NASCAR Camping World Series Rookie-of-the-Year and current NASCAR Nationwide Series driver, Erik Darnell will make his Sprint Cup Series debut this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway in the No. 96 Academy Sports + Outdoors Ford Fusion.
Darnell He also is slated to pilot the No. 96 at Loudon, Kansas, Talladega, Texas, Phoenix and Homestead.
“We made the decision to give Erik Darnell this opportunity based on timing”, said Max Jones, co-owner of Yates Racing. “This is a great opportunity for a young driver to have a shot at proving himself on three challenging tracks while driving the Academy Sports + Outdoors Ford Fusion. This wasn't about Bobby; this was about giving an opportunity to Erik.”
“Bobby Labonte has been a great asset to the Academy Sports + Outdoors brand this season,” said Rodney Faldyn, president of Academy Sports + Outdoors. “We will continue to support Bobby as an associate sponsor and look forward to serving all of his outdoor needs at our stores.”
Bobby Labonte will continue to race the No. 96 Ford Fusion under the Hall of Fame Racing banner with Ask.com and DLP as his primary sponsors at Richmond, Dover, Fontana, Charlotte and Martinsville. Academy Sports + Outdoors will remain an associate sponsor of Labonte and the No. 96 team for the remainder of 2009.
“I'm disappointed that I will not be driving in my home state of Texas this year, but I intend to make the most out of the remaining races that I'm behind the wheel for Ask.com, DLP and Hall of Fame Racing”, said Bobby Labonte. “I appreciate everything that Academy Sports + Outdoors has done for me this year.”
Darnell ran three full NASCAR Camping World Series seasons and scored three poles, two wins, 16 top-five and 32 top-10 finishes. He won Rookie-of-the-Year honors in 2005.
