Paul Menard, the driver of the #21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford, stands in the garage during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 3, 2018, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo – Robert Laberge/Getty Images

Paul Menard managed to stay on the lead lap with Kevin Harvick, runaway winner of Sunday’s Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

That in itself was a significant accomplishment for the driver of the No. 21 Woods Brothers Racing Ford, who finished ninth and is also ninth in the series standings after three races.

“It’s a bit early, but the Fords are fast coming out of the gate this year,” said Menard who moved from Richard Childress Racing to the Wood Brothers Racing team this year. “I think we’ll be good in Phoenix next week as well.

“I feel really good with where our program is at right now.”