Erik Darnell (Right) had been sharing seat time with David Ragan (Left) in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. (Photo LAT Photographic)
Sometimes the karma wheel rolls in strange directions in the NASCAR garage, something Erik Darnell has learned all too well in the last year or so.
Last year, Darnell finished a more-than-respectable fourth in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series points standings behind Johnny Benson, Ron Hornaday Jr. and Todd Bodine, three drivers who’ve all been series champions.
Despite that success, though, Roush Fenway Racing cut back its NCWTS program to a single Ford F-150 and the team was only able to get Darnell a 10-race deal in the Nationwide Series, where he split time with teammate David Ragan. In both cases, Darnell got the short end of the stick because there weren’t enough sponsorship dollars to get him a full-time ride.
This weekend, though, the sponsor situation is working towards Darnell’s benefit. The 26-year-old Illinois native will make his NASCAR Sprint Cup debut driving the No. 96 Hall of Fame Racing Ford Fusion normally occupied by Bobby Labonte.
And it is very much a sponsor-driven move. HoF’s car is campaigned by Yates Racing, which uses Roush Fenway Racing as its marketing arm to sell sponsorships. HoF had no sponsorship sold for the final 12 races of the season, but Roush Fenway landed Northern Tool + Equipment and Academy Sports to sponsor the No. 96 for seven of the final 12 races of the season. Darnell will drive those races, with Labonte back in the car for the other five.
It could be a big opportunity for Darnell, given that neither HoF nor Yates has finalized its plans for 2009. If things go well, it could lead to better opportunities next year for Darnell, something he’s keenly aware of.
“Since I was a kid growing up around racing, and being in racing, it’s always been my goal to make it to this level in the Sprint Cup Series,” said Darnell, the grandson of well-known USAC stock-car driver Bay Darnell. “This is my opportunity and my chance to do it. I’m excited and looking forward to it. I think we’ve had some pretty good runs in the Nationwide Fusion. Hopefully, that will translate over to the Cup side. I realize it’s going to be tough and the competition is going to be tough, but I’m really looking forward to this weekend.”
It’s good that Darnell is up for the challenge. He will be jumping into a car that’s 30th in NASCAR Sprint Cup owner points, with Labonte’s only top 10 of the season being a fifth-place finish at Las Vegas in March.
“I think it’s going to be a challenge because I don’t have any Cup experience, but I’m going to be surrounded by a good team,” said Darnell. “All of the guys on the No. 96 Yates Racing team are a good group of guys. I’ve actually worked with them in the past, so it will be easier to ease into this a little bit. I’m just ready to go. I’m excited to go out there and prove myself.”
