Carl Edwards' Roush Fenway Cup team replaces crew member in hopes of improving

By Lee Montgomery - Associate Editor

Friday, April 10, 2009

Roush Fenway Racing's Carl Edwards is leading the NASCAR Nationwide Series standings after five races this season.

LaDon George
NASCAR Scene

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LEBANON, Tenn. – Roush Fenway Racing driver Carl Edwards said small changes made this week to his NASCAR Sprint Cup pit crew were designed to help his No. 99 team be able to compete for the Cup title this year.

Edwards said Friday at Nashville Superspeedway, site of Saturday’s Nashville 300 Nationwide Series race, that one crew member was replaced, and a team spokesman said it was front tire changer Corey Quick.

Edwards was leading last weekend’s Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway when he came in for his last pit stop. A lugnut was knocked off a wheel stud, and Edwards later restarted 11th. He finished 10th.

“Hopefully, it’s better,” Edwards said. “It’s definitely very tough. All the guys are great guys. Hopefully, what we’re doing now prepares us for the Chase [For The Sprint Cup], so we’re in the best position we could be to win a championship.

“All you have to do is watch the races and realize all it takes is one mistake or one bad race, and it can cost you the championship. Hopefully, we’re in a position to race for the championship, and the changes we’re making right now and things that we’re doing are going to prepare us to be better on pit road.”

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27 responses to "Carl Edwards' Roush Fenway Cup team replaces crew member in hopes of improving". Post a Comment.

1

said said:
Apr 10, 2009 at 5:38 PM
They are making changes early in the year already. I wonder if other teams will make changes this early that have had bad pit stops.
2

Rob Nickerson said:
Apr 10, 2009 at 8:29 PM
Jr's team needs a major overhaul, more than just the pit crew. I'm talkin crew chief, mechanics, engineers, etc. That's the one thing I like about Jack; he doesn't hesitate to make changes when things aren't working no matter how little the problem.
3

Terry said:
Apr 11, 2009 at 5:59 AM
This article is about Carl Edwards, not Jr. Why can't you people leave him out of stories that don't mention him. It seems you can't read any stories any more on this site without someone bringing Dale Jr into the mix. Let the comments be about the story and the people mentioned in the story. Good Luck Carl.
4

Anonymous said:
Apr 11, 2009 at 8:14 AM
well, since the guy is a failure is Carl's eyes does this mean Jamie McMurray can get some of his crew members back? And maybe next time Carl makes a mistake they will replace him. This is THE handpicked crew they took form the 26 and combined with the 99 that was supposed to be the answer for him now he is not happy with that either. Whatever.
5

Rob Nickerson said:
Apr 11, 2009 at 11:59 AM
Well Terry hate to burst your little bubble but as the Jr haters say on Jr articles, it's a free country and everyone is entiled to thier opnion. Second blame post #1 he asked and I quote:

"They are making changes early in the year already. I wonder if other teams will make changes this early that have had bad pit stops."
6

Jim Bayliss said:
Apr 11, 2009 at 3:56 PM
Correct, #5. However I agree this IS about CARL winning the championship. Problem with the Jr. people is they are so addicted they can't stop talking about him. AND I understand how they are that way. I am addicted to a degree with Carl. Though I do like other drivers also, not only at Roush, but even other brand drivers even if I don't like that brand. - - - I feel bad for the guy that goofed up, but no matter where he came from, it was smart for Jack to remove him as he sent a message to EVERYone that he is NOT fooling around. They are out to WIN. You can only do that IF you are more perfect in ALL aspects than everyone else. - - - GO CARL! Go Jack! GO FORD!!!
7

Werner Boehmert said:
Apr 11, 2009 at 4:34 PM
i heard somewhere else that Roush had someone different glueing on the lugs for the teams...plus i think they had some "new" crew guys...
8

michael Pitts said:
Apr 11, 2009 at 5:37 PM
i am a mark martin fan and a ford fan. I still luv mark but i and a ford fan. Carl is my guy right now but this cutting a crew member because of one problem well the next time he pits out of the box speeds on pit road stops on the hose or misjudges a pass and wrecks he needs to be gone. Every time you start to like him some that's just wrong happens like this. i hope he can live with it mr carl i may have to find a new team to follow
9

