Promising Days Ends In Disappointment For Darnell

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.

After a speedy stop for tires, fuel and a wedge adjustment, Darnell left pit road ahead of many competitors. But, the rookie was cited for "too fast exiting pit road" and forced to serve a "pass through penalty". The mistake cost Darnell a lap on the track, but a quick caution soon after the mishap permitted Darnell the "wave around" and put him back on the lead lap.

Despite having a fast Ford Fusion, Darnell laid back in hopes of avoiding "the big one". The plan could have proved beneficial for Darnell, but on lap 111 an electrical failure inside the starter box of the No. 96 caused Darnell's Ford to lose power. Leslie called Darnell to the garage for repairs and 23 laps were lost behind the wall mending the failed part.

Darnell rejoined the race with 45 laps remaining in 38th place and avoided two accidents en route to a disappointing 37th-place finish.

"Our finish does not reflect our potential today. We had a really fast Academy Ford Fusion today, but luck just wasn't on our side. I guess some wires were shaken loose in the starter box and caused our car to lose power. It was really a freak thing, no one's fault, but it unfortunate for these guys that work so hard. Hopefully we'll be able to do better next weekend in Texas and get a solid finish the Academy Sports + Outdoors team."

Jamie McMurray the winner of the race at Talladega Superspeedway. McMurray, stuck in an 86-race winless streak dating to Daytona in July 2007, coasted across the finish line for the third victory of his career. Kasey Kahne was second, followed by rookie Joey Logano. Greg Biffle was third and Jeff Burton completed the top five.