Edwards takes the checkered flag at Phoenix. Photo: Christian Peterson/Getty Images
Columbia, Mo., native Carl Edwards probably isn't going to win the 2009 Nationwide Series championship, but Saturday's performance at Phoenix International Raceway in the Able Body Labor 200 shows that it isn't for a lack of trying.
Kyle Busch has been at the top of the Nationwide standings pretty much all season, and he has managed to maintain, and often increase, his point lead by either winning or nearly winning most of the races. He came into Phoenix with a chance to clench the 2009 championship before the season-ending event at Homestead next weekend. But things didn't work out quite like Busch expected.
On lap seven, Busch spun his Toyota in turn two, collecting Emporia, Kan., driver Clint Bowyer in the process. Busch's car suffered a fair amount of damage in the incident, but the team still rallied back to a ninth-place finish.
Meanwhile, Edwards, who came into the event second in the points, led the most laps and won the race. There wasn't much else he could do to close the gap on Busch, who ended the race five points short of clenching the championship. Still, Edwards was only stalling the inevitable, because all Busch has to do is start his car in Homestead next week and he'll be wearing the championship ring.
One of the more entertaining sidelines of the race was the ongoing feud between Brad Keselowski and Denny Hamlin. Every week these two seem to tick each other off, and this was no exception. At one point, Hamlin jacked Keselowski in the turn, but it didn't result in a crash. Later, Keselowski “returned the favor,” but Hamlin went for a little spin. Hamlin all but vowed he was going to get Keselowski next week in Homestead, so while the battle for the championship is likely going to be a snoozer, this could prove to be a storyline to watch.
Carl Edwards is from right down I-70 in nearby Columbia, Mo., and often refers to Kansas Speedway as his home track.
Edwards’ dad Mike (AKA, Carl Sr.), competed on tracks around the Columbia area for years. His influence over his son was significant.
The younger Edwards was bit by the racing bug early, and worked his way to the modified track championship in 1999 at the NASCAR-sanctioned Capitol Speedway dirt track. He later moved on to the USAC Baby Grand Series, all the while promoting his talents to whoever would listen with a business card and a résumé.
Edwards moved on to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, and was picked up by Roush-Fenway racing in 2003. He managed to win the rookie of the year title, and Mark Martin even said publicly that he thought Edwards would be his choice to take over the then very successful #6 car on in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series after his retirement.
Edwards continued to have success in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, as well as being a top competitor in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. In fact, Edwards nailed down the Nationwide Series championship in 2008.
The Sprint Cup cars race tomorrow in the Checker O'Reilly 500, and both series finish out the 2009 season next week in Homestead, Fla.
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