Erik Darnell : " Runt of the Litter" to " The Real Deal"

[Tyyrus]

Well Jack Roush has Planted his Seeds ! Only Bloomin Diamond in the Rough that hasn't lost it's lustre , at least to this Canusa..is Mr. Erik Darnell..Baby ! The Kid has paid his Dues , stuck to the CTS Schedule as requested and it has rewarded him greatly. Rookie of the Year ...Eh !  Has run consistant all year , kept his
nose clean , earned some respect from his peers and more than a few Sponsers..I here ! Doesn't have that Pretty Boy Image , Ole Johnny Come Lately Attitude..Either...Man ! Just Good Old In Your Face Racin.Baby..Thats what it really all about...Right ! Kinda reminds me a lot of Paul Menard in Busch..just a little
under the Radar..but look for more of Mr. Darnell in Cup in the future..Baby ! Heres Hopin Jack learns from
the past and allows Erik to run in Busch Series a while prior to any extensive exposure to Cup..Eh !

[Chris]

Erik is a good driver...
Made a good rookie of the year in the CTS.
I'd of just like to see Jack put him and Ragan in FULL time in the CTS and whoever had the best results won the cup ride.
For only running a hand full of races, starting 6 or 8 races AFTER Darnell, missing all the winter testing, etc i think Ragan came on fast and did just as well, if not better (seeing as he missed all that "getting ready suff" in the off season.)

I do think Jack rushed him along a bit,.. but then again when Kluever fell on his face and left Jack with no one to put in the #6 car for 2007,.. he had to put in the best he had.
Gotta look at it THIS way too,... if jack had set out the #6 car next season 'waiting' for a driver to mature,.. he would of put himself down to a 4 car team,.. then when a driver got ready,... he could NOT have brought one up.  ONLY reason he gets to keep 5 teams up until 2009 is because he has contracts with sponsors to that time... if he don't race and drops a contract, he then is obligated to STAY at like 4 teams from then on...

[Tyyrus]

I agree Chris , actually think all the Gong Show Contestants have great Potential . I just like Eriks demenor
...Man ! He has done every thing asked of him , no fan fare..just a solid work ethic. I guess it's easy to
second guess Jack now , would have been great if all above drivers could have shared the #6 Ride .
Hey Mark was a Utimate Team Player , what more fitting a demonstration of Team chemistry than to Team
up , but alas,  the Sponsors Spoke and only one drivers requested and preferrably a veteran..don't see it
happenin..Man ! Realize also the turmoil it would present to the Crew Chief having to adjust to multiple drivers
...but it sure would have been fun. Yes also think these kids should remain a year or so in CTS or Busch , gives more confidence and seasoning at numerous tracks. Well , just thought Erik did something rather special
..Baby ! Like to give credit when credits..Due...Eh ! 

[Chris]

I agree,... Eriks a good driver...
Jacks got good drivers lined up for years to come...
Guess thats why he canceled his yearly 'gong show' this year,... he's got all the good drivers he needs for a while.

[Tyyrus]

Your absolutely Right there Chris , it would appear that Jack's Proverbal Cup Runneth..Over..Eh !
What a quandry to find yourself in to many drivers and to few cars...huuum.!!!

[flamehothead]

I just hope that Roush let's him have PLENTY of saet time before he throw's him in with the Big Boy's. I think that Darnell is a class act and one HELL of a driver. You always hear his name during the race and it is usually because he is movong toward the front. As for Ragen I think he is getting a raw deal from Nascar. I honestly don't think that you can tell a drivers ability from watching him run one or two races. I found the following on jayski.com.

Ragan not cleared yet by NASCAR: David Ragan has not raced in a Nextel Cup event since NASCAR held him out of the race at Atlanta Motor Speedway last month, but he still could race in the season-opening Daytona 500 next year. Ragan is set to replace Mark Martin in the #6 AAA Ford Roush Racing entry next year. The rookie has failed to qualify for Nextel Cup races at Texas and Homestead since his rough outing at Martinsville that led to NASCAR keeping him out of the car for a week. A decision from NASCAR on whether it would hold Ragan out of the 2007 season opener could come this week, but that scenario seems unlikely.(SceneDaily.com)(11-21-2006)

[Tyyrus]

Agree 100% FHH , alot of turmoil within Roush Racing , Jack stirred the Pot..a little too much , I think. It will
certainly be interesting watching the results..early in 2007..Man !