It’s not a win, but Edwards is elated with fifth-place run

It’s not a win, but Edwards is elated with fifth-place run

 

By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

 

(October 9, 2011)

 

KANSAS CITY, Kan.—Carl Edwards failed to keep his promise.

 

Nevertheless, his fifth-place run in Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway certainly felt like a win, given the handling issues his No. 99 Ford experienced throughout the race.

 

After speeding on pit road and throwing away a chance for a victory last Sunday at Dover, Edwards promised his crew a win at Kansas, but prerace adjustments to a car that had qualified second went awry, and Edwards lost a lap to race winner Jimmie Johnson during a long green-flag run that ended on Lap 205 of 272.

 

Edwards got his lap back with a free pass under caution on Lap 224 and gradually worked his way to the front. He came to the pits for two tires before a green-white-checkered restart on Lap 271 and charged from 10th to fifth in the final two laps.

 

That performance was enough to give Edwards the lead in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup by one point over sixth-place finisher Kevin Harvick and by four over Johnson.

 

“I feel grateful,” Edwards said. “That was very, very bad at the beginning of that race. I cannot thank my guys enough for sticking with it and working hard all day. I cannot believe we finished fifth. It feels like a win.

 

“That’s the most we have done with a car that wasn’t capable of winning—ever. I’m really proud of my guys. We made good adjustments, and I just cannot believe it. From the way the day started, to finish like that is spectacular.”