Erik Darnell – NNS ADVANCE
Team: No. 16 3M/ACE Brand Ford Fusion
Race: O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge
Crew Chief: Chad Norris
Chassis: RK- 354
FAST FACTS: DARNELL MAKES FIRST SERIES START AT TEXAS – While it’s hard to
believe, as his series career has spanned three seasons, Erik Darnell
will make his first NASCAR Nationwide Series start this weekend at Texas
Motor Speedway. Darnell has previously scored one top-10 finish in six
Camping World Truck Series starts at the 1.5-mile speedway.
LAST START FOR 2010 – This weekend is Darnell’s final start of 2010
with the No.16 team. In his two previous starts (Richmond II, Dover II)
Darnell’s best finish was a 14th-place effort at Dover International
Speedway in September. Colin Braun will be back behind the wheel of the
No. 16 Con-way Freight Ford for the final two events of the 2010 season.
SPEEDWAY STATS – In 19 career Nationwide Series starts, all of
Darnell’s top-five and top-10 finishes have come at tracks
measuring between one and two miles in length. This is good news
heading into the 1.5-mile Texas Motor Speedway where Darnell owns six
Truck Series starts with one top-10 finish,
ROUSH FENWAY RACING AT TEXAS – In 90 starts at Texas Motor Speedway,
Roush Fenway Racing has notched seven wins, 25 top-fives, 40 top-10s,
and 1816 laps led. The wins were tallied by Matt Kenseth (3), Greg
Biffle, Kurt Busch, Carl Edwards and Mark Martin.
TEXAS CHASSIS SELECTION – Crew chief Chad Norris has selected RK-354
for this weekend’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge at Texas Motor
Speedway. This is the same car Darnell drove to a 14th-place finish at
Dover International Speedway in September.
Darnell, on racing in Texas:
“Texas is a track that I had some decent runs at in the Truck Series,
but unfortunately, the finishes didn’t always reflect that. I’m
hopeful we can put together a complete race here in my first Nationwide
Series start at Texas. I’m excited to have 3M on board again in my
final start this season. I know Chad [Norris] and the guys have been
working hard getting our car ready, so I’m looking forward to a great
weekend.”
Crew chief Chad Norris, on racing in Texas with Darnell:
“Erik has had some pretty good results at Texas in the past in the
Camping World Truck Series. We look forward to continuing that success
this weekend in his first Nationwide Series start at the track. We have
worked really hard on the car, as well as getting the pit crew geared up
for this weekend. We expect great things for Erik and hope for a solid
finish for 3M.”
