Dover II: Erik Darnell preview

FAST FACTS:

START NO. 2 FOR DARNELL AT DOVER - Erik Darnell will make his second of three starts with the No. 16 team this weekend at Dover International Speedway in the 3M/Post-It Ford Fusion. In his debut with the team two weeks ago at Richmond, Darnell suffered a mechanical issue and finished 22nd after starting 17th. He and the team look to improve upon that finish this weekend.

DARNELL AT THE MONSTER MILE- Darnell has made four previous starts at Dover International Speedway, three in the Camping World Truck Series and one in the Nationwide Series. In the Nationwide Series start, Darnell finished 17th after starting 17th.

SUCCESS AT MILE TRACKS - Having success at mile-long tracks in the past, Darnell looks for more of the same at Dover. In his two Nationwide Series starts at tracks measuring a mile in length (New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Milwaukee Mile), Darnell has one top-five, two top-10s and a pole award.

COMING HOME - The trip to Dover International Speedway is a homecoming for two members of the No. 16 3M/Post-It team. Crew chief Rick Viers hails from Darlington, Maryland and tire specialist/front tire carrier Brian Hennings is from Bowie, Maryland.

ROUSH FENWAY RACING AT DOVER - In 50 Nationwide Series starts at Dover International Speedway, Roush Fenway Racing has three wins, 16 top-fives, 26 top-10s, two pole awards and 498 laps led. The three wins were tallied by Greg Biffle (2) and Carl Edwards (1). In the spring race at Dover, Colin Braun led all Roush Fenway Racing drivers with a 10th-place finish.

DOVER CHASSIS SELECTION - Crew chief Rick Viers has selected RK-354 for this weekend's Dover 200 at Dover International Speedway. This car was last raced by Colin Braun at Iowa Speedway where he finished 32nd after being involved in an accident.

Darnell, on heading to Dover with the No. 16 team:

"I'm thrilled to be able to get back in the No. 16 Post-It Ford this weekend at Dover. I think we all had really high hopes for the race at Richmond a few weeks ago, but it obviously didn't go the way any of us had hoped. I've been to Dover in both the Nationwide and Truck Series and know that it is a challenging track. But I feel I'm ready for that challenge and with this team and our equipment, I believe I can get a solid finish."

Crew chief Rick Viers, on racing at Dover:

"Well after our team has enjoyed a weekend off, we are definitely ready to get back to the track this week. I have always liked racing at Dover because I grew up just about an hour and a half away in Darlington, Maryland. Winning here has always been very special to me. I think having Erik in the car, along with the hard work we have been putting into our cars that we should be very competitive this weekend."

-source: rfr