Erik Darnell is the latest addition to the Roush Racing driver development program that includes prominent NASCAR names: Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards and Todd Kluever. A native of Illinois, Darnell was the winner of the 2006 Roush Racing Gong Show competition, beating thousands of applicants and earning a full-time ride in the famed No. 99 Ford F-150.
Darnell’s career path seemed destined from birth. Having a grandfather with a successful USAC background and a father with an equally impressive ASA resume, it was only natural that he would take to the track and continue putting the family name in racing programs throughout the country.
At the age of 12, Darnell got behind the wheel and began racing go-karts in his native Illinois. What began as a hobby soon turned serious, as he won Rookie of the Year honors in his first full season of competition at the River Valley Kart Club in 1996. He followed his early accomplishment by winning three championships the very next year.
His successes continued when he made the transition to full-sized stock cars, winning Rookie of the Year honors in Super Late Model competition at Illiana Motor Speedway in Indiana. While continuing to run Super Late Model races, Darnell gained additional experience by running in each of the four divisions that comprise the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Series, getting valuable experience at race tracks across the country.
In 2004, Darnell got the call that he had been chosen to compete in Roush Racing’s Race for the Ride, where he competed against 25 drivers for a seat in one of Roush’s Craftsman Truck Series entries. He made it to the final round at Darlington Raceway, finishing a close second to winner Kluever. He impressed Roush Racing’s representatives so much that he was awarded a developmental driver contract, and was entered in select races in the ARCA series with Roush support.
When Roush and the Discovery Channel were looking for drivers to answer the casting call for their new reality show, Driver X: Race for the Ride, Darnell’s name appeared at the top of everyone’s list. This time, he would not be denied. For the second year in a row, he made it to the final round at Darlington. His hard work and dedication was rewarded when he was chosen as the winner, and named the new driver of the No. 99 for the ‘06 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season.
