Andy Petree Racing [APR], which ran driver Paul Menard in a partial schedule of ARCA, Truck Series, Busch Series and Cup races this season, has signed Menard to a three-year deal that could move the 23-year-old to the Cup series by 2006. APR’s plan for Menard is to run for rookie of the year honors in Busch next season, run a second season in the series in 2005 and, if both parties agree, move to Cup in 2006. “It’s been a change of pace this year for sure, but you can’t build momentum week-to-week for a team without running a full schedule,” Petree said. “Running the whole Busch schedule, we should be a much better race team.” Petree, a former crew chief for the late Dale Earnhardt, has operated as many as two Winston Cup teams, but scaled back to a part-time schedule this season with Menard, who has Trans Am, road racing and ReMax Challenge series experience. “This was a big learning experience this whole year,” said Menard, who has an ARCA pole and win to his credit this season. “We’ve got a pretty good thing going right now and next year we’re going to keep building on it.”(ThatsRacin.com)(11-1-2003)
