Erik Darnell

Infobox_NASCAR_driver
Name = Erik Darnell


Birthdate = birth date and age|1982|12|2
Birthplace = Beach Park, Illinois
Truck_Car_Team = #99 - Roush Fenway Racing
Previous_Year = 2006
Prev_Truck_Pos = 12th
Best_Truck_Pos = 12th (2006, 2007)
Truck_Top_Tens = 24
Truck_Wins = 2
Truck_Poles = 2
First_Truck_Win = 2007 O'Reilly Auto Parts 250 (Kansas)
Last_Truck_Win = 2008 Cool City Customs 200 (Michigan)
First_Truck_Race = 2004 Black Cat Fireworks 200 (Milwaukee)
Achievements = 2003 Wisconsin Challenge Series champion
Awards = 2006 Craftsman Truck Series Rookie of the Year
Updated_On = June 28, 2008

Erik Darnell (born December 2, 1982 in Beach Park, Illinois) is an American stock car racing driver, currently driving the #99 Northern Tool + Equipment Ford F-Series for Roush Fenway Racing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. He is the grandson of former USAC and NASCAR driver Bay Darnell, who also started three NASCAR races for Holman Moody. [ [http://www.racing-reference.info/driver?id=darneba01 Bay Darnell's NASCAR driver statistics at racing-reference.info] , Retrieved March 8 2007] Darnell joined Roush Fenway in 2005 after being a co-winner on the Discovery Channel program , along with David Ragan.

Pre-NASCAR career

Erik began racing at the age of 12 in the River Vally Kart Club. He won the championship in the purple plate class in his second year of competition, later racing Allison Legacy cars after go karts. His first year of super late models was at Illiana Speedway, with Erik finishing 3rd in the final standings with 1 win. Erik beat the best Wisconsin super late model drivers to win the 2003 Wisconsin Challenge Series championship. At that time his five wins were the most in the series' history. May 21 2006; "Haseleu goes for second WIR spring win"; The Post-Crescent, ] He set the super late model track record at Lake Geneva Raceway in 2004. ["Lake Geneva Raceway Checkered Flag Final Season" (2006)]

Move to national driver

Darnell drove in his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Milwaukee in 2004, finishing 26th. He also raced in numerous NASCAR touring series races.

Darnell drove in several NASCAR touring series and six ARCA races in 2005.

NASCAR career

Darnell raced full-time in the Craftsman Truck Series (CTS) in 2006. He had twelve Top-10 finishes in 25 events, and he was the series' Rookie of the Year. He will continue to drive the 99 truck for Roush through 2008. He has also tested Busch Series cars for Roush. On April 28, 2007 Darnell won the O'Reilly Auto Parts 250 at Kansas Speedway for his first Craftsman Truck Series win.

Darnell started the 2008 season by capturing the pole position at the Daytona International Speedway. He won his second career CTS race in June 2008 at Michigan International Speedway.

References

* [http://www.racing-reference.info/driver?id=darneer01 racing-reference.info]
* [http://www.nascar.com/drivers/dps/edarnell00/truck/ Driver's page at NASCAR.com]

External links

* [http://www.erikdarnell.com/ Erik Darnell Official Website]
* [http://www.motorsportslounge.com/forum/showforum.php?fid/94/ Erik Darnell Official Discussion Forum]
* [http://www.northerntool.com/racing/ Erik Darnell + Northern Tool]