News | Northern Tool Racing

Homestead Roughs Up Darnell To End Season Finale With A 31st-Place Finish

HOMESTEAD, Fla. (November 21, 2009) – Today's Ford 300 was Erik Darnell's final shot of capturing victory in 2009. A series of events though beginning with qualifying and continuing through out the race ended any hopes of Darnell driving his No. 6 Northern Tool + Equipment Ford Fusion into victory lane. The No. 6 ended the season finale three laps down and searching for answers to what happened to the second half of 2009.

Bad Luck For Darnell And No. 96 Hall Of Fame Racing Team In Season Finale At Homestead-Miami Speedway

The 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season concluded Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway with the Ford 400. Erik Darnell and the No. 96 Hall of Fame Racing team were set to capture a solid finish in their final race together, however, rookie, Darnell would face challenges throughout the weekend. Despite the obstacles, Darnell rallied back each time with the support of his team. Though bad luck would hinder a solid finish in Sunday's 267-lap event, Darnell and company never gave up and brought home a 36th-place finish.

Pole winner, Jimmie Johnson led the field to the green flag. Darnell rolled off 31st and soon began to report that his Ford was lacking grip. Track bar and wedge adjustments were thrown at the No. 96 during a green flag pit stop on lap 48 in hopes of remedying the handling woes. Though the adjustments were not exactly what Darnell needed, he maintained a 30th-place running position.

Erik Darnell On Racing In The Cup Series At Homestead-Miami Speedway

Erik Darnell on racing at Homestead-Miami Speedway: "This will be my seventh Cup start and I feel like we've been a little better in the past couple of races, even though our finishes don't really reflect that. [Crew chief] Ben Leslie and all of the guys have worked really hard on our race packages and I've become more comfortable in these cars. I don't think we're quite up there with the 48 and the 5 yet – those guys are flying – but we're making improvements."

Crew chief Ben Leslie on racing at Homestead-Miami Speedway: "Our plan is to unload a fast race car and concentrate on a solid qualifying run on Friday. We had a lot of trouble last week in Phoenix because we didn't have a good starting position, so hopefully we'll make some improvements. I feel like if we can start closer to the front Erik will do a great job of maintaining position."

Erik Darnell On Racing At Homestead-Miami Speedway

Erik Darnell on racing at Homestead-Miami Speedway: "I cannot believe Homestead is all ready here. Even with the limited schedule the season has flown by. I really hope we can put together something special for the fans and for Northern Tool + Equipment on Saturday. We had really high expectations going into the season, and came out on fire for the first seven races. The last few months though have been a struggle. This will be my first race with Dan [Stillman] since he took over the crew chief duties a few weeks ago. I'm looking forward to the opportunity to work with Dan and I know he'll do everything in his power to get our No. 6 Northern Tool + Equipment Ford Fusion into victory lane. It sure would be a great way to end the season. "

Ragan On Racing At Homestead-Miami Speedway

Ragan on racing at Homestead-Miami Speedway: "Homestead is the last race of the season and one we'll all remember going into the off season so it's important to run well. I enjoy Homestead and we're running the new FR9 engine again. Being Ford Championship weekend I really hope to get a good finish in our UPS ford and end the season on a good note. We've struggled some this year and Homestead could be a place we turn our luck around."

Crew chief Jimmy Fennig on racing at Homestead-Miami Speedway: "Heading into Homestead we are motivated to end the season on a good note. Things haven't gone our way this year and we've struggled some. Getting a solid finish at Homestead with the new engine on our last race of the year would be the confidence builder this UPS team needs heading into the off season."

Darnell And The No. 96 Valvoline Team Finish 31st At Phoenix

AVONDALE, Ariz. (November 15, 2009) - Rookie, Erik Darnell took to the 1-mile Phoenix International Raceway this weekend for his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start at the Arizona track. After posting respectable times during Friday's first practice session the Valvoline team was optimistic heading into qualifying, however, an early qualifying draw, second, put Darnell at a disadvantage. In spite of improving two tenths over his fastest practice time, Darnell would qualify 39th for Sunday's Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500. The No. 96 crew used Saturday's practice session to work on their race package and Darnell improved 15 positions and posted the 24th fastest time of the day.

Ragan Finishes 23rd In Phoenix Despite Having A Damaged UPS Ford

PHOENIX, Ariz (November 15, 2009) – Phoenix International Raceway proved to be a challenge for David Ragan and his UPS Ford. Throughout practice the team just couldn't get the car handling well for Ragan. Ragan had the unlucky draw of going out first in qualifying at a track that is temperature sensitive, resulting in a 33rd place starting position. Ragan's crew made multiple adjustments throughout the race and got the UPS Ford turned around by the end, but damage from a multi-car accident on a restart cost valuable track position which couldn't be made up in the end. Ragan crossed the finish line 23rd, two laps down to race winner Jimmie Johnson.

Ragan Earns 15th Top-10 Of The Season At Phoenix

AVONDALE, Ariz. (November 14, 2009) – David Ragan and the No. 6 Discount Tire team were primed for a great run in the Able Body Labor 200 at Phoenix International Raceway. After qualifying in the ninth position, Ragan showed patience and poise throughout the race, working his way to the front to claim a sixth-place finish. It was Ragan's 15th top-10 of the 2009 season.

Electrical Problems Leave Braun With A 28th-Place Finish At Phoenix

AVONDALE, Az. (November 13, 2009) – Friday the 13th lived up to its reputation for Colin Braun at Phoenix in the Camping World Truck Series race. Braun was running 10th with 35 laps to go when he lost power to his Con-way Freight Ford F-150 and coasted to pit road. Electrical issues took Braun out of the race with a 28th-place finish.

Braun qualified 11th earlier in the day and moved up to ninth place by lap 20. The truck was a bit tight through the center of the corners and free off. A caution on lap 35 brought him to pit road for fuel and a track bar adjustment, as crew chief Mike Beam felt it was too early in the race for new tires. Since some teams elected to pit twice and take tires, Braun was second when the race resumed on lap 39.

Erik Darnell On Racing At Phoenix International Raceway

Erik Darnell on racing at Phoenix International Raceway:

"I'm really looking forward to bouncing back from Texas. It was a little disappointing to get caught up in someone else's mistake early on and not get the finish we were hoping for. We all worked hard to get better and better throughout the race, but we were still too tight on entry.

"Phoenix is a fun track where a lot can happen. I don't have a lot of experience there, but this type of track is always fun to race. I hope to unload and have a fast Valvoline Ford and get a solid finish for this No. 96 team."