Darnell Scores 30th-Place Finish At Texas Motor Speedway

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.

Darnell gained seven positions over the next run in spite of reporting that his Ford was handling "tight in the center and loose off". A wholesale of adjustments were made to the No. 96 Academy Sport + Outdoors Ford Fusion over several scheduled pit stops, but the handling woes persisted for Darnell.

Long green-flag runs coupled with an ill-handling No. 96 put Darnell a lap down around lap 90 and the No. 96 team would have an uphill battle for the remainder of the 334-lap event. Though Darnell was able to turn several of the race's fastest laps, without cautions he wasn't able to regain the lost laps and when the checkers waved he was scored in 30th place three laps down.

"I was really hoping for a better finish this weekend," said Darnell. "We just got lapped early on and then there weren't a lot of cautions to help us get back on the lead lap. I have two more races this year to make something happen and hopefully get a good finish for this No. 96 team. These guys work hard and they deserve a good finish."

Kurt Busch had just enough fuel to take the win at Texas Motor Speedway winning $1 million for a lucky fan. Denny Hamlin was second, followed by Matt Kenseth. Mark Martin gained 111 points on point leader, Johnson with his fourth-place finish and Kevin Harvick completed the top