Date of Birth: August 21, 1980

Hometown: Eau Claire, Wis.

Hobbies: Ice-racing, go-karting, basketball, time with family, greyhound rescue.

Menard and Petree competed in the first 14 races of the Busch Series season, notching a best finish of thirteenth at the Nazareth Speedway. Menard's results were not indicative of his true performance, as bad luck affected him several times while heading to strong results. The promise Menard showed early in the season attracted Dale Earnhardt Inc., the powerhouse organization looking to expand their efforts in the Busch Series. DEI signed Menard to a long-term contract while they organized the Menards team for the final half of the season. Menard debuted with DEI at the New Hampshire Int'l Speedway, where he ran solidly in the top-10 for much of the day before being involved in a fender-bender on a late race restart, setting the team to 18th. In many ways, the New Hampshire event served as a precursor to the rest of the season for Menard, as bad luck constantly shadowed the Menards team. Nevertheless, Menard scored his first Busch Series pole at the Kansas Speedway while scoring seven top-20 results in the final eight races as he and the Menards team readied for a strong 2005 season.

Menard's 2005 season started out much like the final half of the 2004 season materialized -- strong performances halted by more bad luck. Menard opened the season at Daytona by leading 37 laps, only to fall to 17th in the closing stages of the race as drafting help dwindled. Several more strong runs were interrupted by wrecks or mechanical difficulties, including Menard's efforts at Talladega and Richmond. After notching the pole at Talladega, Menard went on to lead 25 laps before being involved in "the Big One" late in the event; while at Richmond, Menard led 38 laps before being taken out of the race by another competitor shortly before the end of the race.

By mid-June, however, the pieces finally fell into place for Menard and his team. At Kentucky, Menard clinched his first career Busch Series top-5 result, and from there went on a charge in the second-half of the season. The following weekend, Menard placed third at Milwaukee. Menard added further top-5 results at Gateway (fifth), Richmond (second), Charlotte (third), and in the season finale at Homestead (fifth). His second position at Richmond was all the more impressive, as Menard led 66 laps and battled fiercely with NEXTEL Cup veterans Matt Kenseth and Mark Martin for the victory. All told, Menard scored 15 top-10 finishes during the final 20 races of the 2005 Busch Series season, surging to sixth in final series point standings. Menard's impressive second-half of the Busch Series season tabbed him as a force for the 2006 Busch Series title. Never one to succumb to pressure, Menard as well as his crew chief Dan Stillman will be looking forward to the challenge of defeating the Cup regulars and standing on stage following the Homestead event as series champions.

The 2006 season for Paul started up with a struggle. First he failed to qualify for the Daytona 500, in the Duel he had a flat tire and slammed the wall, taking him out of the race. In the Busch race he was caught up in a wreck which made him take a DNF. Things got better from there though, including a 7th place finish at Atlanta in the Nextel Cup Series in his first oval start ever. By mid-June Paul was solidly in the top-10 in points in the Busch Series, making a couple starts in the Cup Series as well. At Milwaukee he captured his first ever Busch Series win by holding off a charging Kevin Harvick and Denny Hamlin. By the end of the season Paul finished 3rd in the final Busch race of the year, 17th in the Cup race, and finished 6th in the Busch standings.

In 2007 Paul went for Rookie of the Year, but came up short. The season started off bad, missing the Daytona 500 by not being able to race his way in. Before Indy he missed 6 of the races, but he caught a break by then. Dale Earnhardt Inc. merged with Ginn Racing, and Paul got the 14 car's owner points, which locked him in the top-35, which meant he wouldn't have to qualify for races anymore. For most of the races remaining in the 2007 season he would run from 20th to 25th.

In 2008 Paul Menard will be in his Sophomore season, hoping to make improvements in the points standings and results as well. He will be locked into the first 5 races of the year due to him finishing 29th in owners points in 2007.

2008 was an up and down season for Menard, finishing 26th in the points standings. At the July Daytona race Paul captured his first career Cup pole. Later in the season, he finished 2nd at Talladega, a new career best for Menard. This will be his last season with Dale Earnhardt Inc. In 2009 Paul will head over to the Yates Racing stable, to drive the #98 Menards Ford Fusion.

The 2010 season brought some success for Paul and the 98 crew, finishing in the top-10 six times with a season-best 5th place finish at Atlanta. Menard will be moving to Richard Childress Racing in 2011 and will drive the #27 Menards Chevrolet.