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Edwards Wins At Michigan

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The Associated Press

Published: August 17, 2008

BROOKLYN, Mich. - Carl Edwards took the lead in the pits, then drove away Saturday for his first NASCAR Nationwide Series victory at Michigan International Speedway and 16th overall series win.

The reigning series champion was trailing fellow Sprint Cup star Tony Stewart when the leaders drove onto pit road under a caution flag on Lap 93. Edwards, driving a Ford for Roush Fenway Racing, came out in front and easily led to the end of the 125-lap race on the 2-mile oval.

"I'm just so happy that we won this thing," Edwards said after doing his traditional victory backflip off his car. "We've been close before. I don't know if we would have been able to get by Tony or not.

"The car was awesome all day. There were a couple of cars that were real fast - Tony and Brian Vickers. But my pit crew just did a great job there at the end. I don't know what kind of problem Tony had on pit road, but it was sure a lot easier to pass him there than it would have been on the racetrack."

Edwards, who led a race-high 71 laps on the way to his third Nationwide victory of the season, was nearly 3.5 seconds ahead of runner-up Vickers before Danny Efland crashed at the start of the last lap. The race finished under caution.

"You don't want to come across greedy, but I'm getting sick and tired of not winning one of these races," said Vickers, who will start from the pole in today's Cup race.

Series leader Clint Bowyer, who collided with Zephyrhills' David Reutimann as they battled for fourth place late in the race, wound up 10th. Reutimann finished 34th.

NHRA: At Mohnton, Pa., Pro Stock driver Greg Anderson took the top qualifying spot from teammate Jason Line in the Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals.

Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel), Cruz Pedregon (Funny Car) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) remained the No. 1 qualifiers in their divisions.

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