Ragan and Menard talk final Kansas Cup weekend as full-time MENCS drivers

KANSAS CITY, Kan —David Ragan and Paul Menard have something in common: Each will race at Kansas Speedway as a full-time driver in Sunday’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 (NBC, 2:30 p.m. EST)

Ragan will start on the front row for Sunday’s race along side pole sitter Daniel Hemric, driving the no. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford.. Ragan’s best finish at Kansas came in the 2008 fall race where he finished eighth driving for Roush-Fenway Racing.

“I have made it a point to enjoy the weekend a little more,” Ragan said, “maybe get outside of the track, And enjoy my favorite restaurants, see some fans and invite some old friends I haven’t seen in a while.”

Ragan made his first start at the track 12 years ago and Sunday’s race will be his 22nd start.

Menard will start 22nd for Sunday’s race, driving the no. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford. Menard has scored six top 10s at Kansas, including a third place finish driving for Richard Childress Racing in the 2012 fall race.

“It’s bittersweet since there’s some tracks I’ll miss and some I really won’t miss,” Menard said, “So just kinda take it week-to-week.”

Both Menard indicated that they will both continue to do some racing, even despite retiring from full-time MENCS competition.