Edwards to Race Against the Speed of Sound

Carl Edwards

Concord, N.C. (October 11, 2005) – There is no doubt that Carl Edwards is all for going fast. On October 19, 2005 he will have an opportunity to experience a different type of speed – actually approach the speed of sound. Edwards won’t be driving his No. 99 Office Depot Ford or his No. 60 Charter Ford Taurus at the track that Wednesday, but instead he will climb into the cockpit of an Air National Guard F-16 Fighter Jet for a rare orientation flight.

The National Guard has been an associate sponsor with Edwards and the No. 60 Charter Team all season. The National Guard was a primary sponsor on the No. 60 Ford Taurus for the earlier Charlotte race May 29, 2005 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

Next week Edwards will reach speeds he's only dreamed about. He’ll fly in a jet capable of reaching Mach 2 (twice the speed of sound), which is around 1,500 mph. Edwards will take a ride in an F-16 Fighting Falcon with the 169th Fighter Wing of the South Carolina Air National Guard. The flight will take place at McEntire Joint National Guard Base, just outside of Columbia, South Carolina.

"I just can't wait," said Edwards. "It will be so awesome! I have wanted to fly in a fighter jet my whole life. I have spoke with Greg Biffle, driver of the No. 16 National Guard NEXTEL Cup Ford who flew earlier this year in an F-16 and he said it's like nothing else. I am proud to represent the National Guard every week on our car. I can’t thank the National Guard enough for providing me this great opportunity. I am totally pumped. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I can't wait."

The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a compact, multi-role fighter aircraft. It is highly maneuverable and has proven itself in air-to-air combat and air-to-surface attack since 1979. The F-16 has been a major component in the war on terrorism flying thousands of hours for Homeland Defense.

It will be difficult for Edwards to slow down, when he jumps back into his Ford Taurus October 22nd in Memphis, TN. Edwards will be running his NEXTEL Cup No. 99 Office Depot Ford that weekend in Martinsville, VA and driving his No. 60 Charter Communications Ford in Memphis, TN. This will be his last weekend of split race venues this season. Edwards probably wishes he could borrow the F-16 for his trips back-and-forth.