(Sports Network) - Yates Racing announced Tuesday that Paul Menard will drive the No.98 Ford for the team during the 2009 NASCAR (web|news) Sprint Cup Series season. Menard spent his first two years in Sprint Cup competition driving the No.15 Chevrolet for Dale Earnhardt Inc., but is leaving the racing organization and bringing sponsorship from his family-owned chain of hardware stores to Yates.

"I'm really looking forward to starting this new chapter of my life with Yates Racing and behind the wheel of the No.98 Ford Fusion," Menard said.

Menard finished 26th in the 2008 point standings, while earning his first career pole in July at Daytona International Speedway and his first career top-five finish (second) in October at Talladega Superspeedway.

Veteran crew chief Larry Carter will team up with Menard on the No.98 car. Carter is moving over from Roush Fenway Racing, where he served as Jamie McMurray's crew chief the past two seasons.

"It's exciting to be starting with Max (Jones) and Doug (Yates), and having Larry Carter on the box making the calls," Menard said. "I've seen how solid the Roush/Yates engine program has been over the years and I know we can have a really good season in the No.98 Menards Ford Fusion."

Yates also fields Fords for drivers David Gilliland and Travis Kvapil in Sprint Cup, but currently lacks full-time sponsorship for both teams. However, Yates is associated with Roush Fenway Racing, receiving technical and sponsorship support from them.

















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