Carl Edwards falls short of top-10 points finish with seventh-place run at Homestead
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HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Roush Fenway Racing driver Carl Edwards beat Kasey Kahne by 10 positions in the Ford 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, but Edwards still lost a bet to the Richard Petty Motorsports driver.
Edwards said he bet Kahne that he would finish higher in the Chase For The Sprint Cup standings, but Kahne ended up 10th, 10 points ahead of Edwards.
“I owe [Kahne] $20,” Edwards said. “I bet him we’d beat him in the points, so insult to injury.”
Edwards finished the 2009 season without a victory after winning nine races last year. Though he made the Chase, Edwards had a difficult season, with seven top-five and 14 top-10 finishes in a relatively down year for the Roush Fenway organization as a whole.
Edwards started 24th at Homestead but didn’t crack the top 10 until past the halfway point – minus a two-tire pit stop gamble that didn’t work. But Edwards and crew chief Bob Osborne got the car better.
“It started out really bad,” Edwards said. “I’d like to be happy with seventh place, but I’m not. We needed two or three more positions to beat Kasey for 10th in the points. I really wanted to be there at the banquet.”
Only the drivers in the top 10 in points will be honored at the Sprint Cup Awards Ceremony next month.
Since Edwards won’t be there, he offered a “quick version” of his speech.
“Thank you Aflac and Ford and all of my fans for sticking with us,” Edwards said. “I know it’s been a tough year, but we’ll be back next year. We’re gonna be all right. It’s just frustrating.”
