People can convince themselves of many things, and when it comes to Paul Menard, that seems to be the case with Richard Childress.
Childress kept a completely straight face on Friday when he discussed Richard Childress Racing's new three-year deal with Menard, a below-average driver who has gotten elite rides due to the Menards sponsorship he brings.
In essence, Childress said he signed Menard because the driver can be competitive and win in the Sprint Cup Series.
But why not just tell it like it is? It would be far easier to swallow if Childress had just said something like, 'Times are tough and we know this guy isn't that good, but he brought a truckload of cash to our team, so we signed him.'
Instead, we got an attempt from Childress to convince us this was somehow a competition-related decision.
"I think there's more pressure on RCR than there is on Paul to go out and perform," Childress said. "He's proved what he can do this year. Now we have to go out and prove that we can give him the equipment."
Childress is one of the great team owners in history and undoubtedly a future Hall of Famer. Everyone respects this man. But seriously? Come on.
More than three-and-a-half seasons into his Cup career – and with solid teams like Dale Earnhardt Inc., Yates Racing and Richard Petty Motorsports – Menard has exactly five top-10s.
Three of them have come during this season, which has been his career year. But that's only one more top-10 this season than Mike Bliss has – in twice as many races!
What has Menard "proved he can do this year?"
He is 23rd in points. He has finished on the lead lap in 13 out of the 22 races so far.
But Childress sat in front of the media at Michigan and said – with no hint of believing otherwise – that Menard can be a winner in NASCAR.
This is the man who hired Dale Earnhardt! And he's saying that in his evaluation, Paul Menard can win Cup races.
"If you look back at some of the races I've watched over the last few years, he's got what it takes to win," Childress said. "It takes the right place and the right equipment."
Childress publicly presented a similar attitude about John Wes Townley.
The team signed Townley – with his father's Zaxby's sponsorship – to drive in the Nationwide Series this season. But it booted Townley after only a few races and somehow kept the sponsorship for half the year.
Childress isn't stupid. He knows that to keep his team afloat and remain competitive, it needs money. So now twice in a year, he has secured sponsorship from families who have sons that drive.
Unfortunately, that's the reality of NASCAR these days. But don't play us for fools and pretend like this is about racing. That's insulting.
"It's not just because he's got the sponsor that comes along," Childress said. "He's got the drive to come and go out and want to win."
But there are tons of drivers out there who care about NASCAR and want to win. Whether they have the talent to do it is another question entirely.
For his part, Menard was a bit more frank. Used to the snickers and behind-the-back comments by now, Menard said his family's company was going to be involved in racing one way or the other, so they might as well sponsor him.
"If I have to answer to somebody as a sponsor, it's my brothers and my sisters and my uncles and my dad," Menard said. "We can work it out.
"(They ask) questions that any sponsor would ask of their driver, of their team representatives. Luckily, I've got direct phone numbers to every (member of the) board of directors at Menards, and we can sit down once a quarter and talk about it."
I don't enjoy hearing that rides can be bought. But if it comes down to it, I'd rather hear the truth than try to be convinced this is all about competition.
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What?! Richard Childress Says Paul Menard 'Has Got What It Takes To Win'
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Hear, hear..
That was my immediate Tweet when the press conference broke.
Daddy’s money, therefore baby boy drives, period.
I agree wholeheartedly; quit treating EVERYONE like they are dumbshits, RC!
by Sky inLas Vegas on Aug 13, 2010 11:00 AM EDT reply actions
RIGHT ON BROTHER!
Thank you for saying what others will not.
BTW, What sponsor has RCR had lately that wasn’t pilfered from another team?
by Keith_KaGee on Aug 13, 2010 11:02 AM EDT reply actions
Pilfered?
Hmm, I don’t know. Maybe Caterpillar got tired of their team struggling to stay in the top-35? Maybe Cheerios got tired of being a non-factor. You make it sound like these companies have no say in the matter, like a shadow team of Richard Childress employees broke into the Davis and Petty shops under cover of darkness and made off with the sponsorship contracts.
