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."

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.

Mon, 11/09/2009 - Erik Darnell driver of the No. 96 Academy Sports + Outdoors Ford Fusion made his fifth-career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start in Sunday's Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway - a taunting 1.5-mile track known for high speeds and tons of action. Despite little experience in a Cup car and just six starts in the Truck Series at Texas, Darnell posted respectable times during the weekend's practice sessions and showed promise heading into the 500-mile event.

Darnell started 38th and had worked his way up to 34th position on lap three when an accident involving Championship contender Jimmie Johnson brought out the first caution. Darnell's No. 96 received splitter damage in the incident and was forced to pit three times under the caution period for repairs. Green flag racing resumed and Darnell was scored in 41st place still on the lead lap.

Mon, 11/02/2009 - Erik Darnell and the No. 96 Academy Sports + Outdoors Ford Fusion team posted fast times during Friday's practice sessions and were optimistic for a solid qualifying run. However, rain on Saturday forced NASCAR to cancel qualifying and thus set the starting grid by owners points. So, despite a fast No. 96, Darnell started 31st in Sunday's AMP Energy 500 at the Talladega Superspeedway. But as always in restrictor plate racing, anything can happen and did happen throughout the 188-lap event.

Lap four saw the race's first caution and though Darnell escaped the incident unscathed, crew chief Ben Leslie called him to pit road for fuel only. Green flag racing commenced on lap eight and Darnell was scored in 28th position. Darnell settled into the rear of the pack for the next run and was scored in 34th place when he brought the No. 96 to pit road for the second time of the race.