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Martin forecasted Edwards' success

by Mike Harris
Associated Press,March 26

Mark Martin didn't wait long to predict greatness for the youngster Jack Roush signed to drive in NASCAR's Craftsman Truck series.

(AP)

Martin told the world that Carl Edwards was already anointed as the driver who would step into the No. 6 Ford when the longtime Roush Racing star retired. Roush said he agreed, although he didn't want to put undue pressure on the young driver.

He needn't have worried. The kid appears up to the task.

When Jeff Burton's No. 99 car foundered in 2004, Roush decided not to wait for Martin's departure, moving the precocious Edwards, then 24, into the Nextel Cup Series ahead of schedule. He drove 13 races last season in Cup and is racing full-time in both Cup and the Busch Series this year, getting all the seat time and experience he can.

Martin is delighted. Now the veteran gets to race against Edwards as he goes through his final full season in Cup.

Last weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Martin watched Edwards do something no other NASCAR driver has ever done: Win his first race in both Busch and Cup on the same weekend.

"Carl Edwards is a great race car driver and a great person," Martin said. "I sat in the media center after the Busch race at Las Vegas and I told everyone that I felt he would win a Cup race this season and I guess he made me look pretty good."

Martin was particularly proud of the way Edwards bounced back from the disappointment of two weeks earlier in Las Vegas when he was well on his way to his first Busch win before a blown tire with 15 laps remaining sent him spinning off the track. Martin wound up winning the race.

"I realize and can identify with what Carl was able to accomplish last weekend," Martin said. "He got the biggest win of his career through grit and determination on Saturday, after suffering a disappointment the week before in the Busch race. I can sure identify with all of that.

"There's no doubt that type of weekend is a once-in-a-lifetime thing," Martin said. "And to have him come back and win surely on grit and a ton of determination on Sunday, with such an exciting finish, it's just amazing."

Martin, the sentimental favorite to win the 2005 Cup championship, isn't doing too badly himself.

After bouncing back from a 30th-place finish in the Vegas Cup race with a fourth-place run in Atlanta, Martin, a four-time series runner-up, now has three top 10s in the first four races and is fifth in the points standings.

"We know what the No. 6 team is capable of and we're running very well," Martin said. "Hopefully, we can keep it going all year."

Judging Carl

Carl Edwards got almost as much attention for his post-victory backflips off the window ledge of his car as he did for winning the Busch and Cup races last weekend.

After winning the Busch race, Edwards did an almost perfect flip, landing solidly on his feet. Sunday, a pooped Edwards nearly didn't make it, having to lean forward and stop himself from falling with both hands.

Edwards, who learned the acrobatic move from a friend while attending the University of Missouri, was evaluated this week on the backflips by Rob Drass, the school's head gymnastics coach.

"Saturday's flip was definitely a better landing," Drass said. "It was a better start. He had good balance, he made it without putting a hand down and he had better height."

Despite his stumble, Drass said he would give Edwards a 9.0 score for Sunday's move.

"Not too bad of a backflip after three or four hours in a car," the coach said. Laughing, he added, "He needs to come into the gym and train on our trampoline. We'll get him ready to do doublebacks in no time."

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