After a terrible 2009, how could Menard and Speed possibly be running so well?

Sorry about your troll infestation. That certainly sucks. Sort of explains why you don't see me here too often. But occasionally an honest and valid question comes along that I can't resist answering.

I actually like both PM and SS.

I remember watching the Busch race at Milwaukee in 2006 when Paul won after holding off Kevin Harvick. Kevin tried everything in the book to win for several re-starts, and ended up wrecking himself and several others. I was impressed with the way Paul handled all of that and have followed what he's done since then. As a Dale Jr fan, I don't hold his name against him.

Scott Speed on the other hand interests me just because he is so different personality wise from so many of the other Cup drivers. Painted toe nails? Ya just gotta love it! LOL! I think our sport needs a shot of young blood that is a bit different than the boring Joey Logano type. (Joey's ok, but I think that if more young drivers were more X-game kind of guys, a whole lot of younger people would be fans)

Yeah, I told someone earlier this year that Menard could contend for a top 15 points spot and contend for a win and some top 5's and top 10's. I'm not saying he will win a race, but I do think he will contend for some wins on some tracks. He is obviously a better driver then people gave him credit for and he just didn't have a good team or top notch equipment before. The same thing can be compared to Martin Truex Jr in that he was a teammate of Menard at DEI. Menard just didn't have as good of equipment and Truex Jr didn't have great equipment either. DEI went down hill fast when Dale Jr left and even before he left they were struggling as a whole. So now Menard's with a new team, he's in new equipment and he's ready to prove that he can be a top notch driver if he is in top notch equipment. To me it just proves that all of these drivers have talent and the teams who put the best cars on the track each week are the ones that stand out because of that. ITs not always that a driver is great, but it has to do with equipment also. Jimmie Johnson for instance, great driver and I'm not saying he's not, but that whole 48 team is on top of their game. And it shows with the other Hendrick guys. Even Gordon who has won 4 championships isn't just all of a sudden not a good driver anymore, he and his team just haven't found that edge that they need to get back on top, where as the 48 team has.

Scott Speed is similar to Menard, but there are differences. I think Scott Speed is a good young driver who is now benefiting from the rewards of Vickers making the Chase and running well last year. Speed was a first year Cup driver last year and most drivers struggle to find the handle on these cars. So I think he has talent and he is in pretty good equipment and he uses both of them to enable himself to put together strong runs. Menard is doing the same thing and there isn't a lot of difference between the two other then Menard is a few years further along then Speed. I like Menard and I'm trying to give Speed a chance, but for right now he's just kind of a different style then what I am used to having any kind of interest in. They are both good drivers and they both could make a splash this year. With that being said, there are alot of other guys who would be considered to be locks to get into the Chase who are struggling. I do give credit for what Speed and Menards teams have done up to this point and I expect them to continue doing well to a certain degree, but I would be very surprised if 1 or both of them stay in the top 12. It is still impressive though, and I will be watching to see how they do. Its kind of cool to see good young drivers come along and step in, in place of the regulars who are there year after year.

They will both drop out. It's only been what 3 races? So all you have to do to be in the top 10 in points is pretty much not wreck or have a major car failure. They will definitely drop out to where they belong. Paul Menard is known to be one of the worst drivers in the cup series, and Scott Speed as well. Neither ever has a great chance.

I'm sorry to any Speed fans, but I really don't think he'll be able to rival JPM. Montoya made a decent transition and is so far alos a factor in races. Maybe Speed will shut me up if/when he makes a team change. I just dont think that the Red Bull stable is strong enough for them to perform at their top.

Paul Menard...

What can you say? I was pleasantly surprised at his good run, and I'd like to see it more often. I'd hate to say its all luck, who knows?

I'd say if he can improve his qualifying efforts and get a consistant car, then he will slowly be able to learn all the small tweaks and niggles that the other teams can use when they are up front.

Well Paul Menard is now a new member of the Richard Petty Motorsports & Robert Yates merger, so I'm sure that was a big help. But some of that goes to his crew chief (can't remember his name) and experience plays a role too.

I think Speed was a rookie last year, so that year was a learning process for him. I don't know what else to say about him. He was pretty successful in ARCA and showed that he could win in the Truck series.

I'ld take dads money and stay with DEI. Menard and the relatives enterprise is amazingly cool. i wish Menard, Truex, & Almirola, will help DEI leap up some notches interior the forces of NASCAR

Luck

i think we are seeing the results of teams working together to beat jj at his own game , and its starting to pay off for them ,just need the rest of the teams to do likewise, and it will make 2010 a top year , and keep the paying fans happy , bring it on , cheers

Very good question; sorry that your original was deleted.

I don't know about Menard - I think he has some talent. Maybe he just finally got all of his ducks in a row. His dad's money doesn't hurt his effort.

Speed - I really thought that he would be doing much better before now. He's got a lot of talent. Maybe his accelerator got stuck. I think Toyotas have that problem sometimes. : )

Lets see where they are in about 10 races.