He can’t just come out and say “Hey, Paul’s got money and heck, we need it! That’s the only reason he’s getting a ride.” I know we’d all like him to, though.
This will easily be the best position that Menard’s been in. He’s 23rd in points with a subpar team. He’s had some really good runs. And people forget that Ford’s been off the pace as a whole this season. Unlike Townley, Menard is a solid driver that doesn’t wreck cars that often. He will usually get what he can out of the car and bring it home at the end of the day. That’s half the battle.
Do I think Menard will set the world on fire? Nope. He’s not a championship-type driver, I doubt he even challenges for the Chase. However, he won’t tear up your stuff and he’ll bring money to your organization while putting in the occasional good run. When you have 3/4ths of your team contending for the Chase, I think that’s really enough.
by Jon Doble on Aug 13, 2010 11:13 AM EDT reply actions
Looks like we were typing pretty much the same thing at the same time :)
by jshaunburke on Aug 13, 2010 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions
I guess the one glaring difference betweet JWT and Menard is Menard typically doesn’t tear equipment up. For RC, having a car that’ll run 15-25 and piping in that money to R&D and not fixing broke cars isn’t a bad deal. Is this really any different than guys “Back in the day” who would race with their Mom & Pop business on the quarter panel.
He’s not taking a ride from someone and he doesn’t tear equipment up so while I don’t agree with it, I don’t have a problem either.
by jshaunburke on Aug 13, 2010 11:14 AM EDT reply actions
Seriously?
“a below-average driver who has gotten elite rides” I challenge you to tell me one “elite” ride Paul has ever gotten. If you’re calling his time in a Ford, remember that only 4 times in the last two years Ford has won. And the time he spent at DEI was a Dale Jr. focused joke. Come on, be a little more realistic. I think RPM has been the best so far because they are not milking the Menards sponsor they are actually putting some focus on the 98 team.
by Guy Snyder IV on Aug 13, 2010 11:23 AM EDT reply actions
Best Opportunity Yet
IMO this is the first “quality” ride Paul’s had. So who knows what he can really do? Even if he doesn’t, NASCAR needs drivers like Paul who simply love to race to keep its field full. That he comes with funding is a happy bonus, takes pressure off that end of it. I don’t see him getting shortchanged at RCR in either equipment or people. And, every now and then, these steady career drivers get a win & finish Top 10.
by DRLDeBoer on Aug 13, 2010 11:29 AM EDT reply actions
@DRLDeBoer you, my friend, are exactly right. Paul is acts about a perfectly as one can in his position, and yet people degrade him for his financial backing. He could do nearly anything he wants, and yet he chooses to race and does so in a respectable and courteous manner on and off the track. Put nearly anyone else in that position and they would most likely abuse the privileged. I don’t know if Paul will set the world on fire, but I sure wouldn’t mind seeing it.
by Guy Snyder IV on Aug 13, 2010 11:48 AM EDT reply actions
I do kind of agree with Childress in that he has what it takes to win…a race here and there. I don’t think he is going to set the world on fire, by any means. I just think he’ll get steadily start getting a win here and there.
I agree with DRLDeBoer. I think RCR is the best ride Paul has had so far.
by hogfan1980 on Aug 13, 2010 12:12 PM EDT reply actions
If Menard can just not embarrass RCR I think they can call that a win. Anything better than that would be exceeding expectations.
by soundguy79 on Aug 13, 2010 7:06 PM EDT reply actions
Paul
I am in a wait and see on this one. Paul has shown improvement in the last two years. Maybe with some great coaching from Kevin and Jeff and with Richard as car owner, it could end up to be the feel good story of 2011. But then again, not. So I will wait and see on this one.
by Janis Rothermel on Aug 13, 2010 7:26 PM EDT reply actions
well
he’s an ok driver, he might win a few races, but I don’t think anything special will happen. He has shown some promise at times, but not enough to be a Chase contender, that’s for sure.
Who knows, I’ve been wrong before.
There’s no question though that he was hired because of sponsorship money for Richard.
Good blog Jeff.
by NASCARfan_Travis on Aug 13, 2010 9:43 PM EDT reply actions
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