Fontana II: Carl Edwards race report

SOLID TOP-FIVE FINISH IN CALIFORNIA FOR EDWARDS

FONTANA, Calif. (Oct. 9, 2010) -- Racing back in southern California for the second and final time in 2010, Carl Edwards qualified the No. 60 Copart.com Ford sixth on Saturday morning. Struggling with an ill handling car for a good portion of the race, Edwards ran in the top-10 for most of the event, only briefly falling back to the 12th spot. With help from his crew performing four fast and precise pit stops, Edwards finished fourth and led a total of three laps during the 150-lap event. Kyle Busch went onto take the checkered flag.

"Our Copart.com Ford Fusion was about a seventh place car all day, we really struggled," said Edwards. "There at the end we came on strong after a couple of really strong pit stops. My crew was amazing today. I thought that we could hang on to third but I was driving for everything I had, and that was it. We came home fourth and I'm very proud of that."

During the first ten laps of the race, Edwards came over the radio stating that the Copart.com Ford was a little free in the corners. During the first pit stop, crew chief Mike Beam called for fuel, four fresh tires and a right-rear wedge adjustment. Edwards entered the pits running eighth and gained one position on the stop to restart seventh. The change seemed to make a difference and by lap 60, Edwards navigated his way toward the front to run in the fifth position.

As Edwards and the team continued to make progress, the third pit stop of the day came at lap 104 and the crew made similar adjustments from the prior stop. The entire team executed the stop quickly allowing Edwards to exit the pits first and take over the lead from Kevin Harvick.J The final pit stop of the day occurred on lap 127 where the team changed tires, added a splash of fuel and made a slight wedge adjustment, sending Edwards out in second. The car responded well to the adjustments and Edwards was happier with the car's handling. Unfortunately due to a late race caution, Edwards gave up a few positions on the final restart. Edwards took the checkers in fourth, just behind Kevin Harvick. Edwards remains second in Nationwide Series' point standings.

Next week, the NASCAR Nationwide Series will race home at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Catch all of the action on ESPN2 Friday, October 15.

-source: rfr