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« Reply #3 on: October 15, 2007, 02:28:45 pm » |
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~Roush Fenway Racing
Edwards Keeps Chase Hopes Alive in Caution-Filled Race at Lowe's Office Depot Team Captures Top-Five Finish and Again Make Gains in ‘Chase’ Standings Carl Edwards and the No. 99 Office Depot Ford Fusion Racing Team Lowe's Motor Speedway/October 13, 2007
CONCORD, N.C. (October 13, 2007) – After a few disappointing weeks at the track, Carl Edwards and the No. 99 Office Depot team bounced back with a top-five finish in Saturday night’s Bank of America 500 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. The No. 99 team worked to find speed on Thursday during practice and qualifying but gradually got better as the weekend progressed. By the start of Saturday evening’s 500-mile event, Edwards and crew chief Bob Osborne felt that with a little work, the car was capable of a top-10 finish. The crew worked hard throughout the night, improving the handling of the car with every stop. With smart pit strategy, the right adjustments and just a little luck, the Office Depot team managed to capture a fifth-place finish and gain yet another spot in the ‘Chase’ standings.
Under cool, clear skies and in front of nearly 165, 000 fans, Ryan Newman led the field to the green flag at 7:37 p.m. ET. Edwards started 18th and knew that he and his No. 99 team were facing a long night on their way to a top five. Committed to being patient, Edwards settled in for the 334-lap race.
During the first half of the race, Edwards’ No. 99 Office Depot Ford Fusion didn’t appear to be a top five car, as he reported that his Ford “needed more grip.” In hopes of resolving the handling problems, Osborne called Edwards to pit road on six different occasions in the first 176 laps of 15-caution flag-event, each time under caution. On each stop the No. 99 crew made slight air pressure and chassis adjustments to Edwards’ Roush Fenway Racing machine expecting to remedy the handling problems. Though the tweaks seemed to help the car’s performance on shorter runs, the Office Depot Ford would continue to lose grip on the longer runs, preventing Edwards from gaining track positions. Despite battling the handling of the Office Depot Fusion, Edwards maintained a top-20 running position.
On lap 278, just 56 laps from the finish, another caution fell allowing Edwards to once again make his way down pit road for what was planned to be the final stop of the night. Edwards entered the pits in 13th place and exited in 10th position after receiving four tires, fuel and a minor air pressure adjustment. Finally running inside the top 10, Edwards reported the car as being the best it had been all night and finally had what he needed to race inside the top 10. Edwards was running eighth on lap 321 when a blown engine from the No. 66 leaked oil on the track and brought out yet another caution and ultimately a red flag.
Strategy would come into play during this period. Since previously stopping on lap 278, Edwards had enough fuel to make it to lap 334. However if there were to be a green, white, checker-finish fuel mileage would be an issue and Osborne directed Edwards to use long gears to conserve fuel. Fuel wasn’t the only concern for Osborne, as tire wear and track position also came into play. When the race restarted with just nine laps to go the question was whether or not Edwards should pit for tires. When pit road opened on lap 325, Edwards kept the No. 99 on the track – a smart move as none of the leaders pitted.
When green flag racing commenced on lap 329 Edwards was scored in seventh place, set up for a five lap shoot out. However, an accident on lap 332 brought out the 15th and final yellow flag of the night and set the field up for a green, white, checker finish. Edwards held his own on the restart and managed to hold on for fifth place. Jeff Gordon once again dominated the NEXTEL Cup Series, capturing his second consecutive victory. Clint Bowyer finished second, followed by Kyle Busch and Jeff Burton. Edwards completed the top five.
The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series head to Martinsville, Va. this weekend for short track racing action at the Martinsville Speedway. The Subway 500, race six in the ‘Chase’ for the NEXTEL Cup is slated for Sunday, October 21 at 1:00 p.m. (ET). ABC television and MRN radio affiliates will carry the live broadcast.
CARL EDWARDS/BANK OF AMERICA 500 QUOTE:
“This was great for the Office Depot team. We did not have a fifth-place car, so we’re very fortunate to be fifth. We were barely a top 15 car, so I’ve just got to thank my crew -- everybody on this Office Depot team. That was a long one there at the end. All sorts of things are happening and we ended up fifth. It’s a great points run for us and we really salvaged something today. We got very lucky. I definitely had a good time tonight at the end. That’s cool. We should have five-lap sprints like that all the time. It was a blast.”
“We’re heading to Martinsville and I’m glad we ran well at Charlotte. I have a tough time at Martinsville, but it’s about time we had a good race there and hopefully this will be the one. We haven’t had a good Cup race there yet, but we’ve got a great car of tomorrow program, so it should be good.”
Edwards’ Bank of America 500 Results: Start: 18th Finish: Fifth Laps: 337/337 Led: 0 Status: Running Points: 155 Earnings: $127,800
Edwards’ Stats: Start: 18th t Mid-race: 12th High: Fifth Low: 28th Fastest Laps: 0 Laps in Top 15: 211/337 Laps Led: 0 Finish: Fifth
Edwards’ 2007 Cumulative Record: Races: 31 of 36 Points: 5640 Rank: Fifth Wins: Three Poles: 0 Top 5s: Nine Top 10s: 13 Top 15s: 21 Earnings: $3,981,112
About Roush Fenway Racing Roush Fenway Racing is NASCAR’s largest team operating 14 motorsports teams, five in NASCAR NEXTEL Cup with drivers Matt Kenseth, Jamie McMurray, Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards and David Ragan; five in the Busch Series with Kenseth, Biffle, Edwards, McMurray, Ragan, Todd Kluever, Michel Jourdain Jr. and Danny O’Quinn Jr.; and three in the Craftsman Truck Series with Edwards, Peter Shepherd, Travis Kvapil, Erik Darnell and T.J. Bell; and one in the ARCA/REMAX Series with Colin Braun and Darnell.
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