a claim for
NASCAR Busch Series regulars at Kentucky Speedway today by leading two
practice sessions for tomorrow's sold out "Meijer 300 Presented by
Oreo" race.
 
The 25-year-old driver who enters the weekend eighth in the series
championship standings, turned his fastest lap of the day at 179.307 mph
(30.116 seconds) in the second practice session that was completed in shaded
conditions. He bettered 46 drivers in the first session by turning his
quickest lap at 176.422 mph (30.605 seconds) in daytime temperatures that
reached the mid to high 80s.
 
"We're happy with the way the car is running. When we unloaded, it was really
good," Menard said following evening practice session. "We made a few minor
adjustments to kind of see how it would react in race scenarios and it
reacted how we thought, so we're ready to go. The track is going to be around
the same conditions tomorrow night as how we just finished practice. It
cooled off a little more and we got a little more grip. Planning ahead, you
are going to run faster at night so you are going to have to travel a bit
more."
 
Jon Wood was second in the afternoon practice session with a quick lap of
175.143 mph (30.893 seconds) and David Gilliland was third with a 174.797 mph
(30.893 seconds).
 
"Kentucky Speedway has always been a favorite track of mine,"
said Wood, who
won a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series pole award at the track in 2003. "I've
driven all three different (NASCAR) vehicles at this track and they all drive
about the same. This track is very smooth and uniquely shaped."
 
Clint Bowyer, Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, J.J.
Yeley and Reed Sorenson made their way to Kentucky Speedway by jet and
helicopter for "Happy Hour" after completing NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series
qualifying at Michigan International Speedway this afternoon. Greg Biffle was
the lone session absentee among the eight NEXTEL Cup Series drivers scheduled
to compete in tomorrow's Kentucky clash.
 
Busch and Harvick applied the most pressure on Menard in the final "Meijer
300 Presented by Oreo" practice session. Harvick, the inaugural Kentucky
Speedway NASCAR Busch Series race winner from 2001, was second-quickest after
turning his best of 28 practice laps at 179.004 mph (30.167 seconds). Busch,
the 2004 Kentucky Speedway Busch Series winner, was third fastest in the
session with a 178.980 mph (30.171 seconds) lap.
 
All top laps in the session were well shy of Edwards' series track record
qualifying effort of 181.287 mph (29.787 seconds) set last season.
 
"I don't feel much difference from two years ago," Busch said.
"Relatively,
when speeds slow down the car characteristics don't change that much and, for
me, they haven't. For me, it feels the same as last time I was here."
 
##MMR 2.61(beta). 


--- GTMail 1.26