Busch Silver Celebration 250 presented by Shop 'N Save - Gateway International Raceway

Edwards Grabs Gateway Win
Carl Edwards passed Denny Hamlin with eight laps to go and pulled away to win the Busch Silver Celebration 250 presented by Shop ’n Save at Gateway International Raceway, the track he calls his home. Edwards, from nearby Columbia, Mo., ran second to Hamlin for most of the race, but took advantage of an excellent call by crew chief Pierre Kuette to pull off the victory. Kuette called for Edwards to pit early for only two tires and fuel on the No. 60 Henkel Ford. This call forced leader Hamlin to pit for fuel only, in an attempt to keep track position over Edwards. Hamlin came off pit road just in front of Edwards but the new tires proved to be the difference as Edwards blew right by to take the lead on lap 182 and was never challenged. Edwards pulled away to a 5.658-second victory among the partisan crowd. “I can’t even tell you. I’ve just got to thank PK,” said Edwards. “I really got up there wheel-hopping into the pits and he made a great call. This is the biggest win yet, to win here at Gateway in front of the hometown.” With the older tires, Hamlin lost second place at the stripe, giving way to Clint Bowyer. Hamlin led four times for a total of 169 of the event’s 200 laps but had to settle for a third-place finish. Reed Sorenson, last season’s winner at Gateway International Raceway, finished in the fourth spot. Kevin Harvick moved closer to the series title, finishing in the fifth position. Although he lost 35 points to Edwards, Harvick still holds a 318-point advantage. Kenny Wallace, a St. Louis native, finished ninth in the race, his fourth top-10 finish of the season. The race didn't go as well for his nephew Steven Wallace who was driving the No. 64 Dodge for his father Rusty. Steven, making his eighth start of the season, got into the wall on Lap 92 and was never able to recover, finishing 31st.

Busch Silver Celebration 250 Notes
· Race Results · Ford Post-Race Quotes · Point Standings · Owner Point Standings · Starting Lineup · Qualifying Results · Final Practice · Practice 1 · Qualifying Order · Entry List · Race Notes · Weekend Schedule · MRN Notes · Raybestos Rookie Notes · Stephen Leicht Notes · Jason White Notes	· Kevin Harvick Notes · Clint Bowyer Notes · Denny Hamlin Notes · Kyle Busch Notes · Kenny Wallace Notes · Jason Leffler Notes · John Andretti Notes · Reed Sorenson Notes · Todd Kluever Notes · David Green Notes · Burney Lamar Notes · Mark McFarland Notes · Tim Sauter Notes · Scott Wimmer Notes · Erin Crocker Notes · Mike Bliss Notes

Hamlin on Gateway Pole Position
Denny Hamlin, fresh off of his NEXTEL Cup Series win from the pole last week in Pocono, continued his hot streak to scorch his way to the pole position for tonight’s Busch Silver Celebration 250 presented by Shop n’ Save. Hamlin is nearly as hot as the searing St. Louis weather at Gateway International Raceway where an ‘Excessive Heat Warning’ is in effect. Hamlin lapped the 1.25-mile track in 33.370 seconds, at an average speed of 134.852 mph, to earn his fifth Busch Series pole this season. This is the sixth pole for the No. 20 Rockwell Automation Chevrolet team, Aric Almirola won the Busch Pole while subbing for Hamlin at Milwaukee. Hamlin has won from the pole once this season at Darlington Raceway. In this event Last season, Hamlin started third and finished 11th. Carl Edwards joins Hamlin on the front row after his qualifying effort earned him the second starting position. Points leader Kevin Harvick will start from the third spot, followed by hometown boy Steve Wallace in fourth and Kyle Busch in fifth. Defending race winner Reed Sorenson qualified 14th.

Friday Rain Alters Schedule at Gateway
Due to a brief shower at Gateway International Raceway on Friday evening prior to the start of the first NASCAR Busch Series practice (originally scheduled for 6:15 p.m.), the schedule was revised as follows:
Friday, July 28
TBA until 9 p.m. NBS Practice 1
9 p.m. ARCA Race (120 laps, 150 miles)
10 p.m. NBS Garage closes
Saturday, July 29
9 a.m. NBS Garage & Registration opens
10:30 – 12:00 a.m. NBS Final Practice
2:30 p.m. Track Services Meeting
4:35 p.m. NBS Qualifying (two laps, all positions) Impound
6:30 p.m. NBS Driver/Crew Chief Meeting
7:45 p.m. NBS Driver Introductions
8:15 p.m. Busch Silver Celebration 250 race (200 laps, 250 miles)
9:00 p.m. NBS Registration Closes