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I really wish someone could tell me what really wrong with Jr? I saying look at the past years yes he won two championship in bush but I think there somethin...
Top-30 NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers: Carl Edwards, second
By Rea White - Associate Editor
Monday, January 05, 2009
Carl Edwards, driver of the No. 99 Roush Fenway Racing Ford, finished second in the final 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standings.
Jason Smith
Getty Images for NASCAR
Roush Fenway Racing's Carl Edwards enjoyed a stellar NASCAR Sprint Cup season, hitting series-high marks in wins, top-10s and top-fives, while settling for second overall in the series standings.
Edwards and crew chief Bob Osborne raced well from the start of the season until its end, grabbing nine victories but falling 69 points shy of the title. Edwards, 29, also finished as the runnerup in the Nationwide Series.
The Columbia, Mo.-native also had an active offseason, competing in the Race of Champions in England and getting married. That followed a year in which he won almost $11.4 million in purses.
During the offseason, SceneDaily is taking a look at the top 30 in 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup driver points. Here’s how Edward’s season unfolded:
By the numbers: Statistically speaking, Edwards topped the Sprint Cup Series. His nine wins, 27 top-10 and 19 top-five finishes were tops in each of those categories. Yet he managed to lead the standings only twice. However, Edwards sat second or better for 13 of the final 15 weeks of the season and entered the season finale as the only driver with a mathematical chance of challenging Hendrick Motorsports' Jimmie Johnson for the title.
Season highlights: Edwards showcased his versatility. He won on the 2-mile Auto Club Speedway in California and Michigan International Speedway, the 1.5-mile Las Vegas, Atlanta, Texas (twice) and Homestead tracks, the 2.5-mile Pocono triangle and the .533-mile Bristol short track. He won two of the first three races and three of the last four. His team was capable of striking and overcoming setbacks at any time.
Key setbacks: Edwards’ championship hopes went awry in a pair of setbacks in the 10-race Chase For The Sprint Cup. Edwards was in the heart of the race before he finished 29th after a crash at Talladega and 33rd after a parts failure the following week at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Those created a points gap he could not overcome.
Newsworthy moment: Edwards was docked 100 points and Osborne was suspended for six races after the car's oil-tank cover came off following Edwards' victory at Las Vegas. General manager Robbie Reiser stepped in with the team during Osborne's absence. Edwards won at Texas during Osborne's absence.
In his words: “Yeah, it was a great year – a really good year. I believe we scored as many or more points than anyone. The Chase format has its plus sides and down sides for everybody involved. I think it’s a good thing, and the race with Jimmie was really exciting for me. I wish we would have been a little bit closer at the end, but still, we put the pressure on him at the end. It was extremely satisfying to win that last race and know that we won more races than anyone else. There’s a lot of pride in that, I think, and overall I think our team just got really strong, and that’s a good feeling.”
Mentioned Drivers: Carl Edwards
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15 responses to "Top-30 NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers: Carl Edwards, second ". Post a Comment.
Pat Draper said:
Jan 5, 2009 at 3:43 PMWell i hope Cousin Carl can finish the job in 2009 and take the cup title from Johnson that would really please my heart. I don't like Johnson never have and never will and anyone that can beat him thats great. It looks at this point that Carl is the only one that can unless someone else steps up to the plate. Would be nice to have 3 or 4 after the title at Homestead. No one wants to see johnson win again except Chad. Its getting a little boring no its getting a lot boring.
Ray said:
Jan 5, 2009 at 4:07 PMDear Pat: Cousin Carl is a real racer's racer. He has got a ton of talent. He is exciting! So are a lot of other drivers. It is OK to not like a driver BUT better get ready 'cause Jimmy will win another championship! He will have a real hard time of it because of Carl and maybe even "The mouth" Kyle Bush. For anyone to win a championship in the Sprint Cup series takes a lot more talant than simply sitting in your arm chair and bad mouthing a team that has proven they can and will win.
Virginia West said:
Jan 5, 2009 at 4:12 PMGet real Pat! A lot of us would like to see Jimmie win the title again, and again, and again.........Go, Jimmie.
andee anderson said:
Jan 5, 2009 at 4:35 PMTo the gals of the Jr. nation.Take a good look at Carl.That is what a man looks like.You might also want to compare his record with others.
Werner Boehmert said:
Jan 5, 2009 at 4:40 PMi sure hope that Carl wins a Championship soon and doesn't end up the same way Mark Martin did...always close...watching Speed ch last night,there seems to be alot of young ones coming on soon...
Patsi Wilbanks said:
Jan 5, 2009 at 4:43 PMCarl and Jimmie both are overrated...blah, blah, blah....hopefully we won't have to see either one of them much...THAT WOULD BE VERY NICE!!!
