Darnell had fast times in both practice sessions, and recorded the sixth-fastest time in qualifying. Darnell was able to hold the position in the opening laps, and appeared to have a truck capable of a top-10 finish.

When the caution flag came out at lap 33 for a wreck on the frontstretch involving the No. 22 truck, Darnell came to pit road with most of the leaders for tires, fuel and a wedge adjustment. With teams employing various pit strategies and three trucks electing to stay on the racetrack, Darnell rejoined the field for the restart in the 14th position.

Darnell reported to the Northern Tool + Equipment crew that his Ford was handling well, but he lacked the track position he had in the early going. As the laps clicked off, Darnell's No. 99 developed a tight condition, causing him to lose positions on the racetrack. When the caution came out again at lap 104 for an incident involving the No. 07 truck, the decision was made to bring Darnell to pit road for right-side tires and a chassis adjustment. The stop appeared to be going as planned, but the rear tire changer came around to the left side and removed all five lug nuts, a time consuming error that would send Darnell back on track for the restart in the 22nd position.

Darnell was able to survive the war of attrition in the closing laps of the race, picking up positions where he could. He was able to keep the Northern Tool + Equipment Ford out of the myriad of late-race spins and wrecks, bringing the truck home with all four fenders in place in the 13th position.

"It was frustrating," said Darnell of his finish. "I honestly thought after practice that the Northern Tool + Equipment Ford was gonna be better than what we were in the race. We were second in the open practice yesterday and we were top five in the morning practice today and qualified sixth. I thought we had a really good truck for the race. Unfortunately, it tightened up on us more than I thought it was going to. We made big adjustments on the pit stops, but, obviously, didn't go far enough. It was a frustrating finish."

Darnell and the No. 99 Northern Tool + Equipment team remain 10th in the Craftsman Truck Series point standings following their 13th-place finish at Bristol. The Craftsman Truck Series races next at Gateway International Raceway on Saturday, September 1.