Paul Menard: Owner Points Will Shift

When Paul Menard announced late last year that he would be leaving Dale Earnhardt Incorporated to drive a Team Yates Ford, many thought he was inheriting a car without a guaranteed spot in the Daytona 500.

As expected, however, Menard will get the owner points from either the No. 28 or No. 38—both of which are solidly in the top-35 and guaranteed a spot in the first five races.

Menard told reporters in Daytona yesterday that, "As far as I know we're getting points so we'll be locked in. I'm not sure if it's No. 28 or No. 38 points, but one of them will slide over."

This comes as now surprise, as it was reported last week that David Gilliland may be out of a ride in '09 anyway.

When it was announced that former champion Bobby Labonte was taking over the No. 96 Ask.com Ford, and that the team would be partnered with Yates Racing, it was said that the team would run only three cars.

Gilliland took that as meaning he was the odd-man out.

Yates, however, has yet to officially announce whether it plans to run all four cars, or just three. The team also has not announced which points Menard will inherit.

Menard brought his family business as a full-time sponsor, while Gilliland's No. 28 is only partially sponsored, as is the No. 38 of Travis Kvapil.

The bottom line is that sponsors want to see their cars in the race, so if you have a guaranteed spot, you better give it to the car that is sponsored.

It could serve as a double-edged sword, however. If Kvapil and/or Gilliland were guaranteed the spots, the exposure may have attracted another sponsor.

If they struggle to make one of the first five races, and fall outside of the golden top-35, it may be impossible to get new sponsorship, as well as keep the current ones.

B-Blog