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Darnell - Gateway Advance

Tuesday September 2, 2008

 

Erik Darnell – NCTS ADVANCE
Team: No. 99 Northern Tool + Equipment Ford F-150
Crew Chief: Matt Puccia
Chassis: RK-54 Last outing: Milwaukee, June ’08
– finished fourth

Erik Darnell, NCTS at Gateway International Raceway:

Date Event S F
Laps Led Status Money
9-1-07 Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 200 7 7
160/160 0 Running $15,700
4-29-06 Ram Tough 200 6 31 104/160 0 Accident $8,785 Races Wins
Top-5s Top-10s Poles Led Money
Cumulative 2 0
0 1 0 0 $24,485

Erik Darnell on racing at Gateway International Raceway:

“Gateway is an interesting place to race because it’s impossible to
have the perfect setup. With turns one and two totally different than
three and four, it certainly can throw you for a loop when trying to
decide on which setup to go with. As a rookie in 2006, I came to Gateway
feeling really good about my chances because I had raced at the track
several times prior to my first start. Unfortunately, a possible
top-five finish turned ugly when I was involved in a wreck and had to
settle for a 31st-place finish. We had an awesome day there last year
just missing out on the top five. After having some time off, this
Northern Tool + Equipment team is poised and ready to hit the track for
this weekend’s Camping World 200.”

Crew chief Matt Puccia on racing at Gateway International Raceway:

“This is a tough track to judge because of its unusual dimensions. We
have to think good and hard about what strategy we are going to go with
before the green flag drops. The track can be challenging, but I know
this No. 99 Northern Tool + Equipment team is up for it. This will be
the sixth time this season Erik has driven chassis RK-54, so I would say
he is very familiar with the way it handles. Erik had a strong race
there last year and I think we are capable of another one this time
around.”

FAST FACTS
● The No. 99 team will be bringing chassis RK-54 to Gateway. This
will be the sixth time this season that chassis RK-54 has been on the
track. This chassis has given the No. 99 team one top-five and two
top-15 finishes in ‘08.

● Darnell enters Gateway seventh in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck
Series point standings, 287 points behind point leader Johnny Benson.

● Darnell’s best finish at Gateway came in 2007 when he finished
seventh.

● In 67 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series starts, Darnell has
accumulated two wins, two poles, 14 top-five and 27 top-10 finishes.

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This report was provided by an outside PR source and posted by Kim DeHaven.

 

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