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A NASCAR BLOG BY Rea White
Kansas could inject more drama into Chase
With the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship field already starting to spread out, will this weekend's race at Kansas Speedway feature risky moves and edgy pit calls by those trying to maintain a shot at the title?
Let's certainly hope so.
Remember that daring pass by Carl Edwards at Kansas last year?
In the heat of the Chase For The Sprint Cup, Edwards could have chosen to quietly finish second behind Hendrick Motorsports' Jimmie Johnson. That would have been a safe, points-earning finish to hold onto. Instead, the Roush Fenway Racing driver tried a stunning pass in the final turn of the final lap. He dove into the turn, trying to pass Johnson. For just a moment, he did just that and held the lead.
And then he hit the wall.
He later said that he knew he would scrape the wall making the pass. He just didn't expect to hit it quite so hard or to lose so much speed in the process.
He lost nothing in the attempt. Edwards still finished second - the position he held before the attempted pass - and he brought excitement to the Chase. He showed that he wasn't going to be a points racer who settled for the safe finish but rather a championship contender attempting to put it all on the line.
Listening to Edwards discuss that move in the weeks that followed that race, it seemed clear he was at peace with his move and would try it again. It's certain fans loved the gutsy determination it showed.
Let's hope that type of attitude creates more exciting moments by the drivers fighting for the championship in the next eight races this year.
Rea White
Rea White has been covering NASCAR full time since 1998. She has been an associate editor at NASCAR Scene since 2002.
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Comments
1 response to "Kansas could inject more drama into Chase".
STP43FAN said:
Oct 3, 2009 at 11:26 AMIf it hasn't made these drivers fight for the win anywhere else - and it manifestly has not - then the Chase will not see anything at Kansas.
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