Menard’s father not involved in transaction

With rookie driver Paul Menard being a major beneficiary of the Dale Earnhardt Inc.-Ginn Racing merger, and his father, John, being a multi-billionaire, it would be easy to conclude that maybe the Menard family played a role in bankrolling the merger.

DEI Vice President John Story said that was not the case in the merger, where Menard got the owner points from the No. 14 Ginn car and is now in one of the top 35 locked-in positions instead of having to qualify for races on speed.

"John Menard got a phone call from us after the transaction was complete to let him know that it was done and Paul was now 30th in [owner] points," Story said Saturday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

"It was never contemplated nor [was] the request ever made to John Menard to be a potential player in this transaction. … [Team owner] Teresa Earnhardt has done well for herself over many, many years."

The merger also should slow rumors that Paul Menard could leave and take the car sponsorship from the family company with him.

"Paul has really given us his commitment and we've given him ours that we're going to work together and we're going to build this program over the next couple of years," Story said. Scenedaily.com