Sep 30, 2008 - 3:36 PM
0 shoutsCORNELIUS, North Carolina (Ticker) -- Paul Menard is the latest driver to leave Dale Earnhardt Inc.
Menard announced Tuesday that he is leaving the Chevrolet-based organization at the end of the season in order to drive for Yates Racing, beginning in 2009.
Menard's Yates Ford Fusion will feature sponsorship from Menards, his father's Midwest-based hardware chain that will follow him from his current ride.
"This is a great opportunity and I'm glad to be joining the Yates Racing organization next season," Menard said. "I think a lot of what Doug Yates and Max Jones are doing over there is building for continued success. I'm excited to be a part of their future and excited to work with Travis (Kvapil) and David (Gilliland)."
Menard's exit came a year after Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced he would leave the team his father built in order to drive for Hendrick Motorsports. Three months ago, Mark Martin decided to leave DEI and come out of semi-retirement to race full-time for Hendrick next season.
Menard's announcement means DEI has just one full sponsor in Bass Pro Shops for Martin Truex Jr., who recently agreed to a one-year extension that takes him through 2009. But Truex is winless this season and failed to make the "Chase for the Championship."
Menard is winless through two Sprint Cup seasons driving the No. 15 Chevrolet for DEI. He is currently 28th in the standings, with one pole and a season-best finish of 11th at Michigan in June.
"Paul is one of those guys I've personally been watching for the last two years; I think he's ready to take the next step in this series and become a driver we hear a lot about on the track in 2009," Jones said.
Yates was once among the best in NASCAR, but is now slowly rebuilding with help from Roush Fenway Racing. Gilliland and Kvapil currently drive for the two-car team, and former Roush executive Jones moved over to Yates as general manager.
Despite limited sponsorship, the Yates cars at times have been competitive. Kvapil is 24th in the standings and Gilliland is 26th.
