Erik Darnell was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the July 15 O’Reilly 200 at Memphis Motorsports Park. Darnell finished second, .251 seconds behind race winner Jack Sprague. He claimed his first top-five of the season and best finish in 15 Craftsman Truck Series starts. Darnell has now taken top rookie honors seven times in 14 races and is the only Raybestos Rookie to score a top-five this season. Darnell stretched his lead in the Raybestos Rookie standings to 29 points (135-106) over a second-place tie between Aric Almirola and Chad McCumbee entering the August 4 Power Stroke Diesel 200 at O’Reilly Raceway Park (Indianapolis, Ind.). Carl Edwards is the only Raybestos Rookie to win in 11 previous Truck Series races at O’Reilly Raceway Park. Edwards won the 2003 Power Stroke Diesel 200 by .617 seconds over Travis Kvapil. Rookie point standings; Erik Darnell, 135; Aric Almirola, 106; Chad McCumbee, 106; Joey Miller, 87; Boston Reid, 80; Boston Reid, 80; Erin Crocker, 73; Bobby East, 73; Kyle Krisiloff, 70; Marcos Ambrose, 66; Kerry Earnhardt, 60; Kraig Kinser, 48; Robert Richardson, 41; Scott Lagasse Jr., 33; Michel Jourdain Jr., 17; Ryan Moore, 17; Sean Murphy, 12; J.R. Patton, 4; Tam Topham, 1.(Raybestos PR)(7-31-2006)
