It’s all in the Duck: Edwards dominates the All-Star Race for the million
Edwards took control of the race early in the second segment of the event. He had spun the tires on the final restart of the session and found himself battling Jimmie Johnson late in the run on a final restart of the segment but Edwards was able to take over with two laps to go to win the second segment of the race. Crew Chief Bob Osborne had a strategy to stay with just a two tire stop until the final 10 lap segment where everyone had to take on four tires. Several drivers did not pit and decided to keep the track position, when the race started back for its third segment, Edwards led them to green, but it was Busch who got the good restart. Busch was pulling away when Regan Smith spun out by contact with the 17 of Kenseth.
(Chris Graythen/Getty Images) Carl Edwards' damaged car sits on the infield after winning the Sprint All-Star Race
With just five laps to go in the third segment Edwards did just as he had in the second and pulled beside Busch and left him behind when the third segment ended. Edwards and his team discussed what to do for ten minutes on the car and the team prepared for its final four tire stop. Edwards’ Aflac Crew was flawless in the final stop and got their driver out of the pits right ahead of the 18 of Busch. On the final restart, Edwards smoked Busch on the restart and never was challenged in the last 10 lap segment of the race.
“The key to winning this race is the guys behind me,” Edwards said. “[Crew chief] Bob Osborne and my guys … they could have dropped the ball but … they did an unreal job on that last stop.
“If we wouldn’t have come off pit road first, it would have been a very difficult race. It took me about 10 laps to get by Kyle. … Those guys, they get a lot of credit for this win.”
Then while trying to do a slide through the grass, Edwards hit a hole in the infield doing major damage to the front end of the No. 99 Ford. Edwards, pulled off and did his trademark backflip and ran into the grandstands with all of the fans.
“Anytime you have grass on the windshield after the race, it’s not good,” a slightly embarrassed Edwards said after a postrace slide through the infield grass resulted in heavy damage to the front end of his No. 99 Ford.
“I guess NASCAR is mad; they think we are hiding something with this car.”