Erin Holbert said:
Apr 11, 2009 at 6:25 PM
I agree Michael but Carl is not the one who made the change. It was Jack. I do think it has something to do with the glue they are using because the Gibbs teams had issues with glue early last year. Probably the same make of glue. Not only that the longer wheel studs are causing problems. It will be a problem for all teams. If you watch Nascar Now DJ Copp was showing why all the problems yesterday and it's glue, camber and the longer studs. I also get tired of the Junior fans throwing his crew under the bus and his fans always bringing his name into the mix when he is not the subject. I don't think his crew has had glue issues etc.
10

Art Sheeler said:
Apr 12, 2009 at 12:39 AM
I agree with #6,#7 I hope you are right. #8 bye bye with that attitude.I hope they have got the problem licked, but it doesnt look like they have the glue problem licked. #60 just had a problem with a lug nut in the nationwide.
11

Anonymous said:
Apr 12, 2009 at 4:58 PM
I like Carl HATE roush so hope all roush teams continue to suck !
12

Gene Watkinson said:
Apr 12, 2009 at 5:00 PM
So I guess Carl or Roush are perfect and have never made a mistake. What about the thousands of other perfect changes this man has made. Oh Wait roush is what have you done for me lately !
13

Bernie said:
Apr 12, 2009 at 6:28 PM
Way to go Carl! Nothing like embarassing the hell out of Corey Quick publicly. I hope your new front tire changer sucks!
14

Jim Bayliss said:
Apr 12, 2009 at 9:05 PM
Not sure WHY some of you don't like Jack Roush. I guess he must have beaten your favorite drivers at sometime, eh???
15

Jeffery Gordon said:
Apr 12, 2009 at 9:45 PM
Can't we all just get along and live in harmony? BTW, Jeff Gordons team seems to be doing really good for him this year......
16

FLIPPIN' SWEET 99 said:
Apr 13, 2009 at 5:22 PM
It wasn't just 1 mistake. He rarely comes out of the pits the same or better than where he came in. Something had to be done !!!!
17

racerx said:
Apr 13, 2009 at 9:12 PM
I think it is bull that they get rid of correy for this mistake, Jack Roush has no clue about pitstops he just sits there and pulls the plug on these changers after a mistake...We have to relize that the crew members are Human!!!!Mistakes will happen and they do every week up and down pit road to EVERY team!! A new team gets pin pointed every week, what other sport can you say that a athlete never makes a mistake? None? As for the drivers, they make mistakes on pit road more than a crew member, but the blame goes right to the crew at the end of the day! Point being made replace people all you want, but the problem will still be there because were not robots!!!!
18

TJ said:
Apr 14, 2009 at 9:31 AM
Sure says alot about Rousch and "Teamwork" he is full of himself! A blessing in disguise if you ask me - Cory will move on to a team that works together unlike Rousch/Edwards where evidently they are above and beyond the realm of making mistakes. No longer a fan of any Rousch team - I would think Biffle's crew is next.
19

Carol C said:
Apr 15, 2009 at 4:23 PM
Some of the above comments are unbelievable. If you bothered to read the article, it wasn't Carl who publically mentioned Cory Quick's name, it was the editor. Carl doesn't make the call on who goes and who stays, that would be the team owner. I don't know if you pay attention every week, but the team is continously having bad pit stops. In the real world, if you make a mistake in your job, you may no longer have a job. It's not personal people! The team will continue to make changes until they get it right week after week. It is called teamwork, ask Jimmie Johnson about how important it is to have good pit stops week after week. It's part of what makes a championship team! Personally, I think it is about time that a change was made. I get tired of holding my breath every time Carl hits pit road. He has lost too many positions and too many wins on pit road.
20

Walt said:
Apr 15, 2009 at 4:23 PM
Carl Edwards is overrated anyway. His fans should be sad that he left, now they're going to need to find a new excuse as to why he doesn't win every week. Fact of the matter is successful drivers (Kyle Busch perhaps?) find ways to win, regardless of how their crew performs.
21

Carol C said:
Apr 15, 2009 at 4:43 PM
And, one more comment, Walt. I don't think you pay too much attention either during the races. Didn't Kyle Busch and his team make a mistake on pit road that put them a couple of laps down recently? Speeding and lug nut issues, I believe. I do recall that Kyle never did get those laps back. It may have cost him the race. Hmmm, yep, he found a way to win, alright!
22

Walt said:
Apr 15, 2009 at 4:56 PM
Naturally there are even the most extreme cases where a driver is dug in a big enough hole where he cannot overcome it. But make no mistake about it, that hole was half dug by Kyle himself. Speeding isn't something the crew is responsible for. I half expect you to blame blown tires/engines or other people's recklessness on his crew as well.

