DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (February 20, 2012) - - Two weeks ago, Fain Skinner wasn’t 100 percent sure he would be competing in this past Saturday’s Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. However, the racing gods answered his prayers and the opportunity to transform from a spectator into a racecar driver at “The World Center of Racing” would come true.

The Live Oak, Florida native would pair with fellow Floridian and former ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards winner Mario Gosselin to field the No. 39 CarportEmpire.com / American Steel Carports Ford Fusion in the first of 20 races this season.

Acquiring a car from the Roush Fenway Racing stables, Gosselin’s DGM Racing team methodically prepared their blue oval all with the intentions of giving the NASCAR driver an opportunity to impress and make a statement in his restrictor plate debut.

Despite posting the 36th fastest lap during the four-hour practice session on Thursday afternoon, the Late Model veteran refused to get rattled as he several of his competitors drafted during the affair compared to the team’s mission of single-car runs.

An intense qualifying session on Friday would keep many on pins and needles but Skinner’s lap of 50.395 seconds at 178.589 miles per hour safely secured him into the starting field by landing in the 25th position. To the team’s advantage, three teams were penalized for post-qualifying infractions which shifted the starting lineup and now found the No. 39 CarportEmpire.com / American Steel Carports Ford Fusion 22nd on the starting grid.

On race day, the team elected to partake in the final practice session of the weekend allowing Skinner to draft, giving him a small preview of what would be in store for later in the day.

43 cars took the green flag with the 26-year old fiercely wanting to find his way towards the front. By lap five, Skinner had moved into the top-20 with his sights on following fellow Ford driver Will Kimmel through the field. Just ahead of him, Milka Duno went for a ride through the frontstretch causing the yellow flag to waive.