‘I just wasn’t having any of it’: Paul Menard on the move that cost him a Road America victory

ELKHART LAKE – Paul Menard’s championship battle with Chris Dyson has gotten more heated, even as his lead in the Trans Am points continues to grow.

The 43-year-old former NASCAR driver from Eau Claire crossed the finish line first Sunday at Road America but several hours later lost the victory when the series issued a time penalty for contact with Dyson early in the race.

Menard had knocked Dyson, the polesitter, off track in Turn 8 on the third lap, and Dyson went on to finish 10th in the TA class, 18th overall.

“He blocked me,” Menard said after his victory celebration and before the penalty was issued. “He threw a block on me in qualifying too and he did it again in the race. I just wasn’t having any of it. So I got up to his door and he just turned down on me. Hate to take him out. But I wasn’t trying to take him out; he just turned down on me.”

Brent Crews, who took the checkered flag almost 27 seconds behind Menard, was awarded his first TA victory after Menard was penalized.

Still, Menard has 685 points to Dyson’s 620 after seven of 11 rounds. A four-time winner, Menard is the only driver with more than one victory this season.