10 Questions: Erik Darnell

1. What's the best advice you've ever received and who was it from?

Darnell: Probably from my parents. It was, "if you have a dream in life or something you want to do, go after it." They always told me I could do what I wanted to do if I kept after it and I did. I think that's how I got to where I'm at right now.

2. What was your favorite subject in school?

Erik Darnell:
Red

Darnell: Did I have a favorite? I don't know about that. If anything, it was probably some of the math classes. I don't know why but I always did pretty well in those. But I really didn't have a favorite.

3. If you could trade places with someone for a day, who would it be?

Darnell: To be honest with you, I don't really know. Probably I'd like to live the life of some famous celebrity for a day, just to see what it's like. A movie star or someone like that, just to see what it's like to be in their shoes. I'll bet it would be pretty hectic.

4. What's your favorite video game?

Darnell: I've got just about every video game system you can own. Right now, it's probably a game called GTR2 for the computer. It's kind of a road-course racing simulation game that I have a lot of fun with.

5. What was your first car?

Darnell: My first car was a 1986 Chevy Cavalier. It had about 200,000 miles on it when I got it and I actually ended up passing it down to my brother and he drove it as his first car, as well. It was actually somebody related to my grandfather who got it for us. It was something that we had around for a while.

6. What's your favorite ice cream flavor?

Darnell: That's easy. Chocolate.

7. What do you feel is your biggest strength?

Darnell: Probably my ability to be patient. That helps me out a lot in the racecar. Knowing when to go, but knowing when to take my time and to pick and choose and make the right moves. I think that's one of the big things that helps me out.

8. What's your favorite meal?

Darnell: I've got so many favorites, but my favorite food is pizza. I'll eat pizza anytime, it doesn't matter -- breakfast, lunch or dinner -- I can eat that. Easy to make, easy to order, you can't beat that.

9. What's your favorite vacation spot?

Darnell: Actually, there's two places I enjoy going. Up until last year, I had never been out of the country, so I got to go to Nassau in the Bahamas for the first time. I liked it so much, I ended up going back there two weeks later for a different deal that was going on. So I got to go there twice. That and my other grandfather, he's got a place in New Mexico. It's up in the mountains, near a ski resort. And that's a place I like to go to.

10. What's the most unexpected thing about owning a new puppy?

Darnell: I don't know. All the surprises he leaves around the house for me? It's fun to have him and to watch him grow up. He's a goofy little dog so he does all sorts of strange little things. It's been fun so far.