Not much has been said about Roush Fenway Racing’s Carl Edwards however.
While all the attention has been focused elsewhere, Edwards has won two of the three races so far in 2008 scoring back-to-back wins at California and Vegas. That’s the second time in his career he’s done that and the first time since 2005. He’s also continuing a strong run from last season. In the last 12 races dating back to Dover last year, Edwards has scored five top five finishes; three of those finishes being wins.
And it may be an indication that the dominance of Hendrick Motorsports from last season is coming to and end.
“I hope this is a sign that we're up to their level,” Edwards said. “I believe we are. I know that last year I would not have traded my car in for one of theirs at any of the COT races towards the end of the year. I thought we had the best car.”
In the season opening Daytona 500 Edwards ran strong, in the top five on several occasions, until contact with another car damaged the rear quarter panel No. 99 Ford forcing him to pit several times for repairs. Edwards would finish the day 19th.
Now come back-to-back wins at California and Vegas; suddenly Edwards is on fire and looking forward to the Chase for the Cup.
“Ford and Roush Fenway, all the engineers, everyone has worked really hard,” Edwards said. “All of them have worked very hard this winter. It's paid off.”
And that hard work has turned into strong runs and two wins; Edwards will have 20 bonus points for his two wins when the time comes to begin that Chase.
“That’s what its about,” Edwards said about winning after California. “We’ve got a lot of races to go. We‘ve got ten but most importantly we’ve kept ten from Jimmie.”
He’s currently leading the series points for the first time in his career, although that will most likely change after an infraction found in post race at Vegas. And while he may lose points and some money, the wins for Edwards will remain and in upcoming races he will have the opportunity to add to that total.
Edwards has at least one career victory at three of the next four tracks, at this weeks venue, Atlanta, he has two. His wins so far this year have come at tracks where he had never won before.
So while all the attention has been on Kyle Busch, who has yet to win this year, Edwards and crew chief Bob Osborne are starting to get noticed.
“Winning these races is the greatest part of this whole thing for me,” Edwards said. “You know, winning a championship would be the ultimate. That's our No. 1 goal.”
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