Edwards rallies to finish 2nd in Drive4COPD 300 at Daytona
CEDHOnline.com - February 14, 2010
Daytona International Speedway
Entering the final lap of the 300-miler at Daytona International Speedway, Carl Edwards was riding in the third position behind race leader Tony Stewart and Justin Allgaier as they came to the white flag. Edwards made his move in the final two turns of the race to get around second place Allgaier to finish second for the 2nd consecutive season.
The race started off with two caution flags in the first ten laps of the race. Edwards was riding around in the top-5 when he began to fall back in the top-10. On the 43rd lap of the event, Edwards came down pit road for the first time under green flag conditions and crew chief Mike Kelley decided to make a small air pressure and wedge adjustment on the No. 60 Fastenal Ford Fusion. Edwards came out of the pits in the 22nd position and was wasting no time to get back in the top-10. By the 60 lap mark, Edwards was back up in the top-3, looking like one of the top cars in the field.
On lap 68, another caution flag fell for a huge wreck that took out Edwards' two rookie teammates Colin Braun and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Under the caution flag, Mike Kelley decided to bring his driver down pit road to get four fresh tires, and fuel. Edwards powered off of pit road in the lead. On lap 91, Edwards and Brad Keselowski made contact that sent Dale Earnhardt Jr. to flipping on his roof. Edwards took on slight damage to his Fastenal Ford and the crew brought him down pit road and added four fresh tires and made the repairs to the front of his No. 60 Fastenal Fusion. Edwards left the pits in the 15th position.
With just eight laps in the race remaining, Edwards had moved himself back into the top-5 and was sitting his sights on the leaders. He made his move around teammate Paul Menard for the third position. On the final lap, Edwards made his move around the 12 of Allgaier and finished 2nd, edging Kevin Harvick at the start finish line.
“It was a wild race, we had a strong car, and I just tried to make it last to the end,” said Edwards. “I got tangled with Brad there, and I’m glad that everyone came out alright. It was a hard fight to the finish with Tony being so unbelievable. A great start to the season for the points. We're here to win a championship. My guys did a really good job with the car.” |
