Erik Darnell To Compete! By Mike Babicz

(Lake Geneva, Wis., Saturday, July 29, 2006)-  - IT WAS ANNOUNCED THIS EVENING THAT ERIK DARNELL WILL BE COMPETING IN THE BIG 8 LATE MODEL STOCK CAR SERIES PORTION OF "THE ULTIMATE RACING SPECTACULAR" AT LAKE GENEVA RACEWAY ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 3.

MIKE BABICZ, CO-PROMOTER OF THE SHOW WORKING WITH KEVIN DAWSON, LGR OWNER/PROMOTER, MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE CROWD DURING THE SATURDAY EVENING RACE PROGRAM.

THE THIRD GENERATION MOTORSPORTS COMPETITOR IS SLATED TO BE BEHIND THE WHEEL OF DR. TOOTH, KEN JOHNSON'S, 2TH CAR.

ERIK, WHO WON THE FINAL OPENING NIGHT SUPER LATE MODEL FEATURE BACK IN APRIL, IS THE LEADING NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES ROOKIE COMPETITOR CURRENTLY 13TH OVERALL IN THE POINT STANDINGS FOLLOWING HIS CAREER BEST SECOND PLACE FINISH AT MEMPHIS LAST WEEKEND.

WITH THE HELP OF GRANDPA BAY DARNELL, THE YOUNGEST OF THE RACING DARNELLS IS RETURNING TO THE TRACK WHERE HE WON HIS VERY FIRST "RACE," A BIG WHEELS CONTEST. THE ELDEST MEMBER OF THE DARNELL RACERS, BAY WILL BE DRIVING THE MOTORHOME TO INDIANAPOLIS RACEWAY PARK FOLLOWING THE LAKE GENEVA SHOW TO ENSURE ERIK GETS ENOUGH REST PRIOR TO A FULL DAY OF CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES PRACTICE, QUALIFYING AND RACING, ON AUGUST 4.

ERIK’S FATHER, DANNY, OWNER OF DN WELDING OF PARK CITY, COMPETES PERIODICALLY AND MOST RECENTLY RACED WITH THE NASCAR MIDWEST TOURING SERIES IN MINNESOTA.

THE BIG 8 SERIES IS JOINING THE HOOSER OUTLAW SPRINT CAR SERIES (HOSS) WINGED ASPHALT WARRIORS IN A ONCE IN A LIFETIME APPEARANCE ON THE HISTORIC ONE-THIRD MILE ASPHALT OVAL. THE LGR WEAPONS DIVISION STOCK CARS ARE ALSO ON THIS SPECIAL RACE CARD.

GRANDSTAND GATES OPEN AT 5 PM WITH TIME TRIALS AT 5:45 AND RACES AT 7:30.

RACE DAY GRANDSTAND TICKET PRICES ARE $16.00 FOR ADULTS, $8.00 FOR YOUTH AGES 8-14 AND UNDER 8 YEARS OF AGE ARE ADMITTED FREE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT. ALL PIT PASSES FOR THE AUGUST 3 EVENT WILL BE $30.00 PER PERSON. RAINDATE IS AUGUST 4 WITH THE SAME STARTING TIMES.

FOR THE LATEST INFO GO TO WWW.LAKEGENEVARACEWAY.COM or contact LGR at 262-248-8566.

SHOW SPONSORS INCLUDE BUDWEISER, BODY CRAFT OF ANTIOCH, FedExKinkos of Libertyville, Eagle Graphics of Muskego, Image 1 Sportswear of Beach Park, Sign X Vinyl Graphics of Genoa City, KC's Cabin of Fox Lake, Pedersen GMC of Antioch and Brass Ball Mobil/Burger King of Paddock Lake.

Official hotels of the event are Best Western Harbor Shores in Lake Geneva and Best Western Executive Inn in Antioch. Both are offering reduced rates to fans, competitors, crew members or media mentioning the Lake Geneva Raceway HOSS event.