Hurricane Carl Is Brewing

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August 18, 5:34 AM

by Greg Engle, NASCAR Examiner

 

 

Some say it might be a minimal hurricane by the time it gets here, but I for one am finding a storm named ‘Fay’ not particularly frightening. Hurricane ‘Damien’, Lucifer, or ‘Widow Maker; something like that might have me a bit nervous, but ’Fay’ sounds like a leftover fairy from the Wizard Of Oz, really kind of sissy.   Sure, my family and I have prepared, we’ve bought some water, batteries and ice cream to prepare.

Ice cream? Yes ice cream. When we went through Hurricane Charlie a few years go we lost power for nearly a week. The ice cream stayed frozen for several days however, and eating it was like a condemned prisoner getting a last meal. Every bite reminded us that we might not have any power for a few days; enjoy your last taste of civilization

So although we will be ready for it, no one in my family is too concerned with our upcoming hurricane, especially one named ‘Fay’.

There’s another hurricane churning though that Kyle Busch should be very concerned with however.

Carl Edwards won his fifth race of the season Sunday. And Saturday, a day after he turned 29, Edwards won the Nationwide race.

Sunday Edwards led the most laps and was even pulling away from Kyle Busch on a late race restart for the victory.

 For a while Sunday it looked at though it would be another Kyle Busch sort of day. In the second half of the race Busch started to catch Edwards and finally took the lead for the first time on lap 142. From there it looked as though Busch would take control as he’s done several times this year as he stretched his lead out to just over four seconds, and go on to victory.

For once though, Kyle Busch had to contend with someone that turned out to be a bit stronger than he was.

With superb work in the pits Edwards retook the lead but instead of looking like a sitting duck waiting for Busch, a position several others have found them in this year, Edwards held him off for the victory despite Busch’s best effort.

In a season dominated by Busch, someone who is better then him has been a rarity. But with three races until the Chase begins Carl Edwards, who is now second in points to boot, is showing signs that he may just spoil Busch’s seating arrangements at the head table in New York come November.

Edwards was strong earlier in the season too, but the team let him down on more than one occasion and the mechanical woes everyone suffers from hit him as well. But with personnel changes and a lot of hard work, Edwards and his team are now setting up to give Busch a run for his money. 

.“We're getting to the point I feel personally that we can win at any racetrack we go to,” Edwards said Sunday. “Our pit crew has stepped up their game.  That was our weakness for a long time, and the guys have just repeatedly, week after week, worked harder and become better.”

With the changes Edwards’ team has made and the momentum going forward, Busch knows who his main rival will be come Chase time.

“Carl is right there, has been all year,” Busch said Sunday.  “He's been the guy that we've got to race on these mile and a half, two mile racetracks.  He's been decent at other racetracks, too, but not as stout as he is at these, and there's a lot of those in the Chase.”

With his fifth win of the year and heading to Bristol this coming week, where he happens to be the defending race winner, Edwards certainly has the self-assurance he needs and on top of that is just plain having a great time.

“Yeah, I feel very confident at all the racetracks we go to, but yeah, last year we won at Bristol, I feel great about California,” Edwards said. “All the Chase tracks I feel like we can compete to win at.  I feel good.  It should be a lot of fun.”

In three races the Chase will start. Kyle Busch best batten down the hatches, stock up on supplies and keep an eye on the horizon. Hurricane Carl is brewing and getting ready to head Busch’s way.

“Man, I hope it's just me and Kyle,” Edwards said.  “It would be nice to just have to beat one other guy.  I have a feeling that this Chase is going to be spectacularly competitive.’

As for me I think I’ll go eat some ice cream.

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