Carl Edwards Advance
Pocono Raceway
July 22nd – 24th, 2005 NEXTEL Cup Series
Pocono 500, Sunday, 1:40PM
Carl Edwards
Team: No.99 Office Depot Ford Taurus
Crew Chief: Bob Osborne
Chassis Number: RK-270 (won at Pocono and Atlanta)
Edwards on racing at Pocono Raceway:
“I'm excited to go to Pocono this weekend. I raced there for my first time back in June and we won in the Stonebridge Ford. It was unbelievable. I knew we had a good car but I certainly wasn't expecting to win right out of the gate. The win there was really special since it was my first time there and it was Jack's first win there as a car owner. It really meant a lot to me to bring home that victory. I'm so lucky to have such an awesome crew chief and team, they are so talented and they do everything they can to give me fast race cars week in and week out. Even though our results have been up and down, overall we've been consistently fast and that's a great feeling. I'm really looking forward to returning to Pocono and trying my hardest to get the sweep in 2005."
Crew Chief Bob Osborne on racing at Pocono Raceway:
“Pocono is an extremely tough race track for veterans let alone rookies. For Carl to go there and win his first time there was spectacular. It was Jack's first win there as an owner too so it was really special to be a part of that. We are taking the same car we won with at Atlanta and Pocono earlier this year so we're hoping it brings us more good luck this weekend. We are fighting as hard as we can to get back in the 'Chase' and I feel confident that we have the driver and team to do it with.”
Fast Facts
Carl Edwards win at Pocono in June marked the first win at the track for car owner Jack Roush. It was also the first time Edwards had raced at the track. He's the only driver to win at the track in his first attempt with the exception of Richard Petty who won in 1974 when the inaugural Cup event was held at the 2.5-mile tri-oval.
Pocono marked Edwards' second career NEXTEL Cup win. His first win came earlier in the year at Atlanta in RK-270, the same car he won with at Pocono and the same car he will race this weekend.
Edwards gained in the points standings after his 12th place finish at New Hampshire last week. Edwards currently sits 472 points out of the lead in 12th. He gained on 10th place closing the margin from 99 points to 54 with seven races remaining until the "Chase".
Edwards will commute between Pocono, PA and Colorado Springs, CO this week for both the Busch and Cup events. Edwards will miss Saturday's qualifying session at Pocono and start at the back of the field for Sunday's race. Edwards charge from 29th to first was the furthest back a driver had started and won a race at Pocono. Edwards hopes to surpass that this weekend.
