Fast Times
A NASCAR BLOG BY Kris Johnson
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Carl Edwards made the right move
Sep
29
Carl Edwards’ bold move on the final lap at Kansas Speedway Sunday made you think back to days when winning mattered most.
Embroiled in a tight race for the points championship with Jimmie Johnson, Edwards threw caution – along with any thought of wrecking and dropping a scary amount of points – to the wind and brought the fans to their feet with his gutsy pass for the victory. The fact he came up short should mean little in the final analysis.
How many of the other Chase drivers – if they were in Edwards’ position in the points and in the race – would have been content to coast home second? We can’t know for sure, but they know who they are.
Some folks will look at Edwards, who values a win at Kansas more than anybody this side of Clint Bowyer, and think that he had a momentary lapse of reason. He got caught up in the heat of the moment, lost sight of the big picture and was fortunate to finish second after slamming the wall. I will not be one of them.
In risking everything for the win, Edwards won in a way that really matters. Along the way, he probably won the hearts of some new fans out there, as well.
Embroiled in a tight race for the points championship with Jimmie Johnson, Edwards threw caution – along with any thought of wrecking and dropping a scary amount of points – to the wind and brought the fans to their feet with his gutsy pass for the victory. The fact he came up short should mean little in the final analysis.
How many of the other Chase drivers – if they were in Edwards’ position in the points and in the race – would have been content to coast home second? We can’t know for sure, but they know who they are.
Some folks will look at Edwards, who values a win at Kansas more than anybody this side of Clint Bowyer, and think that he had a momentary lapse of reason. He got caught up in the heat of the moment, lost sight of the big picture and was fortunate to finish second after slamming the wall. I will not be one of them.
In risking everything for the win, Edwards won in a way that really matters. Along the way, he probably won the hearts of some new fans out there, as well.
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Comments
6 responses to "Carl Edwards made the right move"
Robin Drummond said:
Sep 29, 2008 at 2:27 PMThat last lap at Kansas City was one of the best I've ever seen! Carl went for it, and he should have. It took guts to take the lead knowing he'd probably hit the wall and be able to get control and win. It didn't quite work out that way, but I was impressed beyond words. Go Carl!!!!
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» Confirm Abuse Reportron mays said:
Sep 29, 2008 at 8:28 PMThe first line says it all. When all that mattered was to win.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportJohn Lockhart said:
Sep 29, 2008 at 10:52 PMCarl deserved to win that one. He drove his tail off to catch Jimmie. And then to pass him like that, was really old school.Good driving Carl,it made the race worth watching.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportGo 29 Harvick said:
Oct 1, 2008 at 1:18 PMThat was the best finish!!! It's just too bad Carl didnt win!! He really wanted that one... It was definately worth watching! Good luck #99 team.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportJoshua Rainier said:
Oct 2, 2008 at 12:13 PMI thought it was exciting too, but let's not act like its old school racing or some brilliant move. Anybody can make a pass if they just drive full speed into the corner. The pass doesn't matter if you end up in the wall and by no means does a kamikazi move make him deserve the victory. Carl's move was gutsy and entertaining, but it was not good driving. If it was good driving, he would have barely hit the wall and cruised to victory over a very stunned Johnson.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportemily bagwell said:
Oct 8, 2008 at 4:27 PMYea, Carl's performance at Dega shows what a gutsy driver he is---sand-bagging the entire race and then taking out the chase contenders---What an idiot!!!
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