Edwards makes statement with Homestead pole

Edwards makes statement with Homestead pole

 

By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

 

(November 19, 2011)

 

HOMESTEAD, Fla.—The gauntlet is officially thrown down.

 

With a lap at 175.467 mph, NASCAR Sprint Cup points leader Carl Edwards sent a message to rival Tony Stewart, one day before the two drivers will decide the series championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

 

In Saturday’s tension-filled qualifying session at the 1.5-mile track, Edwards won his third Coors Light pole award of the season and the 10th of his career. He’ll start 14 positions ahead of Stewart, who trails Edwards by three points entering the season finale.

 

“Awesome, guys, that is the way to come and perform!” Edwards radioed to his crew after his qualifying laps. “Good work today.”

 

Second fastest in Saturday’s first practice session and quickest in the one that followed, Edwards was the next-to-last driver to qualify Saturday.

 

Martin Truex Jr. (174.808 mph) will start second in Sunday’s race, followed by Kasey Kahne (174.582 mph), last week’s winner at Phoenix.

 

The 34th of 48 drivers to make a qualifying attempt, Stewart was fifth fastest with 14 cars left.

 

“Good job, buddy,” he radioed to crew chief Darian Grubb after completing his lap.

 

Predictably, though, Stewart began to slide down the grid as qualifying progressed.

 

“We didn’t have a pole-winning car today, but our No. 14 Chevrolet is pretty good in race trim,” said Stewart, who ran 52 laps in Saturday’s second practice session, focusing on race runs.