HOMESTEAD, Fla.: While Kyle Busch was celebrating his second Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship following his fifth win of the season in Sunday’s Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway, Ford Performance drivers Paul Menard and David Ragan saw the checkered flag wave in their last race as full-time Cup Series drivers.
Paul Menard finished 17th in his No. 21 Wood Bros. Racing Ford Mustang, while Ragan claimed 27th in his last race for Front Row Motorsports.
“Our last race was really uneventful,” said Ragan. “We tried some strategy a few times and it’s kind of bit us. We probably lost a lap or two that we shouldn’t have, but we were being aggressive because we didn’t really have anything to lose I can’t say enough about everybody at Front Row Motorsports and the NASCAR industry for making this last weekend special.”
While Menard finished 19th in points, Ragan took 30th and explained his 13th full year of Cup Series competition was a tough one.
“It was a tough season,” added Ragan who earned a season-high 11th at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway in October. “I wish we had some better results to show for it, but the last season won’t dictate my 13-year career. We’ve had a lot of fun, a lot of good memories and don’t regret anything that we’ve done.
“I’ll sleep good tonight and think a little bit over the offseason on what I want to do next year and I’m sure I’ll be around.”
Wood Bros. Racing announced this fall that Matt DiBenedetto will replace Menard at the organization next season. Menard earned four top-10 finishes in 36 races with a best effort of sixth at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway in April.
Front Row Motorsports has not named a replacement for Ragan.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
