Menards Returns To RCR XFINITY Program

Menard was a winner at Road America

Building on a strong 2015 season, Menards will continue its partnership with Richard Childress Racing's NASCAR XFINITY Series program as a primary sponsor for select races on both the No. 2 Chevrolet with Paul Menard and the No. 33 Chevrolet with Brandon Jones. 

Menards has been a part of RCR's XFINITY Series campaign since 2012.  

"We are excited to be back for another season of NASCAR XFINITY Series racing with RCR," said Jeff Abbott, Menards Promotion Manager. “Last year proved to be a success with Paul Menard's win in our home state of Wisconsin at Road America, along with four Top-five and eight Top-10 finishes with Menard and Brandon Jones behind the wheel. We are proud of the caliber of race cars Richard Childress and his team bring to the race track each weekend. We look forward to another exciting season in 2016 with Jones and Menard behind the wheel again."  

Menard will drive the No. 2 Richmond/Menards Chevrolet Camaro in select events this season, while maintaining a full-time schedule in the No. 27 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series entry for RCR. The Eau Claire, Wis. native is a three-time XFINITY Series race winner with five pole awards, 34 Top-five and 87 Top-10 finishes. Menard will kick off the season at Atlanta Motor Speedway, making his 200th XFINITY Series start.  

Danny Stockman will return as crew chief of the No. 2 Richmond/Menards Chevrolet team with Menard. The duo captured the win at Road America, earning Menard a victory in his home state of Wisconsin in 2015.  

As previously announced, Jones will compete on a full-time basis in the XFINITY Series in 2016. The 18-year old driver made his XFINITY Series debut with RCR at Iowa Speedway in 2015, earning one Top-five and two Top-10 finishes with a total of 16 laps led in five starts.  

Mike Hillman Jr. has been named crew chief for Jones and the No. 33 team. Hillman Jr.'s 12 years of experience will help guide the young driver in his rookie season in the series. The veteran crew chief joined RCR in 2015 and recorded 18 top-five starting positions, resulting in six top-five and 18 top-10 finishes throughout the 2015 season. Menards will be Jones' primary sponsor at the season opener at Daytona International Speedway on February 20th. 

"Menards' continued support this season with Paul Menard and Brandon Jones in the XFINITY Series is a true testament to their commitment to RCR and this sport," said Richard Childress, CEO and Chairman of Richard Childress Racing. "The Menards racing team found success last season with Paul winning in his home state of Wisconsin and Brandon's solid finishes on track. We hope to build on that success this year and provide Menards an opportunity to be a winning company both on and off the race track." 

Menards has a long, successful history as a racing sponsor dating back to the 1970's, which includes one of NASCAR's crown jewels, the 2011 Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with driver Paul Menard. A family-owned company started in 1960 and headquartered in Eau Claire, Wis., Menards has 297 retail store locations throughout the Midwest.