Talladega Superspeedway, October 1st – 3rd, 2004
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series: EA Sports 500, 1:30PM CDT, Sunday, October 3rd
Carl Edwards
Team: No.99 Ford Taurus
Owner: Jack Roush
Crew Chief: Bob Osborne
Chassis Number: RK-232 (raced at all restrictor plate tracks in 2004)
Carl Edwards on racing at Talladega Superspeedway:
“I'm really, really excited to race at Talladega. This will be my first time running there and my first restrictor-plate race. I tested the No. 17 Ford there last week and it helped a little as far as helping me learn the track. Like where the bumps are, the different lines, all that kind of stuff. It will be much different drafting than running by myself though but to be honest, you can test at Talladega for a month and when the green flag drops, it's totally different.”
Crew Chief Bob Osborne on racing at Talladega Superspeedway:
“The No. 99 team had a good run at Talladega earlier this year finishing seventh in the spring race. I think we have a pretty good car heading into this weekend's race; we're real excited about our chances. This will be Carl's first restrictor plate race in the Cup car but he's a smart race car driver and I think he'll be fine. Carl will have to start at the back of the field Sunday but at a restrictor plate race that's really no big deal. Cars shuffle around 20 times before the checkered flag falls. If we can avoid the 'big wreck' I think we'll be fine."
Fast Facts:
Carl Edwards has accrued three top-10 and five top-20 finishes in just six NEXTEL Cup career starts.
The No. 99 team remains 20th in the overall NEXTEL Cup owner point standings. Meanwhile Edwards moves up one position to 41st in the overall driver point standings with just six starts.
Edwards will travel between Talladega, AL and Fontana, CA this weekend to race in both the NEXTEL Cup and Craftsman Truck Series. Edwards is currently 125 points out of first in the Truck point standings.
Dave Blaney will practice and qualify the No. 99 Roush Racing Ford on Friday. Per NASCAR rules, Edwards will start at the back of the field for Sunday's race since Blaney will qualify the car.
This will be the first time Edwards has raced at Talladega Superspeedway however; Edwards did test at the track last week in the No. 17 DeWalt Ford.