Please do not take it hard that Kyle Busch is a rising star and redefining the sport, while Carl Edwards will have several solid seasons but never be the all-time great that Kyle appears to be becoming. He has 48 career victories in NASCAR's top 3 series to Edwards' 42, and he's 6 years younger. Kyle Busch will be among to tops when he's finished, regardless of whether his crew costs him a few or not.
23

Carol C said:
Apr 15, 2009 at 7:01 PM
Nice prediction, Walt. I believe that Kyle Busch makes and creates a lot of reckless mistakes all by himself, he doesn't need the help of his team. He does indeed beat himself on many occasion. I believe cutting his own tire down because of his own arrogance would qualify for his own recklessness. I truly believe that Kyle Busch's star status will be short lived just like so many other drivers in the past. Yes, he can drive but that is all he has going for him. Look at last year, Busch choked during the Chase and Carl was the only driver who gave Johnson a run for the championship. If you want to compare stats, look at last year's stats in the Sprint Cup series. Carl Edwards had more wins, more top fives and more top tens than Kyle, that's a fact. One really can't compare the victories if they both don't race in all the three series. So Walt, Carl Edwards is a driver to be taken seriously. I guess time will tell... it will be very disppointing if the prediction of the "rising super star" indeed doesn't prevail to be true. But, nice try.
24

Walt said:
Apr 15, 2009 at 7:13 PM
Carol, please settle down, I can tell you're very sensitive about anyone saying anything aside of the best for Carl Edwards. Its nothing personal. But Kyle Busch may take himself out of contention in some cases, but he also puts himself in position to win races where he has no business winning with his car. Kyle Busch struggled in the Chase because he blew 3 engines and blew 1 tire. So please explain to me how he can be accountable for that? I'll look forward to a logical and level headed explanation to that one..............And yes, you can compare victories, because they do race in the same series. Carl started 60 races in the Truck Series, Kyle started 58. Carl started 147 races in Nationwide, Kyle started 144. And finally, Carl started 164 Nextel races, Kyle started 157. So nice try to dismiss actual statistics, but Kyle has started 12 less races in NASCAR and has 6 more wins. He's a better driver, period. So, yes, nice try Carol.
25

Carol C said:
Apr 15, 2009 at 8:13 PM
What a gift you must have to be able to read so much into my writing. I, indeed, was incorrect about Carl not racing in the Truck series, I don't watch it. But actually if you do the math, Carl has won 42 races compared to Kyles 49, Carl has had 148 top 5's and Kyle has had 137, Carl has had 217 top 10's and Kyle has had 197. I hardly think that because Kyle has actually 7 more wins than Carl is big news. I just don't see the glory in 7 more wins when obviously Carl has more top 5's and top 10's. That really does count for something.
And, please do not make excuses for Kyle's choke in the Chase. Even when he didn't blow an engine or tire, he didn't do well, period! And, as far as my level-headed and logical perception, Kyle Busch is part of a team. They win together and they lose together. And, correct me if I am wrong but you stated and I quote: "Fact of the matter is successful drivers (Kyle Busch perhaps?) find ways to win, regardless of how their crew performs." Isn't some mechanical components of a car built by a crew? Or am I totally mistaken?
I hope this doesn't post twice, it didn't post the first time...you're turn.
26

Carol C said:
Apr 15, 2009 at 8:27 PM
Oh and as far as Kyle Busch being a better driver...I don't think so. When the pressure is on, Mr. Edwards gets it done. And, he will be getting it done with a new front tire changer, which by the way, is the point of this post. It's all about the #99!
27

Walt said:
Apr 15, 2009 at 8:28 PM
First three races in the Chase: 34th, 43rd, 28th. All technical difficulties to the car. In the 5 races where Kyle Busch finished on the lead lap in the Chase last year his average finish was 7th. When your car blows up in the first 3 races, its not choking. When his car held together he performed. Save the 'choking'. Kyle Busch had 1 bad race with no account of tire or engine failure, and he finished 15th and a lap down. 4 races were tire and engine issues. 2 tires blew. Is Goodyear part of your 'team' too? Engine failures can be attributed to many things, from faulty parts, poor engineering, or overuse. For you to assume the engines blew out of the installation is pretty ignorant on your part. And its 'your turn' not 'you're turn'.