The No. 11 Menards Chevrolet team will be starting their third season of competition with Dale Earnhardt, Inc. this year. As the newest addition to the DEI stable, they are also the one being looked at with great expectations.

As the only full-time Busch Series team, the No. 11 group is being looked upon to earn their first trip to Victory Lane . After finishing sixth in points last year, the early-season optimism is also looking for them to be Busch championship contender, as well.

Formed mid-season of 2004, the team and driver Paul Menard made their debut at New Hampshire in July starting 11th and finishing 18th. Through their 13 starts for DEI, the No. 11 team registered 10 top-20 finishes.

A noted highlight was earning their first Bud Pole Award at Kansas Speedway in October. Led by crew chief Tony Gibson, they made four starts in the top-10 and were forced to take one provisional, and that was only because rain cancelled qualifying.

Last year, the team was led by first-year crew chief Dan Stillman. Tony Gibson was promoted to car chief on the No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet where Dan spent the last four seasons as a shock specialist for the team.

Six top-fives, another Busch Pole Award ( Talladega), 15 top-10s and a great points finish have everyone looking to the No. 11 team for victory. Another off-season of preparation, using cars built last year they are now more familiar with and confidence running high makes a great recipe for success in 2006.