Carl Edwards Advance
Michigan International Speedway
August 18-21st, 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series
GFS Marketplace 400, Sunday @ 2:10PM
Carl Edwards
Team: No.99 AAA Ford Taurus
Crew Chief: Bob Osborne
Chassis Number: RK-302 (ran at Dover and Michigan)
Edwards on racing at Michigan International Speedway:
“Michigan is a really special place for me especially since it's been an entire year since I made my NEXTEL Cup debut there. Michigan is a great track and its fun to drive. It has multiple grooves that allow the driver to try a lot of different things. We ran well there in the spring in the AAA Ford and I think that will carry over to this weekend's race as well.
“I didn't run as well as I would have liked last weekend at Watkins Glen but we finished in one piece and that was the goal. Right now we are still eligible for the 'Chase' but not by much so it will be important to have a good run this weekend. I think if we can have a top five or top-10 finish it will help our cause tremendously. The points are so tight between seventh and 12th it's really unbelievable. I don't think that this time last year we could have even imagined sitting where we are today with two wins and a chance to be in the 'Chase'. That's awesome."
Crew Chief Bob Osborne on racing at Michigan International Speedway:
“I think the entire AAA team is excited to go to Michigan after Watkins Glen. We are taking the same car we took in the spring so I'm feeling pretty confident heading into the race. If we can get the handling right and let Carl do what he knows how to do best, drive, I think we will be ok. The point's race is extremely tight right now so we need to have a top 10 day, no doubt. I think we are more than capable of that so we'll just have to see what happens this weekend.”
Fast Facts
Carl Edwards has now come full-circle with the No. 99 team. This week marks the one-year anniversary of his first start with the team as a NEXTEL Cup driver. Edwards drove the No. 99 Ford to a 10th place finish in his series debut, one of only five active Cup drivers to finish inside the top 10 in their first start.
After a trouble-free run at Watkins Glen, Edwards holds onto 10th place in the overall NEXTEL Cup point standings. Only 56 points separates eighth place from 12th place in the standings. Edwards, who currently has 2593 total points, sits 520 points out of the lead.
Edwards will appear on QVC this Friday from 8:15 - 8:45 p.m. EDT live from MIS.
The No. 99 Ford will carry the AAA paint scheme for the second time at Michigan this coming weekend.
