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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."

FAST FACTS

  • ERIK DARNELL will make his seventh NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start this weekend in the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway behind the wheel of the No. 96 Hall of Fame Racing Ford Fusion.
  • This weekend's start will be Darnell's first Cup Series start at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Darnell will also be making his first NASCAR Nationwide Series start at HMS.
  • DARNELL AT HOMESTEAD-MIAMI SPEEDWAY... Darnell has three NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts at HMS.
  • BESTS... Darnell's best start at HMS is fifth place; his best finish is third, both achieved in 2006.
  • LAPS... Darnell has completed 407 of 409 (99.5%) laps he has attempted at HMS – all in Truck Series competition.
  • ON THE TRACK...The No. 96 will carry the Hall of Fame Racing banner this weekend in the Ford 400.
  • VISIT AS+O AND MEET DARNELL... Darnell is slated to appear at the AS+O store located at 59 Woodruff Industrial Lane in Greenville, S.C. on Wednesday, Nov. 18 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. (EST). Darnell will sign autographs and pose for photos with customers visiting the store. Academy Sports + Outdoors is one of the nation's largest sporting goods retailers, operating over 100 stores across the southeastern United States. The stores offer the sports and outdoors enthusiast a broad selection of equipment, apparel and footwear at everyday low prices.