Edwards Blows Away Competiton to Earn First Victory of the Season at Milwaukee

June 21, 2009
11:52 AM

West Allis, Wis. (June 21, 2009) – Carl Edwards and the No. 60 Save-A-Lot team were on a mission from the start of the Northern Tool.com 250 at The Milwaukee Mile on Saturday night. Edwards flew to Milwaukee to compete in Saturday’s race after taking part in NASCAR Sprint Cup practice at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma California. Edwards started the race at the back of the field because he was not able to qualify the car. Colin Braun filled in for Edwards during practice and qualifying and did an admirable job setting up the Save-A-Lot Ford Fusion. Edwards bullied his way to the front on lap 204 and never relinquished the lead. Edwards captured his first victory of the season and the 21st of his career in Nationwide competition.

Edwards methodically moved through the field from the outset of the race, gaining 22 spots the first 24 laps of the race. Edwards drove with a serious chip on his shoulder and never gave in to any competitor on the race track. By lap 50, Edwards cracked the top 10 and completed every lap like it was his last. The race stayed under a green-flag the first 123 laps. Edwards made his first pit stop under a green-flag on lap 82. Edwards commented his Ford Fusion was tight through the center and would not turn. The Save-A-Lot pit crew executed an amazing pit stop. After cycling through green-flag stops, Edwards settled in the eighth position.

Edwards never looked back after exiting the pit stall. By lap 135, Edwards was in the fifth position and by lap 191 he was in the second position behind race leader and rival, Kyle Busch. A debris caution slowed the action on lap 192. Crew chief Dan Stillman called Edwards to the pit stall on lap 193 for four tires, fuel and a minor air pressure adjustment. Edwards exited the pit stall in the second position.

Green-flag racing resumed on lap 198. Edwards made his move on Busch on the front-stretch and took over the lead for the rest of the night. Busch gave it his best shot on a number of laps, but Edwards was unflappable the last 46 laps of the race. As the checkered flag flew on lap 250, Edwards and the No. 60 team let out a collective sigh of relief. Order had been restored in the Nationwide Series as Edwards claimed his first victory of the season.

“It was definitely a great night for us,” said Edwards. “It makes the long trip back and forth so much sweeter. Our Save-A-Lot Ford Fusion was fast all night and I wanted to win the race so bad. Our team has been working hard, and it is nice to see the hard work payoff. I hope this is the beginning of something special for this team.”

The win leaves Edwards second in the Nationwide Series point standings, 127 points behind Kyle Busch.

About Roush Fenway Racing
Roush Fenway Racing is NASCAR’s largest team operating nine motorsports teams. Five in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with drivers Matt Kenseth, Jamie McMurray, Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards and David Ragan; three in the Nationwide Series with Kenseth, Biffle, Edwards, Ragan, Erik Darnell, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. and Colin Braun; and one in the Camping World Truck Series with Braun. For more information on any of the Roush Fenway Racing teams, log onto www.RoushFenway.com. For sponsorship inquiries please contact Robin Johnson at 704.720.4645.

More Headlines

Way to go guys!!!!

Submitted by publisher on Mon, 06/22/2009 - 3:46pm.

This comment section is solid, just like our finish!!

Driver Appearances

The Off-Track Adventures of Roush Fenway Racing updated

Roush Fenway Racing Used Parts

Roush Yates Engines