Jim Bayliss said:
Jan 5, 2009 at 5:06 PMWell, we CERTAINLY WANT TO SEE Carl. IN FRONT! --- If not him then Mark Martin. Definitely NOT Jimmie Johnson. But some of you are right, in that it WILL be tough to beat Jimmie/Chad. They have the combo to win in the end. They make very few mistakes. Carl is more exciting in his driving style, but also that style is not as conducent to winning championships. He needs to race hard, but more cautious at times, especially at Talladega. And especially in the chase. You don't always have to win to WIN! I like Jimmie Johnson, but I sure don't want him to win another championship for awhile. A longgggggggg while.
Carol C said:
Jan 5, 2009 at 5:24 PMAhh Patsi, you are so wrong. You must be a Kyle Busch fan... If Johnson and Edwards are so overrated, then why was it the two of them who were racing for the championship when it counted? Carl Edwards was the only person who came close to catching Johnson during the Chase. He had an impressive season and I believe, he will be a driver whose name will be remembered for a long time. For a young driver with a ton of talent and a positive attitude, he represents the sport extremely well. Temper or no temper... he will be an ideal champion, 2008 just wasn't his turn. As far as Jimmy Johnson, we all know that he has what it takes to win a championship. Personally, I'd love to see Edwards get the job done in 2009, he's my driver and I'm proud of it.
Tom Meier said:
Jan 5, 2009 at 5:27 PMPat, Pat, Pat!! Where were you yesterday? Sure thought you would have a comment or two about Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Tony Eury, Jr. You say you have only been watching NASCAR racing for seven years, but you sure have a lot to say about NASCAR racing before that time. And somehow, from your comments about Elliot Sadler, racing ability is directly related to the personality and appearance of the driver. If there were a Mr. Racer of America pageant, perhaps you could ask to be a judge. Jimmy Spencer thinks JIMMIE Johnson will win four, maybe five, championships. For your information, there are thousands of JIMMIE Johnson fans!!!
Jo Ray said:
Jan 5, 2009 at 6:07 PMI really became a NASCAR fan because of Carl Edwards. He was fun to watch, I loved his flip. He is well spoken and seems well rounded with many talents and likes. He hasn't forgotten his hometown friends and is trying to stay grounded. Not easy when you get to where he is. I am so proud of him and hope he and his new wife have a wonderful life. Carl you are #1 in my book.
Robert Wingert said:
Jan 5, 2009 at 6:23 PMI would love to see Jimmie win 4 in a row and make Nascar history. Pat if Chad is boring I'm sure there are 42 other teams wanting him as boring crew chief. In 7 years you haven't learned much about racing.
Tom Meier said:
Jan 5, 2009 at 6:37 PMHey Pat!! Just picked up our mail at the post office. You need to get a copy of the NASCAR Illustrated - January 2009 edition. Carl's picture is on the cover.
Anna Jarvie said:
Jan 5, 2009 at 7:15 PMAnna Tien Jarvie said: I love my favorite NASCAR Drivers is Carl Edwards and Clint Bowyer and Jason Leffler and Kurt busch and Stephen Leicht. Clint bowyer is one my favorite... Because He won nationalwide series champion and Richomand and Bristol and Last year, a sprint cup for won a new Hampshire speedway. And also, Other is my favorite is Kurt busch. But why?!. his wife Eva busch and Fierece Eva bryan are get married on July 27th, 2006. Kurt busch won a New hampshire speedway. So... Duh? Huh? I don't like Tallegea superspeedway and Atlata motor speedway, And phoenix and california or something. I am dream about true love and forever ever!!!. - Anna Tien Jarvie, 15, Salem, OR
ed gordon said:
Jan 5, 2009 at 10:57 PMCarl is the man!Get used to seeing him up front and in the winners circle for years,maybe decades to come.The COT and the way it drives really plays to his driving style,fast in the gas and sideways at some of the fastest tracks on the circuit.As far as him getting close and not winning championships like MM,won't happen.He'll go to an organization that is capable of winning championships.Hopefully that is RFR,if not owners will trip over themselves trying to sign him when his contract is up.
Art Sheeler said:
Jan 6, 2009 at 1:59 AMI believe that Carl is a little more loyal than to pack it in with RFR for heavens sake he got chance to show his stuff with them and was given good equipment and I believe he is loyal to Ford.There isn't a guy out there that is more in tune with his sponsors and also realy knows how to handle himself when being interviewed(like taking his glasses off and always giving the interviewer a pat on the shoulder)in my opinion he is a real class act. As for JJ, he will chase a lot of people away if he wins a 4th championship I like JJ but realy don't care for Chad and most of all I am a staunch Ford fan. I am 67 and have raced Ford on my local track in my younger days and was treated real good by my sponsor, that was a Ford dealer and have driven Fords forever starting with a 1928 madel A and today I drive A 2003 F150 Supercrew Lariet and am real happy with it.